Fixing cracked oil return tube

[Bruce_MO]

I have a couple oil return tubes that are both leaking at the soldered joint at the lower end. I have tried repeatedly to clean, bead blast, use sandpaper, wire brush, solvents, etc. and I can't seem to get any solder to stick. I'm using lead-free solder and paste flux.

Is there a trick to this? Any ideas would be appreciated.

[Dave in MN]

Originally Posted by Bruce_MO

I have a couple oil return tubes that are both leaking at the soldered joint at the lower end. I have tried repeatedly to clean, bead blast, use sandpaper, wire brush, solvents, etc. and I can't seem to get any solder to stick. I'm using lead-free solder and paste flux.

Is there a trick to this? Any ideas would be appreciated.

Lately, I have been using silver solder with the supplied paste available at Ace Hardware. A bit expensive for what you get but it works well. I find this product stronger than the lead free solder. I clean the parts by glass bead blasting and then going over the connecting surfaces with emery cloth for the tube and a wire brush designed for prepping copper tubing fittings on the ends. Bright metal clean is required...just bead blasting did not give me a good seal or strength. I made a soldering fixture to hold and assure the connections were properly aligned. Open attachement to see the fixture. (This fixture photo shows solder and paste being used but as I stated above...I have switched to silver solder for a stronger connection.)
Good Day!
Dave in MN

[Al Bass]

I tried soldering mine but couldnt get it to solder untill I pulled it apart and gave it a good cleaning then all went well

[Milton]

Find a retired plumber and ask him if he has any 60/40 solder and acid paste. The stuff has ashelf life of forever. Then snug bolt the tube to a block and cover without the O-ring gaskets and solder away.

PS: Be sure to "tin" the pieces first, i.e. put a thin coat of solder on the two joining surfaces, sand or file down to fit and then suck the solder into the assembled joint.

[Wuudie]

I've used Silver Solder and mine and it's fine

[bigguy]

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you have to get all of the oil out of the joint in order for the solider to stick this can't be done unless the joint is disassembled and bloth surfaces cleaned