(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

Radiator, repair or replace?

M

MattCatlin

Member
Guys I'd appreciate your thoughts, the radiator on my old 4010 Deere is shot, needs a new core. Radiator shop quoted 850. Looks like new radiators are available for half that even some including shipping. Getting the radiator out was pretty easy, plenty of room I'm guessing that a "perfect fit" necessary for a drop in on tight car is not a concern. I imagine the old ones are built better, but if they are installing a new core its going to be all new light gauge stuff anyways. If I do go for a new one, what is a good brand, preferably not Chinese junk.
 
"I'm guessing that a "perfect fit" necessary for a drop in on tight car is not a concern."

I wonder if your opinion of that will change after you try to install the average generic replacement one and have to cut and trim and drill new holes for the fan shroud like I have had to do at least twice because that's what the customer bought?

Oh, yeah, and trim the hood 'cuz the filler neck isn't where it's supposed to be.
 
Buy 2 chinese radiators and do two replacements,or do it once with a good American radiator.And help an American business stay in business and hire Amereican workers.
 
Have you attempted to locate a good used one? Might be cost effective to buy a good used one and have it cleaned.
 

a&i sell the radiators made in ireland. Have had good luck and still have the industrial core and the cheap automotive cores.
 
I've had a lot of radiators repaired for customers equipment. My suggestion is to go ahead and get either a new, OEM one, or to get yours repaired. Like another post stated, getting a generic one is going to be nothing but a nightmare, and in the end will cost you far more in time, curse words, and money than either t he repair or replace with OEM option will.

As far as quality goes, there are usually different levels of repair parts, just as there are new parts. I've had radiators repaired before that had good tanks, but the cores had the wrong fin style for the dirty conditions, etc. My point is, in many cases the repair shop can put in a core that was as good as, or better than the original.

Ultimately the decision is yours, but whatever you do, insure the replacement meets OEM specs for performance as well as fit, or you'll spend more doing the job twice.
 
I do not like the replacement radiators that you buy these days. They do not have as many rows of tubes and the core material is lighter. Even the Irish build A&I ones are not like the originals. I have my local radiator shop re-core the tanks on my old ones. They can still get the same size core, with all the same rows and thickness of tubes. I have not had a JD 4010 one done lately. The last one I can remember is a JD 4440 and it was right at $1200 for the re-core. The A&I replacement was around $800???? The re-cored one weight a lot more than the A&I replacement, like 40 LBS more.

If your just doing light work with the tractor you will not see much difference. IF your doing HARD field work then the 'Lighter" radiators will make the tractor run hotter. They just do not have the surface area of the originals. The JD 4440s will boil over with the cheap replacements if you run the AC.
 
Or you could buy a Modine radiator made by Mexicans on old worn out equipment stripped from American plants as they shipped the jobs south.

Are there any replacement radiators made in the US?
 
I bought several radiators from YT and was well pleased. I would never go for a recor anymore. Put in a new one and go worry free.
 
I have the good luck of having an honest-to-goodness radiator repair shop less than an hour away from me.
Last time I was there, he had an aftermarket radiator there for a John Deere tractor that had a "Made in Mexico" sticker on it that he was supposed to fix. I commented about it and he said that it weighed about half the weight of an honest factory radiator. I guess it's your money.
 
Just curious, what do you have against recoring a radiator, did you have a bad experience?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
Massey Harris 81 radiator options
Replies
3
Views
450
t martin
T
C
TO35 Radiator Advice
Replies
8
Views
809
Caryc
C
D
Farmall C Radiator
Replies
8
Views
607
560Dennis
560Dennis
T
KTA Resto Progress
Replies
12
Views
2K
Tom R S
T
J
Farmall M radiator again..
Replies
8
Views
651
rustred
rustred
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top