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10-25-2021, 05:38 PM | #1 |
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Radiator Rodding Out
I have an original radiator that is in great shape but needs to have the tubes rodded out. The radiator shops I checked with either no longer do this kind of work or simply aren't interested in it.
I understand that the top and bottom tanks are soldered in place and wonder how difficult it would be to separate them from the tube section, rod out the tubes, and reassemble the radiator in the same dimensions as before. Is this something that a reasonably skilled novice could undertake successfully? |
10-25-2021, 08:00 PM | #2 |
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Re: Radiator Rodding Out
Good grief, if they don't rod out radiators what do they do? Yes, I would say a reasonably skilled mechanic could do that. The most important thing is getting everything clean when going back together. Mark front so it goes back together the same way.
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10-25-2021, 08:27 PM | #3 | |
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Re: Radiator Rodding Out
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10-25-2021, 09:15 PM | #4 |
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Re: Radiator Rodding Out
I have opened up a radiator and rodded the tubes. The trick to unsoldering the tanks is to use an air nozzle to blow the molten solder out of the seam after heating. Its a long seam so you have to push something like a screwdriver or putty knife into the seam to hold the joint open while the solder cools, and after it finally comes apart you have to straighten both sides which got distorted.
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10-25-2021, 09:17 PM | #5 |
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Re: Radiator Rodding Out
I would not discourage someone that wants to learn by doing. It is easy to verify quality when done.
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10-25-2021, 09:27 PM | #6 |
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Re: Radiator Rodding Out
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10-26-2021, 06:54 AM | #7 | |
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Re: Radiator Rodding Out
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10-26-2021, 08:48 AM | #8 |
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Re: Radiator Rodding Out
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10-26-2021, 10:18 AM | #9 |
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Re: Radiator Rodding Out
I was taught to set the radiator on it's side,and chase the solder out as I melted it with a wire brush.Takes less heat because you won't have the molten solder fetching up again.takes me a couple of passes,but the guy that taught me would do it in one.
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10-26-2021, 10:26 AM | #10 |
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Re: Radiator Rodding Out
They sell new radiators
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10-26-2021, 11:06 AM | #11 |
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Re: Radiator Rodding Out
I guess in this modern throw away world finding a radiator shop who knows how to REPAIR something instead of replace it is harder than 30 years ago. The old CAT equipment I worked on 35 years ago had removable top and bottom radiator pans. Spent many a rainy day in the shop rodding them out. Tedious work, but paid the bills...almost.
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10-26-2021, 11:51 AM | #12 |
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Re: Radiator Rodding Out
Solder always flows toward heat. Use that principle plus gravity to your advantage. Practice on a junk radiator first!
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10-26-2021, 12:57 PM | #13 |
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Re: Radiator Rodding Out
"Would sucking up the molten solder work better, electronic guys suck up their solder."
Blowing out solder when working on electronics would spread circuit shorting strands of solder all over and ruin the device. Using compressed air to blow out molten solder was a tip from an old restorer and paint guy I knew long ago. Its still a tedious task because there can be quite a bit of solder sealing up a seam. The seam has to be de-soldered and held open until things cool down. |
10-26-2021, 01:57 PM | #14 |
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Re: Radiator Rodding Out
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10-26-2021, 02:17 PM | #15 |
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Re: Radiator Rodding Out
Tough job. You might find a shop that would do it. The problem with the A radiator is that a lot more wants to come apart when you are taking the top tank off.
If you still want to try it yourself, try just removing the bottom tank and rod it from there. A long transmission dip stick fits the large tubes. I used brazing rods to push through the junk. On one core, I cut windows in the top tank and rodded out the tubes I could get to. I got most. Then took it to a shop and had the windows soldered back in place. Still using that one. Good luck. |
10-26-2021, 03:29 PM | #16 |
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Re: Radiator Rodding Out
You can still find old school radiator shops, look in the older/seeder parts of town.
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10-26-2021, 04:48 PM | #17 |
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Re: Radiator Rodding Out
Box it up and send it to another shop. My last one I had a minor fix, and the guy wanted to re-core it, or sell me a new one. Will it flow water at all? Maybe you can clean it up by stages on the car chemically?
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10-26-2021, 08:13 PM | #18 |
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Re: Radiator Rodding Out
An old cure for rusty gummy radiators was a product called SaniFlush. The problem is I think it can only be bought for professional use. It is a toilet cleaner. My auto shop teacher said you would know if your radiator had any weak spots or plugged holes you would soon find out!
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10-26-2021, 10:36 PM | #19 |
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10-26-2021, 11:59 PM | #20 | |
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Re: Radiator Rodding Out
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