|
jubilee johnny -- For a large percentage of folks performing a full restoration, the radiator is disassembled & cleaned,and carefully inspected. Inspection results will lead you from there. Once satisfied, the parts repainted individually, the radiator is reassembled, and eventually installed on the tractor as part of build-up leading to first engine run-up. I did one time carry the raw core to a radiator shop for an expert-eye inspection & opinion. His first question was how much pressure the cooling system run at? None, I replied, then there wasn't much he could test for was his response. As always, there are alternatives here. If the tractor was operating beforehand and the system held coolant, you may choose to use the radiator as you found it. This is not restoration, but rather a "spruce up"! Nothing wrong here so far as this plays in with your overall objective of removing wear. Or -- you may choose to take the radiator apart, clean & inspect the parts, then put it back together assuming you find no fault with the core. Here once again, full restoration doesn't say that you must replace the core! And then there is the instance where you do find fault with the core. You install a new one and you are off to the races. Now -- in not one of the outcomes above are you assured the radiator will not leak or at least seep. And so part of the early-on engine run-up tasks is to install a cooling system sealer such as KW Block seal, widely available, following instructions for the product and all should be well. One other thing -- in my Book, I appear to lean toward using Hi-Temp RTV for gasket sealer, and that works okay provided to go for full coverage and not for huge amounts! As always with all gasket sealer applications, it is coverage & not quantity -- USE SPARINGLY are my bywords. I have learned, however, that the brush-on sealers are so much better, and not that costly. Try Permatex Aircraft Form-A-Gasket No. 3 Sealer; 4-ounce can found at NAPA for under $5.00 and cleanup of the ooze-out was a snap using mineral spirits so long as you don't wait over an hour to do the cleanup. Mineral spirits generally will not affect cured JD paint.
|
