Radiator hose

TDJD · Jan 21, 2020

I keep having trouble with my radiator hoses leaking. Some of them have been on for years, some I just put on. Why do they do this and what can I do to fix it? I?ve tried tightening the clamps till they brake. And all the tractor are John Deere two-cylinders, so no water pumps or thermostats.
Thanks

Eagle Beagle · Jan 21, 2020

The only fix I know is the use of silicone hose and constant tension clamps. Do you notice the leaks when the engine is cold, or when its hot?

Beagle

Janicholson · Jan 21, 2020

I have had to polish the nipples where the hose attaches with a round and round approach to clean and polish up the metal. I use 1 inch wide strip abrasive 150 grit. The round round creats gripping grooves that are cross ways to the coolant flow. There are real clamps available from Summit racing.com that are far stronger than the almost strong clamps made today. Gates clamps are also pretty good. Jim

gregww · Jan 21, 2020

The lower radiator hose on my truck was leaking, I tightened the clamp, it quit. For about a week. Tightened the clamp again, fixed it for a week or so. I finally replaced the clamp, and it's been good ever since. The radiator was new this past summer, and it's plastic, so I don't think there is any corrosion.

504 · Jan 21, 2020

Are the nipples painted? sand them and try again.

TDJD · Jan 21, 2020

One leaks when it?s cold, one when it?s hot, and one all the time.

TDJD · Jan 21, 2020

No they haven?t been painted.

Steve@Advance · Jan 21, 2020

Are the radiator nipples possibly dented or crushed?

If they are not round they will leak. You can hold something round, like a big socket or piece of pipe inside and carefully tap the outside to bring out any dents.

Any oil contamination in the radiator? Oil will degrade the hoses from the inside out.

TDJD · Jan 21, 2020

The radiator nipples are either cast iron, or steel pipe so I?m pretty sure they won?t bend. I don?t know of any oil contamination, but I did use some grease to get a hose on one.

John Deere D · Jan 21, 2020

Clean. Clean.....inspect all fittings for out of round and or dints.....I then installed silicone hoses and t-Bolt clamps.......10 year and NO leaks on my JD 520.....
Bob..

SkipperII · Jan 21, 2020

If I need lubricant to install a hose, I use a little cream hand cleaner, it doesn't soften the rubber.

RedMF40 · Jan 22, 2020

I don't know those tractors but I am guessing deeply pitted cast iron at the hose connections, allowing just enough of a bad connection to leak. Don't know if this'll help, but I used JB Weld to smooth over a small dent in a heater hose that was allowing a drip on a previous car. Shop wanted 800-900$$ to pull the dash and replace the whole heater core. The JB Weld worked for years until I sold the car. Might be able to carefully smooth over the hose nipples with that stuff and see if it helps.

Tom Massachusetts · Jan 22, 2020

(quoted from post at 21:16:38 01/21/20) I keep having trouble with my radiator hoses leaking. Some of them have been on for years, some I just put on. Why do they do this and what can I do to fix it? I?ve tried tightening the clamps till they brake. And all the tractor are John Deere two-cylinders, so no water pumps or thermostats.
Thanks

I have been using aviation formagasket , the non hardening type. Smear a little on the inside of the hose and install. This is the black tar like stuff. I work on antique cars and have all kinds of nipples, rusty, dented, and they never leak.

Bruce(OR) · Jan 22, 2020

Permatex #2 also works.

Radiator hose

TDJD

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Eagle Beagle

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Janicholson

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gregww

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504

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TDJD

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TDJD

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Steve@Advance

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TDJD

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John Deere D

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SkipperII

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RedMF40

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Tom Massachusetts

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Bruce(OR)

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