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Leaky radiator

  1. #1
    Lifer oVTo's Avatar
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    Leaky radiator

    The radiator on my old K100 started leaking this weekend. I saw an old thread (2012?) on the topic but that didn't give me much confidence in any of the shops mentioned. Does anyone have experience with a local (Lowell/Nashua) area shop to get it fixed? I can get a new Chinese replica for <$200 but won't get it for months and quality is unknown. So repairing it seems to be the better option.

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    DanG
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  2. #2
    Super Adventurer SRTie4k's Avatar
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    Re: Leaky radiator

    Can't speak for locals, but I did send my leaking/bent TL1000S radiator to Myler's Radiators out in Utah. They fixed and straightened it for ~$75, painted it and sent it back within about 2 weeks. Very reasonable cost and it never leaked again.

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    Last edited by SRTie4k; 09-14-21 at 07:11 AM.
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  3. #3
    Being A Dick PurplePackage's Avatar
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    Re: Leaky radiator

    Lowell Auto Radiator Service Inc

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  4. #4
    WMC original sdog30's Avatar
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    Re: Leaky radiator

    Just cut out the fins around the leak, jb weld, done.

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  5. #5
    Lifer oVTo's Avatar
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    Re: Leaky radiator

    Quote Originally Posted by PurplePackage View Post
    Lowell Auto Radiator Service Inc
    That's where I took it. Seems like a good, honest guy. He said there are two likely causes of the leak, one pretty easy to fix & the other unfixable because of the way it was made. I'm also looking at used and new Chinese radiators. Not sure which is the bigger risk.

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    DanG
    People almost invariably arrive at their beliefs not on the basis of proof but on the basis of what they find attractive.
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  6. #6
    Lifer
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    Re: Leaky radiator

    Quote Originally Posted by SRTie4k View Post
    Can't speak for locals, but I did send my leaking/bent TL1000S radiator to Myler's Radiators out in Utah. They fixed and straightened it for ~$75, painted it and sent it back within about 2 weeks. Very reasonable cost and it never leaked again.
    Similar experience here. Had a damaged radiator on my DL650. Sent it out and had it perfectly repaired and pressure tested in similar turn-around. My log shows it cost me $78.

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  7. #7
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    Re: Leaky radiator

    Sounds like you have it figured out, but Rogers Auto Radiator in Medford is awesome.

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  8. #8
    Bizarro Zoolander Petorius's Avatar
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    Re: Leaky radiator

    Quote Originally Posted by SRTie4k View Post
    Can't speak for locals, but I did send my leaking/bent TL1000S radiator to Myler's Radiators out in Utah. They fixed and straightened it for ~$75, painted it and sent it back within about 2 weeks. Very reasonable cost and it never leaked again.

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  9. #9
    Lifer oVTo's Avatar
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    Re: Leaky radiator

    Update -

    I took my radiator to Lowell Auto Radiator Service. Even though it wasn't fixable, I highly recommend him for radiator repairs.

    When he first looked at it, he said it probably wasn't fixable because of the unusual way it's put together. He tried a fix and it held for about 20 minutes into the test but then failed.

    I ordered a Chinese knockoff ($185 Vs. $850 for a new OEM one). I went that direction mostly because he advised that a used one ($150-$200) would be old and worn and just as likely to fail as mine. It arrived this week, and looks identical except the thermostat is held on by a screw-on cap instead of the stock bolt-on. Fortunately, I took it to Lowell Radiator to be tested before installing it. The cap leaked. A lot. Instead of an o-ring, it shipped with a thin gasket which doesn't work. We spent about an hour trying a few things and it got better but not good enough.

    I've ordered a variety of o-rings. The manufacturer says a 51mmx3mm should work so I got that and adjacent sized o-rings in case it wasn't quite right. The manufacturer also suggested plumbing tape on the threads, which seems like a good idea (temp range up to 250C and resistant to petrochemicals). I'd like to hear if anyone thinks that's a dumb idea and why.

    The o-rings should arrive tomorrow so I'll go back and test it again. Hopefully between the o-rings and the tape I'll get a good reliable seal.

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    DanG
    People almost invariably arrive at their beliefs not on the basis of proof but on the basis of what they find attractive.
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  10. #10
    Lifer oVTo's Avatar
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    Re: Leaky radiator

    Shit. I got a few of rings and one of them did a decent job sealing the thermostat cover. But that just exposed a tubes to leak. It might be fixable (on a brand-new radiator), but radiator guy says if it leaks out of the box what are the odds of not having more leaks a few months from now?
    So, contacting the vendor tonight to see what the options are.

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    DanG
    People almost invariably arrive at their beliefs not on the basis of proof but on the basis of what they find attractive.
    - Blaise Pascal

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