Qu1ckn1ck Posted August 8, 2018 Report Share Posted August 8, 2018 My GT6 has an irritating small leak at the filler neck joint caused when we lifted the engine to change mounts. Otherwise the radiator is in perfect condition. Amateur efforts to solder repair the leak always seem to fail once pressure builds in the system. 1) Are there any recommended radiator repairers close to North Herts who would be prepared to carry out a small repair at a reasonable price? 2) Are the Chinese (?) aluminium radiators advertised at £195 nearly everywhere on ebay reasonable quality and effective? 3) Any other suggestions please (NOT RADWELD!)? Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted August 8, 2018 Report Share Posted August 8, 2018 http://www.autoinsider.co.uk/local/car-radiator-servicing-and-repairs/ai_11534.php its getting it clean have you tried some aacid self cleaning flux if its still around if its not really clean and shiny the solder wont take to it around the filler is a hard place to get at Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badwolf Posted August 8, 2018 Report Share Posted August 8, 2018 You should be able to get acid flux from any good plumbing factors. I also have a small gas torch which runs off cigarette lighter gas, for small detailed work. It is the size of a pencil torch. Doesn't hold much gas or run for very long, but idea for small cracks in solder. I have even used it on the odd 15mm pipe fitting when the big blow lamp was too powerful. This is similar to mine: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gas-Blow-Torch-Soldering-Solder-Iron-Gun-Butane-Cordless-Welding-Pen-Burne-SS/183340264242?hash=item2aafee6b32:g:9AIAAOSwB09YIb9M 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad4classics Posted August 8, 2018 Report Share Posted August 8, 2018 Maybe these people? https://hartsradiators.co.uk/ A brass radiator will usually take well to a diy repair, others not so easy. As Pete said; clean thouroughly + good flux and a high power pencil flame torch to get the job done quickly. I favour 50/50 solder for rad repairs. If you've sprung the filler neck joint, it might be better to have a specialist repair. David 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted August 8, 2018 Report Share Posted August 8, 2018 Kempston Radiators at Bedford seem a good bet. I need to drop my 'spare' rad into them at some point to get the filler neck replaced as the flange over which the cap tightens has fractured. It also has a very small leak on the core, which is irritating as it occurred about 15 months after I'd bought it as a recored / refurbished / upgraded one (via an advert in The Courier). I did speak to them about it a while ago and they quoted me a reasonable amount, but not got around to delivering it to them after I acquired a NOS one from a local club member. A friend of mine in Tewin recommended them - they've done a couple of classic and race car rads for him over the past few years. Gully 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qu1ckn1ck Posted August 9, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2018 20 hours ago, Gully said: Kempston Radiators at Bedford seem a good bet. I need to drop my 'spare' rad into them at some point to get the filler neck replaced as the flange over which the cap tightens has fractured. It also has a very small leak on the core, which is irritating as it occurred about 15 months after I'd bought it as a recored / refurbished / upgraded one (via an advert in The Courier). I did speak to them about it a while ago and they quoted me a reasonable amount, but not got around to delivering it to them after I acquired a NOS one from a local club member. A friend of mine in Tewin recommended them - they've done a couple of classic and race car rads for him over the past few years. Gully Kempston Radiators are both long established and well recommended. Can you remember what price they quoted to give me a clue as to what mine might be? Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted August 9, 2018 Report Share Posted August 9, 2018 4 hours ago, Qu1ckn1ck said: Kempston Radiators are both long established and well recommended. Can you remember what price they quoted to give me a clue as to what mine might be? Nick Seem to recall it being in the tens of pounds, but subject to them having an appropriate filler neck. Gully 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qu1ckn1ck Posted August 10, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2018 Has anyone used one of the aluminium radiators advertised frequently on ebay for around £185-£195 ? They seem to be sourced from China via The Netherlands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daverclasper Posted August 10, 2018 Report Share Posted August 10, 2018 Just an idea. I had a hole develop on the top area of rad. Cleaned it up and roughed up the metal and used JB Weld. Still ok 4 years later. Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted August 10, 2018 Report Share Posted August 10, 2018 10 hours ago, Qu1ckn1ck said: Has anyone used one of the aluminium radiators advertised frequently on ebay for around £185-£195 ? They seem to be sourced from China via The Netherlands. No personal experience, but I have heard on the grapevine that some of them are too tall and hit the underside of the bonnet. Gully 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpbarrett Posted August 11, 2018 Report Share Posted August 11, 2018 I had the radiator in my herald rebuilt. It had a small leak and they offered to repair it but I went for a full rebuild. Probably as much as buying a new one but I know the company and I am very pleased with the result, car ran at normal temperature no sign of any overheating in the very hot weather we had recently. I am using the standard size radiator, mechanical fan, new water pump, but as the engine has been rebuilt I guess all the water ways are clear. I think its shows that if the standard system is in good condition you should not have any overheating problems. Triumph got it right, sometimes we try to reengineer the cars to solve problems that are due to there age rather than getting them back to how they were designed. The company was http://www.angliaradiators.co.uk/. Mike 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qu1ckn1ck Posted August 11, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2018 Thanks Mike, I don't have any overheating problems, just an irritating small leak from the filler neck joint. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpbarrett Posted August 11, 2018 Report Share Posted August 11, 2018 I am sure http://www.angliaradiators.co.uk/. would repair it for you. usually a couple of days to do it, they seem very busy with all sorts of interesting radiators, including some from Duxford! cheers mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qu1ckn1ck Posted August 18, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 18, 2018 The ongoing saga of my GT6 radiator: Bought a used, but tested good, replacement radiator and had it fitted yesterday. As soon as system was hot and pressurised, coolant appeared at exactly the same spot near the filler neck as on the original radiator. Many rude words later and much checking and rechecking of hoses for pinholes, clips for tightness I decided in desperation to try a new radiator cap, courtesy of my local MG specialist. Mirabile dictu - I no longer appear to have a leaky radiator. Has anyone got a logical explanation as to how the old filler cap was able to create a convincing impression of a leak ? I now wonder if the repair to the filler neck on my original radiator had actually been effective but disguised by the radiator cap creating a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad4classics Posted August 18, 2018 Report Share Posted August 18, 2018 Put the old cap back and stare at it very hard to see exactly where it's leaking. Are you sure the new filler cap is sealing properly so that the cooling system is presurising? Some GT6 radiators seem to have quit a deep filler neck. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave.vitesse Posted August 18, 2018 Report Share Posted August 18, 2018 Gremlins, they get everywhere. Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gully Posted August 18, 2018 Report Share Posted August 18, 2018 (edited) On 18 August 2018 at 3:58 PM, Mad4classics said: Put the old cap back and stare at it very hard to see exactly where it's leaking. Are you sure the new filler cap is sealing properly so that the cooling system is presurising? Some GT6 radiators seem to have quit a deep filler neck. David Took me about 3 different caps to find one deep enough to pressurise. The ones that are too short seal on the filler neck, so no leakage, but allow the water to pass into the expansion bottle very quickly as the car warms up and the coolant expands. Gully Edited August 19, 2018 by Gully Remove ambiguity 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qu1ckn1ck Posted August 21, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2018 My replacement radiator with the new cap is now showing no signs of leakage and a scalded hand proves it is pressurising. Very strange ! Now on to the next problem - new hub nuts that fit the thread on the offside shaft but not the nearside shaft ..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted August 21, 2018 Report Share Posted August 21, 2018 everywhere i look swing or rotaflex all use 510618 nut 5/8unf the only variant i see is the herald 948 which used a thin nut TN3213 also used on 2000 quill shafts and its also 5/8unf is this a micky mouse shaft or has it been stripped and turned down to a smaller diameter ???? who knows Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qu1ckn1ck Posted August 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2018 I now have a replacement non-leaking radiator fitted to the car and the original leaky radiator has been repaired and joins my ever increasing store of GT6 spare parts. On 8/21/2018 at 6:38 PM, Pete Lewis said: everywhere i look swing or rotaflex all use 510618 nut 5/8unf the only variant i see is the herald 948 which used a thin nut TN3213 also used on 2000 quill shafts and its also 5/8unf is this a micky mouse shaft or has it been stripped and turned down to a smaller diameter ???? who knows Pete Apparently my nearside shaft appears to have a larger diameter thread than the offside. Neither the new nut from Rimmers or the old offside nut will run onto the thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted August 23, 2018 Report Share Posted August 23, 2018 can we have a look at the pub on monday evening , if its at all visible Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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