soldering a pin hole in a radiator

Anonymous-0 · Jun 15, 2009

My John Deere 50 sprung a leak midway up the radiator. I think something hit it. It is right at the front edge of the core and easily accessible. I don't want to take it off and there are no local shops that I can drive it too for "on tractor" repair.

Any tips on fixing the hole with solder??

Thank you.

Dan-IA · Jun 15, 2009

I only offer that there's a bottle of radiator stop-leak stuff you can dump in and let circulate while the tractor idles and it will plug a hole. After that you can refill it. A pin hole it should seal just fine. You have to idle the tractor for about 10 minutes or so to make it work.

MAC in TX · Jun 15, 2009

Drain radiator to just below the pin hole. Clean the area around the hole real good. Put some JB Weld over and around the hole. let set up for a day. I have used this method on a Case 10 years ago and it is still holding.

Ole Shovel · Jun 15, 2009

Some black pepper thrown in will seal up a small leak too.

mitehelp · Jun 15, 2009

Solder will work if repair area is easy to get to + can you get it clean enough--inside tube counts too---gently scrape around bad spot-make brass shine--tear away fins from tube if in the way--preheat & use good flux.Make sure heat is far away from original soldered joints that are not protected by coolant--use solder designed for radiator repair. I use very small tip on oxy/acy--watch out for too much heat-you can see when it flows right.

mitehelp · Jun 15, 2009

Solder will work if repair area is easy to get to + can you get it clean enough--inside tube counts too---gently scrape around bad spot-make brass shine--tear away fins from tube if in the way--preheat & use good flux.Make sure heat is far away from original soldered joints that are not protected by coolant--use solder designed for radiator repair. I use very small tip on oxy/acy--watch out for too much heat-you can see when it flows right.

Lesformore · Jun 15, 2009

The trick to soldering is cleaning the metal and using the right products. You need 50/50 wire solder, paste flux that looks like beige vaselene and a propane or acetylene torch. Clean the pin hole area with emery cloth or sand paper. Apply a little flux. and heat the area lightly. Move the torch away and touch the solder to the hole. The radiator should melt the solder, not the torch. If it doesn't melt and stick, heat some more until it does. Clean away the leftover flux or it will corrode the metal and turn it green. Your done !!

gahorN · Jun 16, 2009

Use ACID core solder and/or paste. Do NOT use electronics (rosin) core or paste.

37 chief · Jun 16, 2009

I have also used JB weld for small tube repairs, but just like solder it needs to be clean. Put a very small dab, or it will run until it hardenes. Stan

DFZ · Jun 16, 2009

I did one last year that surprisingly worked really well. Hole in the middle of the tube. I enlarged the hole, cleaned as much as I could and after the radiator was dry I pumped silicone gasket maker through a syringe up and down the tube. I probably filled it 2" up. Then I crimped the tube shut, let it dry over night. Completely dry now. For what its worth, a quick cheap fix...

rbel · Jun 16, 2009

As an old time solder guy, use your dremel tool and a wire brush bit to polish the area to be soldered until it is bright and shiney. Then USING A SOLDERING IRON heat the location and apply soldering paste, then heat it again until the tube melts the solder (not the iron). At this point you have "tinned" the area to be repaired. Then you can using the iron and solder close up the hole.

Bus Driver · Jun 16, 2009

Dry the place. Use Liquid Nails on the hole, a blob. Let it dry for a day, refill and use the tractor. It will not be a problem for the repair shop later.

soldering a pin hole in a radiator

Anonymous-0

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Dan-IA

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MAC in TX

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Ole Shovel

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mitehelp

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mitehelp

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Lesformore

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gahorN

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37 chief

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DFZ

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rbel

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Bus Driver

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