Easy way to check an old radiator for leaks. Cut a bicycle inter tube apart, away from the valve stem, hose clamp each end to outlets, fill with water, then air up the tube. Remember to put the cap on. Leaks show up fast.Flatheads, block two off!.......OLDBEET
Damn Dad, I just had to do that to Noa's rad. You must be a mind reader and you do look like Einstein....
<font color="red"> WOW I never thought of that.....you always have the coolest Id's OldBeet.thanks R E D M E A T </font>
That is a killer idea. One thing did come to mind though....is it possible that a rad would develope leaks at a higher pressure than what you can push with the innertube? Just a thought...I will definately try this one. Thanks! Tim MBL
Option #2... Find a car in the junkyard with the radiator still full of coolant... have fun making a shit mess when ya remove it!
mbl, i don't know how high the pressures are in new stuff, but the older stuff we mess with only has slight pressure in the radiator. even a high tech street rod with an aluminum radiator probably doesn't go over 14 pounds of pressure (NOTE - this is where someone who knows more than me interupts with the truth) and you can put that much on a bicycle inner tube easily.
[ QUOTE ] That is a killer idea. One thing did come to mind though....is it possible that a rad would develope leaks at a higher pressure than what you can push with the innertube? Just a thought...I will definately try this one. [/ QUOTE ] This isnt meant to sound rude. Perhaps someone can remember and clarify for me, but........ We covered this in one ot the lost tech's about two years ago. I think the concensus was that a normal radiator cap is designed to blow at around 15lbs anyway, and you can air most bicycle tubes up to about 45lbs, therefore, its works fine for testing leaks at normal pressures. Someone please correct me if Im wrong here.
option 3 rubber plumbing caps, they make em in all different sizes, but they cost money. you can get all sorts of different rad caps also, they make 7, 11, 13, 16 lbs caps that ive seen
Ummmm...don't want to be a jerk,but a bicycle inner tube,outside of a tire,won't hold shit for pressure.The tire contains it within the confines of the tire,the tube itself has no real strength.Take an old tube,say a 20" one,lay it on the ground,and put some air in with a small hand pump.When it expands to about 4' in diameter,it won't have hardly any air pressure in it,but it will balloon up and blow up in your face. But if you wrap the tube in some duct tape,being careful to cover it all,it will remain flexible enough,but hold its shape/pressure while you do the radiator test.
The Bicycle tube will work great, you need almost no pressure at all, especially íf the radiator has big tanks. Listen for the leak, and or use soapwater to find it.
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