daftpup Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 So I was checkin the oil the other day and smelled coolant when I lifted the bonnet. Careful inspection turned up a small drop of antifreeze sitting at the base of the plastic hood on top of the finned part of the rad...the part that the filler cap is on. With even more careful inspection, I noticed a hairline crack; and I mean this thing is so small it's hard to see, in the top of that plastic hood. A couple days later, I was showing my mechanic/buddy and knowing how busted I am right now, he suggested a patch. We would first grind it down to expose more of the crack and then fill it with a heat and pressure resistant epoxy of some kind. Have any of you seen a rad crack in a spot like that before and do you think a patch could work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
94extreme Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 it could but i don't know if it will. good luck and let us know how it works, ok? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roost Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 Take it to a engine radiator specialist and they should be able to braze it for you for a minimum cost vs. the cost of replacing it. But I would ask for a quote b4 you get the work done. I have had repairs made when if I replaced it, it would have only cost me a few bucks more. Live and learn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daftpup Posted December 13, 2007 Author Share Posted December 13, 2007 Me and the buddy I mentioned would be doing this so the cost will be minimal. The only thing is, if it doesn't work, I will be needing a new rad right. So do I try it and hope or just leave it. It barely leaks now but I fear it could blow out on me in mid-January or something when the temp is -30C. I've never heard of brazing a rad. I know about metal brazing but don't forget, the piece that is leaking is plastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roost Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 I know about metal brazing but don't forget, the piece that is leaking is plastic. OK...plastic...ummm...well you can patch plastic, but it can be tricky. Motorcyclist do this with their plastic body parts, but it isn't holding the coolant in either. So you have to ask yourself, do you feel lucky? If it was me, I would order the radiator and then try to fix it if I could, we'll call it "trial and error on the safe side". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88pathoffroad Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 JB Weld, baby. Works every time. I have a JB Weld patch on my WATER HEATER at home that sprung a leak last year. Still holds water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daftpup Posted December 13, 2007 Author Share Posted December 13, 2007 Holy @!*% yeah! Forgot about JB. Thanks 88 I think I'll use that and let the truck sit inside overnight and cure. Might save me the $295 CDN that NApa quoted me for a rad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yozsi Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 295 for a radiator???? My original radiator just gave out a few months ago and i got a brand new 2 row koyo for 90 bucks shipped to my door. you need to go to a different auto parts store. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mookie Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 Holy @!*% yeah! Forgot about JB. Thanks 88 I think I'll use that and let the truck sit inside overnight and cure. Might save me the $295 CDN that NApa quoted me for a rad. Do you have Parts Source or AutoValue in your area? I got mine for just a little over a 100.00 at Parts Source (Canadian Tire). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yar1 Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 i just replaced my radiator on my 96, 200 from autozone. it was leaking near the top somewhere and causing coolant to sit on the ring around the top with crimped edges. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daftpup Posted December 13, 2007 Author Share Posted December 13, 2007 Do you have Parts Source or AutoValue in your area? I got mine for just a little over a 100.00 at Parts Source (Canadian Tire). Thanks Mookie...I normally shun Ukrainian Tire but I think there's an AutoValue here someplace. Like I say, I'm gonna try the patch. It's a small enough crack that I think it will work. If not, buddy will get me a rad for a fair price cuz he deals in that @!*% every day. I'll follow up, thru this thread,on my progress or lack thereof. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unccpathfinder Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 I wouldnt use the JB weld on the plastic part...use 60 second epoxy and it will work for a while but it will progressivly get worse...when you replace the rad get a modine its all metal... just dont put a screwdriver through it like I did...that voids the warranty....I patched over my several hairline cracks and they held for about a year...then where the plastic is crimped to the HX started cracking and I said screw it and got a new modine b/c I didnt want to risk a catastrophic failure at the worst possible time... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daftpup Posted December 13, 2007 Author Share Posted December 13, 2007 Thanks for the feedback UNCC. If this intended patch lasts me a year I'll be giggling. It is mostly just buying time anyway. I will look into this Modine thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasbudman Posted December 13, 2007 Share Posted December 13, 2007 ... just dont put a screwdriver through it like I did...that voids the warranty.... Who would of guessed that... My first thought when you mentioned your budget was Superglue... but I'm kinda new to these things with 4 wheels, my Pathy is the first thing that I have ever purchased... I've been doing motorcycles for the last 13 years almost exclusively and none of my bikes had radiatiors... but if I'm wrong, I'm more than certain that someone will correct me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daftpup Posted March 25, 2008 Author Share Posted March 25, 2008 All patched with epoxy after a light grind. Only been acoupla days but so far so good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrimGreg Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 My first thought when you mentioned your budget was Superglue... Yeah, I would have pulled a vacuum on the system and dripped thin "super" glue into the crack as long as there wasn't any material missing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daftpup Posted May 9, 2008 Author Share Posted May 9, 2008 Well, you were right uncc. She's already leakin like a 2 bit hooker during shore leave. Found some on ebay anywhere from $70 to $130. Got my guy comparing those to local prices... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unccpathfinder Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 sorry to hear that...if you dont want to ever worry about it again (unless you do what I did and slip and put a screwdriver right through it within less than a year) get a modine...its all metal... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87pathy Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 you can weld plastic.. same idea and principle as acetelen welding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daftpup Posted May 9, 2008 Author Share Posted May 9, 2008 Pls... elaborate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87pathy Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 There are professionals for this. But what you have to do, is heat it till it STARTS to melt, and use a filler material to fill in the crack. a big soldering iron works best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unccpathfinder Posted May 10, 2008 Share Posted May 10, 2008 that's pretty much what the 60 second epoxy does...it heats up to melt the plastic then rebonds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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