Chemical metal

[burgerman]

Howdy Had/have a leaking rad so finally got around to removing it today for investigation, and found the long securing ties that go through the rad for the electric fans had rubbed a hole in the rad fins, (note to e/goat- dont say i told you so :lol: )  so any how was wondering if it can be repaired with chemical metal, its more of a leak than a hole but i can pin point the exact area, the rad is only just over a year or sio old so not corroded




    BUT    More alarmingly- was the amount of mud encrusted solid in the rad :shock:   I think i was quite thorough on post off roading and stop off at the deep ish ford to clear things out, also upon arrival at home immediately get the hos eon it,  Must have taken me just undr 2 hours of wetting then washing the rad through to finally clear all the fins,
        Then a further 3/4 hour shovelling it off the drive,


    Just a warning for anyone that thinkd they are being carefull like i did

[Defender]

Howdy Had/have a leaking rad so finally got around to removing it today for investigation, and found the long securing ties that go through the rad for the electric fans had rubbed a hole in the rad fins,

Mine's attached in the same way & I have reservations about the fixing method.
I think I'll fabricate some brackets to mount the fan from the radiator mounting frame before the ties wear through the fins.

[Evilgoat]

I couldnt see how they were attached, I was assuming they were on a bracket though.

Metal of the rad is very soft, that much weight on a tie will pull through easilly :( Chemical metal may work but getting it braized may be better. Theres a place not far from where I work that are pretty damn good with that sort of thing (Wessex Radiators)

[burgerman]

Yea it will be going back on using a cage/strut type of thingy, so no part of the rad touches the fins, now i know chemical metal maynot be the first choice for the job, i shall pop over to see a very clever chappy who i did some work for, Very clever with all things metal,  Not many people i know who weld magnesium,

[J B]

i had my rad re-cored at wessex rads, then fitted the kenlowe using the normal fitting/fixing method, never had a problem  8)

[Guardian.]

that is a really crap method, they fitted my paccet fan like that to a new rad and wasnt long before vibration knackerd the rad.
i would make yourself some decent brackets.
would love to meet the  'engineer' who designed that, shal have to go to sons primary school he could be in his class.

[Range Rover Blues]

Get it brazed or soldered, don't trust chemical metal to hold antifreeze back indifinitely and if it fails it can be expensive.

Alternatively try radweld or K-Seal.

[Terranosaurus]

Chemical metal should do the job perfectly IMHO - but you need the right one, ie an Alloy one if you've got an ally rad or a brass/copper one if you have a copper rad. I've seen rads repaired quite well using body filler but I think that should be left as a trail fix rather than a permanent one. Good quality Chemical metal however would be a permanent fix. I've reattached exhaust manifold stud lugs on cast iron heads with chemical metal in the past.

[burgerman]

Got the rad brazed up this morning, and will be making a metal brace to fit the fans to, so no part of it  touches the fins, also with hindsight will be hindged to allow better cleaning of the rad in future, cheers for all the replies,