Soldering a WC's radiator

48C-MAN · Apr 6, 2015

I have a WC with a leak in the top tank. What is the proper solder to use, and how hard is it to get a good seal once done?

old · Apr 6, 2015

I use acid core solder and lots of flux and you have to make sure it is super clean or it will not hold

el6147 · Apr 7, 2015

It is labor intensive to do one correctly , once a seam is broken loose and leaking, there is contamination in between the header and the tank and no amount of cleaning will get that out unless you completely remove the tank from the core, clean the seam and then sweat it back together , 50/50 solder will work if you do it this way. if you don't you may get a top coat of solder but eventually it will break loose again ,

stu (ON) · Apr 7, 2015

6 or 8 years ago, I decided to tackle a minor seam leak on the rad of my WD. Old timers on the tractor forums advised me that the trick was to get the repair area super clean with liquid plumbers flux and a moderate propane flame. I got the flux for free at a local hardware store when I pointed out that the plastic bottle was leaking and dissolving their metal shelf. It is very corrosive.

By applying the flux with one of those metal handled brushes and using lots of flux and moderate heat, I was eventually able to get the split seam cleaned up without further damage. You can tell by the shiny change of color when you reach the state of clean.

I believe that I used acid core solder, and even with my amateur ability, I was able to solder the seam closed and it has lasted to this point. It was a lot cheaper than taking the rad to a shop.

Dick L · Apr 8, 2015

I have attempted to solder radiators many times over the years with some success but not a lot. The radiator shops remove the tanks and start over clean inside and out. I found that JB Weld Water Weld has worked better than my attempts to solder a small area. The outside to be coated needs to be clean for the water weld to work also. A small wire wheel in a die grinder and that area washed with muriatic acid after the wire wheel has worked for me. If it is in a show area water weld will never look as good as a good solder job.

Soldering a WC's radiator

48C-MAN

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old

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el6147

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stu (ON)

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Dick L

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