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I have a crack on the top of my raditor

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I have a crack on the top of my raditor
« on: March 04, 2005, 06:00:10 PM »
I have a small crack on the top of my fiberglass radiator. Can I patch it with like a fiber glass patch kit? It is just along the top. Nothing else is wrong with the raditor. WOuld hate to replace the whole thing and prefer not to use that inline sealer stuff.

Thanks,

Josh

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Offline mrfuelish

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Re: I have a crack on the top of my raditor
« Reply #1 on: March 04, 2005, 06:15:25 PM »
I would ruff it up and use some epxoy or j.b. weld on it,what have you got to loose.
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Offline prairie_dog

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Re: I have a crack on the top of my raditor
« Reply #2 on: March 04, 2005, 07:37:07 PM »
you could try the epoxy but if your rad cap works (keeps pressure) it probably won't hold. Antifreeze/glycol doesn't clean up very well so I doubt you'll get a clean surface for the repair you do what ever product you use.
Try one of those pick your part places I got a rad on one of those half price weekends, took me 1/2 total and cost me 20 bucks.

 good luck :)
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Re: I have a crack on the top of my raditor
« Reply #3 on: March 04, 2005, 08:33:57 PM »
I don't know if I'm looking in the wrong spots or not. But in Idaho I can't seem to find anything for a sidekick. There was only one junk yard down in pocatello idaho that finally got a sidekick in. So if any of you guys/gals live up in the boise area and know a good source for used parts. That would be great.

Later,

Josh

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shilly

Re: I have a crack on the top of my raditor
« Reply #4 on: March 04, 2005, 09:50:13 PM »
I'd agree with fuelish and try the JB weld after a thorough cleaning.  It's pretty amazing stuff and certainly can't hurt. Another idea (if it's a small crack and not a major split) would be the old Bars-Leak. Either way, I'd be searching e-bay and the junkyards for a newer radiator in the meantime.  Best of luck!

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Offline LawDog

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Re: I have a crack on the top of my raditor
« Reply #5 on: March 05, 2005, 12:04:27 AM »
I don't know if any patchwork will hold for long at all, like prarie dog says, you're not just keeping liquid in, your also sustaining pressure.  Try it, but look for a new rad in the mean time.  Try Jalopy Jungle, they show one for $85 but maybe you could bargoon with him a bit.  Or, if the kick has something else you need, and its a U-pull-it yard make yourself what I call a "package deal"
« Last Edit: March 05, 2005, 12:08:36 AM by lawdog »
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Offline tracker8wr

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Re: I have a crack on the top of my raditor
« Reply #6 on: March 05, 2005, 03:40:10 AM »
get another radiator and save urself the hassel of trying to find somebody to come get u and ur zuk off the side of the road when it goes the rest of the way. even better save ur self a worped head if u overheat it going down the freeway.
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Offline Bigzook

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Re: I have a crack on the top of my raditor
« Reply #7 on: March 05, 2005, 06:15:22 AM »
For those of you who say epoxy wont work I say youre wrong. Having said that it will probably just fail somewhere else after you patch it. I put a kick radiator in my sammie but couldnt find a drain plug anywhere for it. (it was missing). I used some of that 5 min epoxy and filled the hole. Been holding just fine for me. Best bet is probably to try and find a new one. Most parts stores can get them for a reasonable price.

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Offline bandit86

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Re: I have a crack on the top of my raditor
« Reply #8 on: March 05, 2005, 06:34:04 AM »
cleanit thoroughly with rubbing alcohol, then roughen it up.  you dont want an antifreese film between two layers of fibreglass.  I would also get a lower pressure cap, like 2 pounds, just to keep the stress off the patch.
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Offline wildgoody

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Re: I have a crack on the top of my raditor
« Reply #9 on: March 06, 2005, 06:03:21 AM »
I used some 2 part epoxy putty, you
kneed it till it's gray and press it in, I
have seen this as gas tank repair also.

I replaced a Radiator with a new, tho
crapily made Brazilian one, only about
$100, but the aluminum crimped part
started to come un crimped  >:(  So I
crimped it back and used the putty on it,
been holding for over a year now, but
get it clean before you start, also take
a little bit of the putty and rub it into the
spot to clean it and make it stick better.
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Offline cj

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Re: I have a crack on the top of my raditor
« Reply #10 on: March 06, 2005, 08:20:20 AM »
My top tank split. No biggy just pulled it and took the radiator to a radiator repair shop and it's like new.

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Offline SnoFalls

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Re: I have a crack on the top of my raditor
« Reply #11 on: March 07, 2005, 02:03:27 AM »
Quote
I have a small crack on the top of my fiberglass radiator.
Josh


"Fiberglass radiator"??? Are you talking about the plastic overflow bottle?

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Offline hcgalvin

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Re: I have a crack on the top of my raditor
« Reply #12 on: March 07, 2005, 02:30:13 AM »
Quote
I don't know if I'm looking in the wrong spots or not. But in Idaho I can't seem to find anything for a sidekick. There was only one junk yard down in pocatello idaho that finally got a sidekick in. So if any of you guys/gals live up in the boise area and know a good source for used parts. That would be great.

Later,

Josh


Hey, waitaminute

How'd I miss this thread.

I live in Boise. Here's a shot from this weekend even:


So there are a bunch of us suzuki freaks in Boise.

I sent you a PM.. might be nice to meet :)

Heather
« Last Edit: March 07, 2005, 05:35:53 AM by hcgalvin »
Heather Galvin
2005 GV with Zuki Nation 4.5" Lift.
Sidekick's gone... Still have Bob's Knob.

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Offline kansascitytracker

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Re: I have a crack on the top of my raditor
« Reply #13 on: March 07, 2005, 05:30:20 AM »
Theres alot of peeps on here from Idaho, that Napoleon Dynamite makes you all look kinda weird you know  :P Don't feel bad, I am originally from Minnesota and after Fargo, everyone thought we talked like a bunch of jerkoffs

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Offline hcgalvin

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Re: I have a crack on the top of my raditor
« Reply #14 on: March 07, 2005, 05:35:23 AM »
Quote
Theres alot of peeps on here from Idaho, that Napoleon Dynamite makes you all look kinda weird you know  :P Don't feel bad, I am originally from Minnesota and after Fargo, everyone thought we talked like a bunch of jerkoffs



Napoleon Dynamite? What's that?

I've heard the term lately around the forums, and on the news.. isn't it a movie?
Heather Galvin
2005 GV with Zuki Nation 4.5" Lift.
Sidekick's gone... Still have Bob's Knob.