44 A coolant system question

[Tstoner]

I have a 44 A that I am restoring. I recently pulled the core off of the tanks to clean and re gasket. It is a brass radiator so it is not original to this tractor but the radiator cap is a pressure cap. Once I put it back together I want to check for leaks with my pressure tester.. .How many psi are these caps? Or are these systems not pressurized due to there not being a water pump? Was wondering if someone can shed some light on this.

 

[Leroy]

I have read but not seen the war years that had steel radiator cores used a
small cap pressured to keep from overheating. Do not know pressure rating.
Might find out in parts book and find out if your top tank was orignall
steel or copper. I do know orignal 4 tube radiator when core replaced with 3
tube will over heat and have to have a pump installed. Found that out on my
51A

 

[rustred]

yes they are not pressurized, use only a couple lbs to check for leaks.

 

[susandiane]

The '53 70 was pressurized to 5 lb and that was a big deal. Compared to modern radiators it doesn't seem like, much, but if you get barfed on by hot water at 5 lbs
it will cook you as good as if it were 15. So, yes indeed pressurize it very little.

 

[Mike M]

Of the wartime models I had the tubes were still brass or copper but it was the cross fins that were
steel and rusting away.