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how to determine a radiator is going bad?

S

scott pa.

Member
Water leaks out of the over flow line
Water wasn't even hot,the water swirls Like a toilet bowl when running.An I just washed the crap out of the fins.
 
old school way,
disconnect the bottom hose from radiator
hold your hand over the lower radiator outlet,
fill radiator with water,

with top cap off radiator:
release your hand from the lower radiator outlet and watch the flow of water,

if it's a health out flow of water then the radiator is open, if it runs out slow or pulsates then there is a high likely hood the radiator is stopped up in the center where most cooling takes place.

when you are using the tractor and the motor is warm, if you can get to the front of the radiator, being very careful or use a temp gun, check the temperature of the sides of the radiator verse the center of the radiator,

normally they stop up first, in the center, the action you see may be from water trying to get around the stopped up center
 
Most people take it to a radiator shop or just buy a new radiator. I repair them but wonder if it is worth it.....Instead of hot tanking, put a can of lye in the tank, block outlets, fill with water,let set overnight then flush with clean water. Brass a loop unto an old cap. Install cap then connect to hoist. Lift radiator just off a workbench and heat solder around tank, while working tank off. Ream/rod cores with a flat oil check dipstick from an engine. Never use a wire, you will poke holes in the core. Flush junk out. Clean off old solder and resolder.
 
(quoted from post at 06:00:49 08/24/15) You should be able to feel hot and cold spots on the front of a plugged radiator.
Click to expand...

Use a non-contact IR temp gun. They used to be expensive, now about ten bucks on Ebay. Also good for checking bearings, thermostats through the housing, comparing exhaust temps with injected and multi-carb engines, etc.
 
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