Radiator cleaning

[Scott Crosby]

After finding a couple empty bottles of Stop leak in the new PD3751 I figured the inside of the radiator looked bad.   This is the top end of the radiator.  I believe it will cool a little bit better now.  All the obsolete hoses were leaking and needed replacing and new flanges made too.  Lots of corrosion on the bolts to get the radiator apart so it was an all day job.       

[brmax]

Looks cool now!
See any problems elsewhere on the fins being bent or are you ready for the gasket kit.
good day there

[luvrbus]

Did you make your own tube cleaning rod or buy it,radiator combs are cheap to straighten the fins fwiw

[Scott Crosby]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoqIs49GMKQ&feature=youtu.be

I used a nylon band from a shipping pallet.

[georgemci102a2]

 Its crazy how much the shops charge to rod, replace the gaskets,and test for leaks and repair any leaks.The hard part is the r&r of the rads....George

[luvrbus]

Shops are cheap for the money they have invested with soldering tanks,waste water tanks and all the rest of the EPA bs rodding is just about a thing of the past the new Ultrasonic cleaning is the new method now and most don't care about repairs they had rather replace.Their thing now is the big bucks in cleaning the DPF on the new stuff that has to be done often not like a radiator every 10 years and people cannot afford to change those babies out   

[Scott Crosby]

If I had to pay a shop hour rate for the hours involved a new radiator might have been cheaper, or only a small percentage of the total to up charge to get new.   Sweat equity on a job like this saves some big money.  I removed the head, liner and piston in less time than I have in the radiator.

[Van]

160 bucs to rod out model 15 seven core rad here yesterday. Now let the sweat equity begin. Clifford, need some spacers? Lol! 

[Scott Crosby]

If an air ratchet would have removed all the bolts easily maybe a cost like that... but with every bolt corroded into place this was a very long job.   Torque on the bolts would just break them off still "corrosion welded" into place.  Even removing the radiator was difficult and a 3/4" mounting bolt broke with hand tool removal.  This one probably has not been apart in 50 years.  No way would a shop have done this for $160.   A modern easy to disassemble and remove radiator yes.    The actual "rodding" part only took 45 min or so.  Working on a 67 year old bus requires finesse and extra care that most shops just wouldn't have the patience for.

[luvrbus]

Good shops pre soak the radiator and replace all the bolts anyway they just twist them off and go on 160 bucks sounds about right for a take in 

I would save the spacers that was a work of art but it worked for you     Scott has never saw a radiator from a Eagle I take it his looked in good shape  

[Scott Crosby]

I also put a high value on the pride of doing a job myself vs just dropping it off somewhere.  I wouldn't do it myself on my wife's car but the bus I'd do myself 100x over again.  80% of the fun of my bus ownership is working on it.