Radiator replacement quality

[Dunnett]

Is there any difference in the quality of the 2 readily available radiator replacements? One is from China and one is made by Clancy in Ireland.

Any thoughts?

 

[FLAcharlie]

the way I feel these days, I think that's any easy choice.

 

[Dunnett]

On some level I can appreciate the sentiment. Having said that, my company does a great deal of business with tool & die and die casting facilities in Taiwan. I was forced to seek offshore solutions for a number of reasons. Political inclinations aside, the quality and cost of the parts I have manufactured overseas are of exceptional quality. Mainland China is a different thing which is why I'm asking if anyone has had any experience with one or the other.

Ireland is also offshore...something to think about.

 

[Anonymous-0]

China is bad idea. I installed one and it ran hot there after. It didn;t fit right and I ended up pulling it and replacing with rasa radiator that is much better. My china experience was horrible.

 

[souNdguy]

It's too bad the indian ones aren't available anymore. i have a older TSC/india rad in my 8n.. fits perfectly.. lower hose is nowhere near a problem like some of the newer ones are.

Soundguy

 

[Anonymous-0]

The first radiator on my 8N lasted 55 years, If the overseas replacment I have now last half that than it should outlive me.
In my opinion that old saying "they don't make them like they used to" rings true when it comes to parts nowadays, It's as if everything's geared for the automotive industry where the life expectances of a vehicle is around ten to twenty years or so because things don't need to last much longer because there junked. Case in point is these tractors, you don't see allot of forties era car running around but you see these tractors everywhere because they were built to last with parts that last.
I had this driven home to me today when I installed that new oil pump gear while doing my rebuild, you could tell by looking at it that it wasent half the part as the one it replaced, the rivets and metal plate where the shaft afixes to the gear were smaller and not as tough lookin., So happens it was made in Turkey.

 

[KY-N]

I recently replaced with the Ireland made radiator and it fit perfectly. Would have recored my old one but could not find any place near that could or would do it and believe me I tried.

 

[Hobo,NC]

Yes their is, go with the Ireland made rad. I remember when the only place to git a radiator was a radiator repair shop, china and chain auto parts stores have run the Mom and POP rad. shops out of business. The EPA has imposed so many regulations that the cost of cleaning up the wast generated repairing rads took all the profit away from the rad repair shop. I do use rads made in China in automotive applications. Why cuzz even the OEM replacements are no better. No matter witch way you go the plastic tank will only live so long no matter how well built the core is. The cost to replace the tanks equal the price of a new'n. Their is and probably never will B a radiator that will equal the quality of a original N radiator. The chance of finding a Damm good radiator repair man is slim to none. $300 plus to rebuild a 50 year old rad verses haft that for a shinny new'n most folks will take the shinny new'n. I don't have much choice on my replacements, their are NO radiator shops around and I don't trust ones I don't know. I don't think when the time comes that the replacement N rads will b repairable so figger that you will go to the scrap yard and trade it in for enuff money to buy a bottle of wine and shop for a new foreign made radiator.

Enviromenalist win again.

 

[Tom N MS]

Gave up on finding my leak. Taped up the inlet and outlet and put rubber from old inner tube with stem at the top. Pressurized it and sprayed it with soapy stuff. Never saw a bubble. I usually don't settle for less than perfect but I know this old non-pressurized rad. is better than a new one. So I'm gonna run it and hope it rusts a little and stops leaking.

 

[Hobo,NC]

I can not prove that the Ireland rad is any better other than to say its a much better job of make'n a copy of a OEM and is a much better fit than the chines Rads. Least that's a much better start, least they have a much better mind set. Mainland China is a different thing, holds true on the rads also. I would think "exceptional quality' would hold some merit in appearance and fit, least a good start in my opinion. Its Sorta like cheap tires they all look the same but it you git stuck with a bad set you are stuck with'em till you ware'em out and never satisfied with them. When that day comes do you look for another cheap line or look for know good brands. When it comes to aftermarket off shore tractor parts don't look for "manufactured overseas are of exceptional quality" That's not in the bean counters equation's.

 

[wayne2]

Try a little BLACK PEPPER-coarse ground-not fine or whole. Wayne

 

[Tom N MS]

I did, but didn't run it a whole lot after that. I did run it enough to let the thermostat open three or four times with the pepper in it. This time I put just water in it and am going to run it a good bit with my new First Choice finish mower if the truck line ever delivers it. Was suppose to take 2-3 days but has already been 5 or 6 days. Once it delivers I will let ya'll know what truck line not to use.

 

[Dunnett]

Hm. I see. The only reason I am considering replacing the rad is because the small metal pipe at the fill hole is snapped right off. Beyond that I don't think there is much wrong with it, other than a few bent cooling fins here and there.

I did some research - went to the Clancy web site and it appears they are making decent quality rads for a number of applications. I can see where a modern version might not last as long, but would it really not cool as efficiently?

 

[Tom N MS]

If that's all that is wrong, why not get it brazed/soldered back on and save lots of money??

 

[Dunnett]

Here is am image of the top of the rad.

http://www.dunnett.com/images/rad.jpg

The tube appears beyond repair. As I am doing a full restoration I figured a new rad might be a better alternative.

Obviously when doing a resto, you've got the "original angel" on one shoulder and the "replacement devil" on the other - both whispering in your ear.

The devil was winning on this one

 

[Hobo,NC]

That can B fixed no problem.

 

[gahorN]

If I couldn't find a radiator shop, I'd take it to an airconditioner repairman to the local airport shop and ask them to fix it. Either one should be able to repair that affordably.