Testing a tractor radiator

[GeneMO]

Restoring a Super H Farmall. I think the radiator is OK, probably just needs a good cleaning and flushing, which I can do. I really dont want to take it to a radiator shop to look for trouble.

Think with a little plumbing a person could fill it with water and put 8 or 10 lbs of air pressure to it and look for leaks?

Thanks, Gene

 

[Anonymous-0]

I left ya the same message on KL, but here goes again.

I'd use air pressure, but not so much. Maybe 3 or 4 lbs, no water IN radiator, just air. Then submerge it in water and look for bubbles indicating a leak. An old radiator might not take 10 lbs of pressure (many cooling systems are meant to function @ 4-5psi) Water won't leak out as easily as air due to surface tension. Air will show up the very smallest of leaks.

 

[JMS/.MN]

If you have a regulator for your paint sprayer, set that for 10psi or so- beats trying to put in just a little shot for testing...then getting too much.

 

[tjiniowa]

I saw a trick one time that a guy took a bicycle innnertube and cut it in half, put each end on the upper and lower tanks, then could apply air pressure through the valve stem, then spray with soapy water or submerge in cattle tank and check for leaks.. Don't put in to much air.

 

[Michael Soldan]

..yes very low pressure..many a perfectly good rad has been blown up by putting 15 or 18 lbs on it to check for leaks...if they don't leak before putting more that a few pounds on them will make them leak

 

[mmidlam]

I plug the radiator hose ends and use a none vent cap with 2 feet of rubber tubing slid over the overflow tube. drop in a cattle water tank and blow on the tubing. I can make about 5 psi

 

[mmidlam]

I plug the radiator hose ends and use a none vent cap with 2 feet of rubber tubing slid over the overflow tube. drop in a cattle water tank and blow on the tubing. I can make about 5 psi

 

[Crem]

tjiniowa,
That bicycle inner tube hint is a great idea. I think that I heard about that before but forgot about it. Thanks for the refresher.

 

[Cas]

Buy a few rubber expansion plugs for different radiators. In the plug your going to use for
the radiator drill a hole and put in a piece of brake tubing. Take an old acetylene regulator or paint sprayer regulator and plumb together with an air chuck male end. Mix up a gallon of soapy water and soak both sides of the radiator. I usually never go over 10 lbs. You can here the tanks expand a little.
Have done dozens and have not had a failure yet.
If you are a little unsure of yourself plumb in a shutoff and inflate to 5 lbs. and leave overnight.