cliff.b Posted February 25, 2023 Report Share Posted February 25, 2023 My Spit has a full width radiator which I have realised is leaking around the insert the drain tap screws into. Thought it was the tap thread itself first, so refitted with PTFE tape, but definitely around the insert. During normal running at this time of year it was just a slight drip but while working on another issue and the car getting hot in the garage, I noticed steam coming out, so needs sorting. Just wondering if anyone has experienced similar, what the insert is made of, can it be prised out and refitted with some sort of sealant or will it disintegrate?Alternatively, anything that might be up to the job of a permanent repair applied to the outside? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted February 25, 2023 Report Share Posted February 25, 2023 job for a good clean to bare brass and a small blow lamp with a run of solder keep it local or you can de solder the bottom tank ( rad drained ) like a cooks torch often in aldi or lidl quite cheap you could try K seal or Barrs leak as a temp leak fix wich will seal up seapage like that till youre ready for being more ambitious . Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff.b Posted February 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2023 30 minutes ago, Pete Lewis said: job for a good clean to bare brass and a small blow lamp with a run of solder keep it local or you can de solder the bottom tank ( rad drained ) like a cooks torch often in aldi or lidl quite cheap you could try K seal or Barrs leak as a temp leak fix wich will seal up seapage like that till youre ready for being more ambitious . Pete Ah, have taken a closer look, scraped some paint off and can see what you mean. I should be able to solder that. Thanks Pete 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff.b Posted February 26, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2023 Removed the paint, clean up with a bit of wire wool The applied some flux I managed to find that I last used about 40 years ago and attempted to solder. Not a pretty job but will hopefully do the trick 🤞 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted February 26, 2023 Report Share Posted February 26, 2023 thats a good job , think what you have saved and not needed a rad specialist or worst a quick test will prove its succesfull Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff.b Posted February 26, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2023 3 minutes ago, Pete Lewis said: thats a good job , think what you have saved and not needed a rad specialist or worst a quick test will prove its succesfull Pete Yes, hopefully get a chance to refit the rad tomorrow then all should become clear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff.b Posted February 27, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2023 Hmm, refitted the rad enough to test it and it's still leaking. Not as much as before but definitely a steady drip. So removed some more paint from the bottom of the tap boss and found it has split down further than I had noticed. So back to the soldering Now seems to be leak free🤞 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted February 27, 2023 Report Share Posted February 27, 2023 1 minute ago, cliff.b said: Now seems to be leak free🤞 Yippee! On to the next task then . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted February 27, 2023 Report Share Posted February 27, 2023 i would have drilled a small hole in thend of the split to stop it propergating maybe next time just shows acarefull ook see can solve with a fairly simple DIY repair good to see its holding up Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff.b Posted February 27, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2023 22 minutes ago, Chris A said: Yippee! On to the next task then . . . The next task is to fit the rad in properly and then, if it's still leak free after a good run, refill it with coolant instead of just water 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff.b Posted February 27, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2023 22 minutes ago, Pete Lewis said: i would have drilled a small hole in thend of the split to stop it propergating maybe next time just shows acarefull ook see can solve with a fairly simple DIY repair good to see its holding up Pete Yes, in hindsight drilling a hole would have been a better idea. Oh well, have to keep an eye on it. I haven't repainted it yet, just in case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted February 27, 2023 Report Share Posted February 27, 2023 you know painting makes it leak Ha !!! Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff.b Posted February 27, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2023 9 minutes ago, Pete Lewis said: you know painting makes it leak Ha !!! Pete Lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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