cliff.b Posted August 30 Report Share Posted August 30 I have been losing coolant gradually and have finally found a pinhole leak in the last tube on the right of the radiator, on the front about an inch from the top. It says a small jet out only when the car is hot, which is why I never saw it before. I was going to try and solder it but I am also wondering if squashing that tube flat for maybe half an inch above and below the hole might stop it leaking and interested in any experience or thoughts on trying this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted August 30 Report Share Posted August 30 The problem is getting enough heat into it without damaging anything else and one of those mini gas pencil burners probably best. However dont write off 2 part epoxy magic metal as its pretty good if youve got a nice area to bond onto.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff.b Posted August 30 Author Report Share Posted August 30 19 minutes ago, johny said: The problem is getting enough heat into it without damaging anything else and one of those mini gas pencil burners probably best. However dont write off 2 part epoxy magic metal as its pretty good if youve got a nice area to bond onto.... Yes, that's why I wasn't sure about soldering as it is very near the end of the tube. The "magic metal" is probably worth a try and I think I actually have some, somewhere. The challenge will be to find it 🤔 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trigolf Posted August 30 Report Share Posted August 30 I mended a mates moggy minor rad years ago, with a big 150w soldering iron and bakers fluid flux and plumbers solder. I pinched the tube edges together, which helped the solder bridge the 'gap'. As moggies( the car,not a cat) are basically over-cooled, I figured it wouldn't hurt. Lasted for years.😄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted August 30 Report Share Posted August 30 squashing tubes in the past when on pocket money normally ends up with more leaks tubes are very frail and thin walled getting the old clean is the hardest part of any localised soldering you dont see the old acid fluxed suff around these days but good in old oily places Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff.b Posted August 30 Author Report Share Posted August 30 39 minutes ago, Pete Lewis said: squashing tubes in the past when on pocket money normally ends up with more leaks tubes are very frail and thin walled getting the old clean is the hardest part of any localised soldering you dont see the old acid fluxed suff around these days but good in old oily places Pete I liberated a very old Pifco soldering gun from my Father's shed after he passed away and I think there is a tin of flux in there that may well be as old as the gun 🤔 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daverclasper Posted August 31 Report Share Posted August 31 On 30/08/2024 at 14:54, johny said: However dont write off 2 part epoxy magic metal as its pretty good if youve got a nice area to bond onto.... I did this repair on a leaking top chamber. I roughed up the metal with course abrasive paper. Still ok 9 years later. This was on an area with with plenty of room around it, so maybe easier than a tube? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted August 31 Report Share Posted August 31 I did this once between practice and race, by taking out the rad, laying it flat and dripping Araldite epoxy onto the leak. Worked and stayed worked! Not sure about Magic Metal - it's a bit stiffer in the just mixed state, and might not flow around the tubes so well. John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpitFire6 Posted August 31 Report Share Posted August 31 Egg white or Radweld. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martyn wright Posted September 1 Report Share Posted September 1 Hi! I had the same happen to me! But found out later it was a common fault ? "The AA badge " had my Radiator refurbished, put the badge on! After a couple of opening and closing of the bonnet, noticed a leak? It was the rear screw had dug into the rad without me noticing! Went to my local part store and purchased a Wynnes Rad seal at £20 lot of money but worked a treat! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff.b Posted September 1 Author Report Share Posted September 1 On 31/08/2024 at 16:12, daverclasper said: I did this repair on a leaking top chamber. I roughed up the metal with course abrasive paper. Still ok 9 years later. This was on an area with with plenty of room around it, so maybe easier than a tube? I decided to try the "magic metal" fix as I had some lying around. Carefully folded back the fins in the immediate vicinity of the hole so I could apply it around half the tube. Gently cleaned with abrasive paper, as you suggest and left it overnight. No sign of leak returning so far but will keep an eye on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted September 1 Report Share Posted September 1 If you got a good bond Cliff Id be surprised if you get any further problems but maybe carry a bottle of Radweld in the car😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff.b Posted September 1 Author Report Share Posted September 1 1 hour ago, johny said: If you got a good bond Cliff Id be surprised if you get any further problems but maybe carry a bottle of Radweld in the car😁 You know I think I might have some Radweld hiding somewhere, bought about 40 years ago. I wonder if it is still good 🤔 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff.b Posted September 1 Author Report Share Posted September 1 On 31/08/2024 at 22:20, SpitFire6 said: Egg white or Radweld. Does egg white actually work. I heard of it years ago but never actually tried it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted September 2 Report Share Posted September 2 not tried it but dont see why it wouldnt work - almost anything suitable will, sawdust is another, but the risk is that whatever you use will accumulate elsewhere particularly at the bottom of the block (drain tap?) and in heater☹️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted September 2 Report Share Posted September 2 52 minutes ago, johny said: but the risk is that whatever you use will accumulate elsewhere particularly at the bottom of the block (drain tap?) and in heater☹️ That's what bothers me about any rad leak cure treatment. How does the product know to seal a leak and not block the waterways etc. Maybe it is something to do with pressure drop and air . .🤔 I do know of someone local to me who bought a Simca 1300 and had terrible overheating issues, put down to excessive use of rad sealant stuff. He sold the car on to someone who wanted it as a parts car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted September 2 Report Share Posted September 2 14 hours ago, cliff.b said: Does egg white actually work. your Yoking , yes it was often used as was Isinglass we fitted a Barrs leak pellet to every truck built from 1970 till 1993 (when we were closed ) without any problems but they solved a lot of early life seepages with all the pipework . Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted September 2 Report Share Posted September 2 2 minutes ago, Pete Lewis said: your Yoking , yes it was often used as was Isinglass we fitted a Barrs leak pellet to every truck built from 1970 till 1993 (when we were closed ) without any problems but they solved a lot of early life seepages with all the pipework . Pete Teeth of the Gods! And you're proud of British Engineering? John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpitFire6 Posted September 2 Report Share Posted September 2 19 hours ago, cliff.b said: Does egg white actually work. I heard of it years ago but never actually tried it. Hi, My first car bought by my father was a Minor Traveller J reg. My mates had Fords. I was adjusting the fan belt and left the spanner on top of Rad. Started the engine and the spanner fell and stuck in the radiator. The radiator started leaking. Removed rad and tried to fix with aradite. Still leaked. The next day at work I was told to add an egg. I thought they were joking. A couple of days later added an egg, the leak stopped. Sticking out of the hole(s) were cooked egg white. No more leaking & no more heater. It works. Cheers, Iain. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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