Radiator repair craziness!

[RedFury]

Anyone here ever try to solder their own radiator? The ol wagon's been leaking antifreeze like a sieve lately, so I pulled the radiator out. Cleaned it up with CLR and a brush so I could find the leak. Well, I couldn't find it! I know it's leaking from the radiator! So...being Mr. Smartypantsguy, I decide to plug up the lower radiator hose connection, shove the garden hose in the upper, seal it off real good, and go run and turn on the water....

I get back just in time to see water start shooting out of the overflow pipe by the radiator cap----too much pressure! cRap!
In a panic, I open the radiator drain **** to relieve the pressure, which starts shooting out in a nice stream. This aint working! I close the drain **** and start the motion to run and shut off the water when...SPLOOOSH! the radiator bursts open and soaks my leg from the knee down

Found the leak! Aparently the solder gave on the folded edge on the side tank. Well, here I am now trying to solder it back together, and it just doesn't seem to want to flow well. I haven't got that much experience in soldering, but I know I'm working with Brass here. I'm usuing Silver Bearing Lead free solder with paste flux ( water soluable ). Should I be brazing this instead? Anyone mess with this before? I'd rather save this radiator, cuz it's in great shape otherwise for being so old and I don't want to pay 180 bucks for a new one.

[Brainchild]

Red my dad usually fixes mine. He uses muratic acid to clean it,and a wire brush,then a cutting torch with a brazing tip,and solder.Be careful wit the heat though, it will melt the solder around the fins and will leak there as well. Really touchy job.

[pickel]

The best medium to use is Silver solder and soldering paste. I bought on of those Mapp gas kits ( oxigen bottle and fittings )
because propane didn't get hot enoung to meld the Silver solder when I repaired the outdide condensing unit. Costs about $40.00
or so. Good luck

[Gomer]

Take it to a shop that specializes in them. If it can be repaired... they won't charge an arm and a leg for it. If it can't be fixed you will likely find the best deal there.

Look for the grungiest hole of a hop you can find... usually the least expensive service there, but still great quality (only applies to radiator shops).

[Ed_S]

Look for the grungiest hole of a hop you can find... usually the least expensive service there, but still great quality

Very true. Let you in on a little trade secret - those ratty looking little shops that specialize in one thing (like radiators) are often the places big shops & dealers send their "sublet" repairs to.

They don't need to keep up appearances since very little of their business is retail walk-in anyway!

[RedFury]

I agree, the best shops are the ones that don't need to keep up appearances ( specialty shops that is ). Well, I did figure out that it seemed to work best if I applied the solder when the flux started bubbling...at least I've managed to bridge the gap between the seam....it may or may not hold, only a test will tell. I'll probably pop it in the car tomorrow and fill it up with water, run it to temp, shut it off and see if it leaks ( that seemed to be when it did, when the system was loaded but no water movement. It's either going to puke it's guts out, or it'll hold and I'll get through part of the summer before I have to replace it....orrrrrrrr, I might get lucky and it'll hold indefinetely ( yeah right ). fortunately for me, as ugly as it looks now, it's the backside of the radiator, so I won't see it anyway.

[thekingofpain]

ITS TOAST---take to a good radiator shop for correct repair or replacement---along with the heater core, swap all hoses and anything else related at the same time---

[swamp-fox]

I've tried using solder and propane torch. It held for a little while but started leaking again. IMO go ahead and take it to a radiator shop get it flushed and let them braze it. All the work involved R/R it just to have it leak again isn't worth the headache .

Of course it you're hard headed like me you'll try to fix it oh about 3 times and waste about 6-8 hours then say "maybe I should take it to the shop" LOL.

swamp

[wju425]

The shop I went to was a house with a car garage. The best I found. A couple of college students that work on weekends. I don't why they would run a radiator shop but there must pretty good money in it. Too bad they're not there no more. They must have graduated and have jobs somewhere.

\o/ Billy

[RedFury]

TKOP, you think I'm made of money???!

Actually the hoses have been replaced, I've replaced the thermostat, heater core and water pump already. The radiator is in perfect shape, other than that little leaking issue.

LOL Swamp. I'm already on my way there. After burning through an entire roll of solder and an hour of dremeling and torching, I think I got it. It's in the car, I've run it through the ringer (* although I haven't tried distance driving with it...I'm a wimp OKAY?! ) Fortunately, I only have to drive a couple of miles to work, so I figure a good week of driving should be a decent test for it, plus I always carry the company cell phone, so I'll never be "stranded". Worst case scenario, I'll have to get picked up and drag the car back home, or to my job and have our mechanic mess with it while I work ( if I can find the guy!@ )