Farmall M radiator

[Dean Olson]

My new to me M's radiator is flat plugged up.

I mean "0" flow.

When I removed the lower hose the rusty water flowed out of the motor and did not come out of the top tank of the radiator at all.

I hooked up a garden hose to the bottom radiator fitting thinking if I reversed the flow under pressure it might loosen things up. It didn't!

2 questions:

Should I try to have this cleaned or just buy a new one?

At a $4-600 price tag buying a new one is not real exciting.

If I choose to buy a new radiator please express an opinion on who to get it from so I don't have all the fit and function issues I read about in the archives.
 

[gene bender]

Mite as well remove it from the tractor then get some vinegar in as much as you can. If you turn it upside down the liquid in the tank should drain out then fill with vinegar and let it soak it will take some time but the crud should loosen up enough to shake or drain out. Mite take a while but its cheaper than a new one. I would also plug the bottom of the block and fill the engine cooling system with vinegar Sounds like you have a good project for a while.
 

[FBH44]

Gene"s correct but I discovered something a few weeks ago. Had 240-V water heater plug up bad with lime, and tried vinegar. It bubbled and fizzed, but after 24 houers, it hadn"t really dissolved much lime. You might try CLR or some other different dissolvers besides vingear.
 

[David G]

I would recore before buying a new one. I got a new one for my H and nothing fit right. The metal on the tanks was also thinner.
 

[Dave_Id]

Send to radiator shop to have it "rodded out". Last one I had done cost $60 up in Spokane.
 

[dstates]

I just took mine to a radiator shop and had it "boiled". He also fixed the one leak and removed a broken mounting stud for $96.

Good luck.
 

[CNKS]

With that much crud, you can try to have it rodded, but don't be surprised if it is so rusted that the rodding ruins it -- happened to me once.
 

[David G]

I would add one thing if the M has the water jacket cover like the H does.

The bottom half of my block was full of rust and mud. I pulled that cover, pulled the block drains and shoved the power washer down in between all the cylinders. I did this until I could see no more mud and the drain water was clear.