radiator pinhole repair

[mbaker76]

Has anybody used any of the radiator repair puttys, or even JB weld to fix a small pinhole leak in a radiator. Last week we had a rock or something put a tiny little hole in one of the tubes. I didnt know if JB weld would hold it or if there were some sort of repair putty made just for radiators that would be better? Any ideas?

[Rocket Bonehead]

I have seen JB Weld used to repair fairly big holes in a radiator. It will work well.


I would suggest smashing in the fins around the hole down about 1/2" or so (not the tubes) so that you have a larger pocket for the JB to hold on to. Mix it up properly and let it sit for 24hrs after applying (before mounting or use). Be sure to let it sit still and flat for that time (don't pick it up).


You shouldn't have a problem with it if you mixed the JB correctly.



RB

[mbaker76]

Thanks, thats kind of what i was thinking. Its on the backside, i think a rock or something hit the fan and got thrown into the tube. Actually doesnt leak until some pressure gets built up. I was thinking if i got enough mixed to let it kind of run down the tube aroudn the fins it would have some more holding strength as well.

[Lizardracing]

I had a bad crash and the rad moved far enough for the fan to hit the tube. It barely nicked two of em. I picked it open the hole with a pick set untill I could shove some JB in the hole. Been working great. I also left it lay flat for a few days. Actually about two months. Haha

[pinionangle]

I've used JB weld more than I care to admit and it will work fine for a repair. Just like RB said, clear out the fins around the tube that busted and fill it up with JB Weld. Let it sit a while and its good as new.

I've also watched my dad fix the radiator on our Toter Home with JB Weld. I forgive him because he's old school and just that way. ;-)

[billetbirdcage]

Use something like magnum 44 or "piggy putty", they are a clay like material that comes in two parts (44 is rolled with one in the center and the outer layer is the other) and nead them together with your fingers to mix them and apply. They harden is about 5 minutes and can be drilled tapped or filed if needed. I have seen it used to fix a 1/2" round hole in a radiator with a plastic tank (hole in plastic tank) and it held till they got a hundred miles or so it get a new radiator.

These work much better then JB weld (I think they have something similar now to these other products-but haven't used this JB product).

In a jam at the track during a red flag, mud will work. believe it or not!!!!

[Lizardracing]

I couldn't get JB to work on oil pan though.

Even after I cleaned it MEK and roughend with sand paper. It would hold till the oil got hot. I guess the steel would expand too much or something. I tried a few times. After a night of racing you could peel it off with a small screwdriver. I ended up removing the pan to weld it up.

[billetbirdcage]

I couldn't get JB to work on oil pan though.

Even after I cleaned it MEK and roughend with sand paper. It would hold till the oil got hot. I guess the steel would expand too much or something. I tried a few times. After a night of racing you could peel it off with a small screwdriver. I ended up removing the pan to weld it up.

The products I was talking about does work in that instance. JB is to runny to work but the magnum 44 works great, seen it and used it for that purpose. It has lastest for years in alot of applications.

[KTM-Lew]

I helped a guy with an Iron Duke 4cyl engine that when he drilled the blocks head bolt holes out for the Super Duty head bolts it broke thru into the water jacket on one hole and let water into the lifter galley. We used JB weld to seal it up. It lasted for 6 or 7 weeks racing two nights every week. The only reason it came loose was we had a rocker arm back off on that cyl and it overheated some. He ran 5 laps after it dumped the water in the oil, finished the feature and we expected to find much carnage on the tear-down. This was the first time we had run Slick50...pulled it apart and absolutely nothing was hurt.

We prepped another block and started over so we didn't have to worry about it happening again.

[Paul55]

I heard to use eggs,pepper,all kinds of wierd stuff from old timers lol!:D

[racer68]

I heard to use pepper also. Never tried it though.

[WestlingRacing]

I've used a bottle of mustard I borrowed from the consessions once, and it got me a win!!!

[billetbirdcage]

Pepper works pretty good in a passanger car.

[Chris Steele]

We have used JB weld at the track between heats and the feature to fix a radiator before. Instead of pushing back the fins, I pinched the tube to help stop the leak and applied the JB weld. Then I took a piece of duck tape and put over the JB weld to keep it from dripping off. We ran it that night with no problems, matter of fact, we ran it the rest of the season.

I never had any luck putting it on an oil pan either. Did see a guy try to weld his oil pan at the track one time and heard a BOOM! The oil in the pan ignited inside his engine, LOL! He had drained the oil out before he tried this, but it did not work.

[mbaker76]

used the magnum steel mentioned above, worked great. Nice part is it set up in about 5 minutes and hard in 1 hour or so. Was easier to work with as putty instead of liquid like JB.

thanks guys,