BEST RADIATOR REPAIR - need info on best route to fix leak.

[Tri Dragon]

Info Please!
I have had a bad day in the shop and put 2 small pin holes in my radiator of my 2001 IS.
I grabbed the wrong and a little too long of screws for my custom rad grill re install. When I finished full service and fired her up, green juice on the shop floor!!!
Now when I take it to rad shop, what is best advise and route to fix the Valk's aluminum rad.
I am not fond of bars leak or additives so I already took the rad out and want a good fix done. can anyone tell me if they have had a repair and has it held up. I tend to ride my Dragon a liitle flat out most the time and hate a breakdown.
Any and all advise and info welcome and yes I will double check screw next time.
Does anyone have a line or link for replacement new radiator other than the $960.00 Honda dealer wants.
Thanks
Terry

[X Ring]

Take it to a radiator repair shop.  They should be able to repair it for you.

Marty

[R J]

If you can still find one in business...........

My father-in-law had a rad shop.

When he passed the oldest daughters husband stole the business from the mother-in-law..   Wife and i were in California when this was going on and not aware of the happenings till her mom called and said Eddie owns the business now.....  Wife didn't even know they were negotiating.   He had 2 set of books.  He showed her the one he had skimmed about 40 thousand off of in about 4 months.....  So mom sold him the business based on that set of books.   Mom wouldn't even believe us after we showed her in black and white.  In her eyes Eddie was the best.....  He worked so hard with dad when he was alive, she said...

It closed about 9 or 10 years ago when he passed.

At 1 time here in Des Moines there was 9 shops.   Today there are NONE.......

[Robert]

The repair shouldn't be hard and you have choices, the first repair the rad yourself if you are decent with a torch get some solder with flux and have a try. You can try first on a copper pipe first just to get the feel then the radiator. If its in the fin area just move a few of the fins away from the tube and heat just enough to melt the solder a good job the solder flows a bad one the solder sits on the surface. I assume the hole is very small and if you want to go the sealer route which I dont recommend not because it wont work but because the solder is just a quality repair, then use the GM Delco pellets. I mean only them I have tried all the others and they either dont work clog the radiator or are just a plain mess. The Delco pellets have worked every time and wont clog the radiator. It comes with 5 pellets use one or two run the bike with the cap on and that should seal it. A radiator shop will handle it easily or there's always used.

[Ricky-D]

I think you discount the bars-leak too quickly.

Those type sealers are especially good for what your problem is and they work extremely well.

I would suggest trying one, add a little, not a whole lot and see what happens. Most definitely do not add the whole amount. The Valkyrie cooling system is only a few quarts.

***

[BigM]

Got mine fixed one time. Had a pin hole. Can get it tig welded with someone that knows what they are doing.

[Bob E.]

I know it is still expensive, but HDL has that radiator for $491.83.  Either that or give Pinwall a call to see if they have any used ones...it seems many here have had good luck with used parts from them. 

[Tri Dragon]

Take it to a radiator repair shop.  They should be able to repair it for you.

Marty

YEH Marty, i thoght it was best done by a shop. I have done brass and copper but did not want to make it worse. Shop used a good epoxy and pressure tested to 25 psi. Put it back in last night, no leaks.
tnx for reply.
Terry

[Tri Dragon]

Info Please!
I have had a bad day in the shop and put 2 small pin holes in my radiator of my 2001 IS.
I grabbed the wrong and a little too long of screws for my custom rad grill re install. When I finished full service and fired her up, green juice on the shop floor!!!
Now when I take it to rad shop, what is best advise and route to fix the Valk's aluminum rad.
I am not fond of bars leak or additives so I already took the rad out and want a good fix done. can anyone tell me if they have had a repair and has it held up. I tend to ride my Dragon a liitle flat out most the time and hate a breakdown.
Any and all advise and info welcome and yes I will double check screw next time.
Does anyone have a line or link for replacement new radiator other than the $960.00 Honda dealer wants.
Thanks
Terry

Just want to thank you all for your input. Had rad shop do a clean, good epoxy fix and test to 25 psi. Put it back in last night and no leaks. I will put plastic back on the weekend. I guess I am ready for the season now.
tnx again. Terry

[ssober]

I had issues with zrx radiators and epoxy was a problem.  For aluminum radiators mylers is awesome, usually they will turn it around the same day as they receive it.

http://www.motorcycleradiators.com/

[Tri Dragon]

I had issues with zrx radiators and epoxy was a problem.  For aluminum radiators mylers is awesome, usually they will turn it around the same day as they receive it.

http://www.motorcycleradiators.com/

Thanks for link to rad shop. I will get this season in and maybe send it in for a refit.

[alph]

we have a store called "Farm and Fleet" up here.  in the welding supply section they've got an aluminum welding rods that you can use regular propane to weld with.  the product is called K-T aluminum brazing rods.  K-T Industries Inc. model # 1-1810.  costs about $10 for 15 rods.  i know it works 'cause I DID THE SAME THING!! put the wrong bolt in the pod mounting hole!!  

here's their web site, you might want to contact them for the smaller package, i don't see the one i bought.

http://www.ktindustries.net/wrod.html

[Tri Dragon]

Thanks for info and link.
It just makes you feel sick when you wreck you favorite toys!
I have the Dragon on the road. Will order some rods to have if it leaks.
My rad man gave me some Jet seal to carry for emergency leak if it happens.
Going to New Denver, BC, Canada on June 18, 2010 for a meeting of the Valkyrie Riders.
It is at the Valhalla Inn and the area hassome great twisty roads and Hot Springs.
Thanks for tip!
Terry.

[Madmike]

Ground black pepper works in a pinch as a rad sealant.  It migrates to the hole and plugs it off and swells up, side benefit is that it doesn't gum up the cooling system like BarsLeak. 

Seen it used in a logging truck rad, guy got half a pound of pepper from the cookhouse and lasted out the winter - 4300 Transtar across Babine Lake.

[alph]

Terry,

The key thing is to make sure the area is clean of paint and any antifreeze, or oils.  I used a small wire wheel for a Dremel tool instead of the brush that comes with the kit.  Also, heat the area, remove the flame, and then apply the brazing rod.  I’ve seen a guy at a "wood working" show demonstrate welding aluminum cans together, that's how good you can get with these rods. 

If you get in touch with the manufacture, tell them you want the model 1-1810 kit.  You won’t be sorry! 

I also stripped out the threads on my thermostat housing when I changed my thermostat (the steel bolts were rusted in and ruined the threads when I backed em out) I used an oxygen acetylene torch to heat up the metal, filled in the threads with two of those rods, milled the housing flat, drilled and retapped the threads, worked great!  I figure for $10 I’ve probably saved over $200 in repairs and god knows how much in replacement costs!