power steering cooler. bigger the better? where to get reasonable?

[russ67chevelle]

i have a 1987 power play boat. omc package cobra outdrive.350 chevy engine....

anyhow i think this steering cooler is shot on my boat. its the hose that goes from thermostat to the back of the engine. where the hose clamp grab a holds of behind engine, it broke off. prior owner didnt winterize, and i replaced motor. so now this device which i think is power steering cooler is junk. wanna get up and running for a reasonable price and is the bigger the better apply here??? can someone post a link if they know where i should go please... thanks in advance russ

 

[Don S]

Re: power steering cooler. bigger the better? where to get reasonable?

What normally happens to those coolers when they freeze is the solder joint fails. Take the cooler and the end cap to your local radiator shop. They should be able to solder it back on and pressure test it for you a lot cheaper than a new one.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: power steering cooler. bigger the better? where to get reasonable?

I'd be all over ebay item 200630349585 - about half the dealer price

 

[russ67chevelle]

Re: power steering cooler. bigger the better? where to get reasonable?

What normally happens to those coolers when they freeze is the solder joint fails. Take the cooler and the end cap to your local radiator shop. They should be able to solder it back on and pressure test it for you a lot cheaper than a new one.

thanks don for insight!!! gonna take off tonight and do that solder repair. yep thats where it split was around at the end, hope it works and save a whole lotta money!!!

 

[russ67chevelle]

Re: power steering cooler. bigger the better? where to get reasonable?

What normally happens to those coolers when they freeze is the solder joint fails. Take the cooler and the end cap to your local radiator shop. They should be able to solder it back on and pressure test it for you a lot cheaper than a new one.

so what technique should be used here? lead solder? im gonna take to work and ask welder to help out. blasting in a bit, but thinkin its aluminum....what is best technique then for rejoining?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: power steering cooler. bigger the better? where to get reasonable?

so what technique should be used here? lead solder? im gonna take to work and ask welder to help out. blasting in a bit, but thinkin its aluminum....what is best technique then for rejoining?

They're usually not aluminum. Plumbing solder will work but your welder will probably have regular lead based solder or silver solder (which is what I would use)

If you had an aluminum cooler, you would have to use GTAW (TIG)


After you solder it you'll need to pressure it up and dunk it under water to check for leaks.

(Created on an Ipad......... i hate the IPad, I HATE Safari!!!!! Both are a POS!!!)





Regards,



Rick

 

[Don S]

Re: power steering cooler. bigger the better? where to get reasonable?

Regular plumbers solder is all you need, that's what the manufacturers use. The end and the housing are copper. I would worry about silver soldering as you have to get it to hot, if the tubes or whatever the heat exchanger inside get to hot and the solder melts, you scrap your cooler.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: power steering cooler. bigger the better? where to get reasonable?

Regular plumbers solder is all you need, that's what the manufacturers use. The end and the housing are copper. I would worry about silver soldering as you have to get it to hot, if the tubes or whatever the heat exchanger inside get to hot and the solder melts, you scrap your cooler.

I am going to agree with you and after looking carefully at what has changed in solders, even "plumbers" solder might be a problem since the "new" lead free solders have higher melting temps. Having a radiator shop do the job might be a good idea since they might not have to use lead free solder (yet). Radiator solder was 50/50 tin/lead.... Make sure (whomever does it) it's pressure checked. if it's not leaking internally, soldering an end cap back on shouldn't be hard.

Lead is getting harder and harder to find. Tire shops in Wa won't sell wheel weights anymore and cannot even use it, you probably have to have a license to buy lead!
:facepalm:

it's probably just a matter of time when you won't be able to get a copper heat exchanger or radiator fixed if it is soldered with lead based solder.

 

[Don S]

Re: power steering cooler. bigger the better? where to get reasonable?

Places around here boil them out so they are clean enough to solder, have the right equipment and solder. Fix it, pressure test it. and usually charge 20 bucks for soldering the end back on an oil cooler.