Small crack in Bobcat 763 radiator, JB Weld?

[ShowroomShine]

Got a small hairline fracture in the housing on the radiator on my 763. Its small enough all it does is fizzle when it gets hot.

Is JB Weld something good for this or would you guys just take it out and repair it? I normally do stuff right and not patch it, but I've got to use it this upcoming weekend and dont know if I have time to pull it and repair.

 

[RNeumann]

It wouldn't hurt to try. The heat, smooth flat surface and movement won't be your friend but maybe....
You could also drop the fluid level, remove the cap and solder the crack with it in the machine.
Before summer is in full swing you should be able to run it with the radiator cap in the no pressure/pressure relief position (about half way on).
The more common but controversial solutions are Bars Leak, Alumaseal (what I carry for emergencies) and a raw egg.

Stepping up to something like BlueDevil is an option if you are so inclined.

 

[Quebecguy]

The more common but controversial solutions are Bars Leak, Alumaseal (what I carry for emergencies) and a raw egg.

A tablespoon or two of common black pepper added to the antifreeze/water mix will stop the leak for a while too.

 

[fried1765]

It wouldn't hurt to try. The heat, smooth flat surface and movement won't be your friend but maybe....
You could also drop the fluid level, remove the cap and solder the crack with it in the machine.
Before summer is in full swing you should be able to run it with the radiator cap in the no pressure/pressure relief position (about half way on).
The more common but controversial solutions are Bars Leak, Alumaseal (what I carry for emergencies) and a raw egg.

Stepping up to something like BlueDevil is an option if you are so inclined.

I have used "Bars Leak" before, and it worked, and lasted.

 

[4570Man]

My truck radiator cracked a while back. I tried using JB weld and a product marked as radiator repair. Both products failed. I ended up replacing the radiator.

 

[Xfaxman]

Metal or plastic?

 

[tomplum]

I would JB it. It is a smidgen of a leak so if it should fail, NBD. Especially if there is enough surface area available where it is leaking. Cool radiator story. 20 years ago I glued on the neck for the upper hose on plastic tanked car radiator w/ JB. It had completely broken off. As luck would have it, it was an expensive radiator so I waited for one to become available in a boneyard. Well, time to sell the car and I thought it best to replace the radiator rather than let someone sit. I wanted to see how good it really held. Though it broke at the glue seam, it was no easy task. Took a wallop to do so!

 

[skyhook]

I would clean the hair line crack well, extra fine sandpaper, use flux paste, plumbers solder and a propane torch to seal it, then apply a dab of JB. The flux paste will ensure a good bond of the solder.

 

[bspeedy]

Since the radiator has a very important job to do, I would not do a half arsed fix. Pull the rad and have it repaired at a radiator repair facility that can pressure test and warranty their work. If repair is not possible, replace it.

As for your need to use it this weekend, do so, but keep an eye on the temp gauge and don't let it sit and idle without someone in the seat watching the gauges. It's probably been like that for a while so one more day or two won't hurt it. Fix it properly afterward.

 

[KYErik]

If you chose to try the repair you can pressure test it yourself. Just turn your air compressor pressure regulator down to 15 psi and use a blow gun nozzle to blow air into the radiator overflow tube. The radiator cap has a one way valve that should keep the system pressurized even after you stop injecting air.

I use this trick when I replace a hard to get to water pump (like a timing belt driven pump on an automobile engine) before I completely reassemble it. If the there is some other gasket/seal leaking down under the timing belt cover, I want to know it BEFORE I spend 2-3 hours putting everything back together.