Raideriator Patching

Kinja'd!!! "gmctavish needs more space" (gmctavish)
05/14/2020 at 21:44 • Filed to: Raider

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I had what looked like 4 pinhole leaks in the top tank of my rad. According to my mechanic, all I needed to fix that is a propane torch, flux, and acid core solder. I spent a lot of time wrangling a funnel into place under the radiator drain so I could lower the coolant level. I had a section of old hose on the funnel to drain into a bucket, since I didn’t want to remove the skid plates.

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Then I learned that the drain is actually a hose, not where I had the funnel under the plug I was unscrewing. So I ditched the funnel, and the hose fit around the drain hose, and into the bucket around the other end

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For such a small engine there sure isn’t always a ton of room to work.

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After I wire brushed and sanded where the leaks are, I couldn’t find them. Perfect. Also, this torch is garbage, and goes out once it’s anywhere near horizontal. So heating the spots was a huge pain in the ass, but I eventually got some solder where I think the leaks are...

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I hope I was successful, but if I wasn’t, I’m gonna need a better torch to do this successfully.

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DISCUSSION (8)


Kinja'd!!! Nom De Plume > gmctavish needs more space
05/14/2020 at 21:57

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I was internally debating the merits of a pencil torch today. Sometimes a small torch is inconvenient, others a heat gun is the same only less powerful.

Painted surfaces are a no go area with the pencil torch. I’m still thinking using one could win out in many situations I face if only through ease.


Kinja'd!!! gmctavish needs more space > Nom De Plume
05/14/2020 at 22:02

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As long as you don’t need to go near horizontal... I think I lit it like 15 or 20 times to get those 4 spots “done”. I didn’t want to spent $65 or so on the better torch, but I’ll probably have to anyway


Kinja'd!!! Nom De Plume > gmctavish needs more space
05/14/2020 at 22:15

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Hope they hold.  


Kinja'd!!! gmctavish needs more space > Nom De Plume
05/14/2020 at 22:48

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Yeah, me too....


Kinja'd!!! dogisbadob > gmctavish needs more space
05/14/2020 at 22:52

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oooo your car has headlight washers that’s awesome :o)


Kinja'd!!! jminer > gmctavish needs more space
05/14/2020 at 23:02

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Get a torch that’s more of a right angle like this and you won’t have that problem with tilting it too far.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085QLNQWB/?coliid=I1DR80NMKUUCH9&colid=LQAG8T2A5H9C&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Also use map p gas instead of propane if you’re brazing. The bottle is only a couple bucks more than propane and burns much hotter. It’s good for both soldering and brazing, as well as heating up stuck bolts.


Kinja'd!!! gmctavish needs more space > jminer
05/15/2020 at 01:21

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I’ll see if I can something like that on Canadian amazon...I’ll look into mapp gas as well, thanks! 


Kinja'd!!! gmctavish needs more space > dogisbadob
05/15/2020 at 01:22

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It does, but they don’t work. I’ve gotta look into that at some point