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Radiator glue
David Jenkins - 22/5/03 at 08:01 AM

I know the topic of "radiator glue" has been raised a while ago, but -

I have now got my new Polo radiator into a near-perfect position, where it's near vertical, doesn't touch the sides of my new nosecone, and there's next to no gap around the edge for the air to spill around...

...except it's not quite perfect, 'cos the bottom hose connector is too close to the chassis to allow the use of a 90-degree hose bend (even the most extreme ones). I intend to fix this by fitting a "hard bend" made from brass, which I'll be making this coming weekend.

Trouble is, I will need to glue this fitting on securely! Someone suggested JB Weld in the other thread, but I've not come across this before. Would this hold a fairly snug tube onto the radiator plastic, or should I use some mechanical device as backup? I was thinking of a decent jubilee clip clamping down onto a slotted tube end.

Any comments/suggestions/etc.?

cheers,

David


stephen_gusterson - 22/5/03 at 09:05 AM

You are fixing something that will run at boiling point and 15 psi.

challenging.

Cant you join the two with a very short lenght of rubber tube? The jag xjs used loads of little joining tubes in the cooling system!

Something to be aware of is USE a ridge on the pipe so that the jubilee clip holds the pipe past the ridge, so its effectively belled out.

I didnt do this on a couple of my modified pipes (I had to do similar to you at the bottom, and make a new 'stat' housing as it needed to come out straight and not angled) and when under pressure it blows (or almost did) the pipe from the hose - even thou a tight clip is used.


good luck!

steve

[Edited on 22/5/03 by stephen_gusterson]


David Jenkins - 22/5/03 at 09:15 AM

quote:
Originally posted by stephen_gusterson
You are fixing something that will run at boiling point and 15 psi.



In my other hobby I made fittings that run at boiling point and 90psi! (steam engines).

quote:
Cant you join the two with a very short lenght of rubber tube?
<snip>
Something to be aware of is USE a ridge on the pipe so that the jubilee clip holds the pipe past the ridge, so its effectively belled out.



I think you've voiced my complete list of concerns!

I think I'll be struggling to get my 90-degree bend in the space between the existing rad connector and the chassis, without cutting the rad pipe and losing the ridged end.

Ideally, someone out there knows of a 32mm i.d. hose with a REALLY severe right-angled bend which can be modified to fit... anyone?

DJ

cheers,

David


Simon - 22/5/03 at 11:19 AM

David,

You may or may not be aware of flexible hoses.

If not, they may be the answer to your prob.

ATB

Simon


David Jenkins - 22/5/03 at 11:28 AM

I know of them - I'm using one for the top hose!

And there's no way that it will bend that tight...

David

(I'll take a picture tonight, to illustrate the problem)


timf - 22/5/03 at 11:45 AM

a plastic welding kit for £26

see hs102k/1 /2 /3

http://www.sealey.co.uk



[Edited on 22/5/03 by timf]

[Edited on 22/5/03 by timf]


timf - 22/5/03 at 12:06 PM

try

http://www.sheldrakeandwells.co.uk/radiators.htm

they were very helpfull in the past and very resonably priced too


David Jenkins - 22/5/03 at 12:35 PM

quote:
Originally posted by timf
try

http://www.sheldrakeandwells.co.uk/radiators.htm

they were very helpfull in the past and very resonably priced too


Yep - they sorted the same problem in my previous radiator, by soldering in a 90-degree bend. Trouble is, you can't solder plasic!

I might give them a try on Saturday, tho'. More fun than going shopping with my wife!

rgds,

David

P.S. I doubt if this plastic is weldable - it looks like it's loaded with glass-fibre or something. It certainly was dusty and fibrous when I cut a couple of locating pegs off it (yes, the radiator is REALLY that tight in the nosecone!)

[Edited on 22/5/03 by David Jenkins]


paulf - 22/5/03 at 09:20 PM

I found the same problem with my polo rad. I moved the bottom as far forward as possible and then looked through the large collection of unsuitable hoses that i had collected. I found one with a 90 degree bend that nearly fitted and cut it to suit. It now fits but is very close to the front chassis members so am hoping for the best. I think it came from a Rover 100.
A search around a scrapyard could be helpful and then if you find something suitable you could buy a new one for that model of car if you desired.32 mm is a very common size.
Paul.

quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
[Ideally, someone out there knows of a 32mm i.d. hose with a REALLY severe right-angled bend which can be modified to fit... anyone?

DJ

cheers,

David


David Jenkins - 23/5/03 at 08:06 AM

Here's what it looks like...




It really is that tight!

David

[Edited on 23/5/03 by David Jenkins]


stephen_gusterson - 23/5/03 at 09:57 PM

that shut everyone up didnt it david!

atb

steve


zetec - 25/5/03 at 12:09 AM

Might be easier to remount the rad. I used the same but moved the bottom out as far as possible, then used two 135 deg Samco hoses joined together, just enought room. Theres a pic on my photo section.


Peteff - 25/5/03 at 09:01 AM

Your rad does seem more upright than most. Moving the top back and the bottom forward was the only way I could get an escort radiator into my nosecone. It fits so snug I had to shape the brackets to the inside of the nose. If you tilt it you may also find you can raise it a bit as well.


David Jenkins - 25/5/03 at 06:48 PM

quote:
Originally posted by stephen_gusterson
that shut everyone up didnt it david!



It was a bit tumbleweed for an hour or two!

Anyway, I think I've got it sorted now, as in this photo:-



The fix was a combination of several ideas in this thread - a 90-degree bend from the local radiator menders (Sheldrake & Wells, Ipswich), a short piece of tube joining the fixings together, with a flexi-hose going up to the rest of the gubbins. Oh, and a very slight bit forward on the base of the rad - trouble is, it's a real struggle to get the nose on now! That's tomorrow's job...

Time will tell if this is good enough - I know I couldn't pull or twist the tubing off the rad, so there's some hope.

cheers,

David


Northy - 25/5/03 at 10:27 PM

Now all you've got to do is measure it for me

Thanks


David Jenkins - 26/5/03 at 02:38 PM

There'll be a U2U later...


David Jenkins - 27/5/03 at 11:57 AM

quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
Oh, and a very slight bit forward on the base of the rad - trouble is, it's a real struggle to get the nose on now! That's tomorrow's job...



Job complete - I can now get the nose on and off without a wrestling match!

DJ the Happy Bunny


timf - 27/5/03 at 12:36 PM

quote:
DJ the Happy Bunny


does that mean a new avitar ?


Alan B - 27/5/03 at 05:00 PM

New avatars are all the rage......


Peteff - 27/5/03 at 06:23 PM

Everyone should have one..

Pete.


David Jenkins - 29/5/03 at 08:37 AM

quote:
Originally posted by timf
quote:
DJ the Happy Bunny


does that mean a new avitar ?


How about this one...



DJ


timf - 29/5/03 at 12:37 PM

will the ears act as a spoiler at high speed ??