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| | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 Crusing in the Passing Lane | | Crusing in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 | Use solder, brass rod is too close to melting point of brass radiator, especially in cramped location. New brass filler necks are available.
Ed
'37 GMC T-18 w/ DD 4-53T, RTO-610, 6231 aux., '95 GMC running gear, full disc brakes, power steering, 22.5 wheels and tires.
'47 GMC 1 ton w/ 302, NP-540, 4wd, full width Blazer front axle.
'54 GMC 630 w/ 503 gasser, 5 speed, ex fire truck, shortened WB 4', install 8' bed.
'55 GMC 370 w/270, 420 4 speed, grain, dump bed truck from ND. Works OK.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,880 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,880 | It's unlikely you'll be able to repair a crack by simply soldering. Make a patch from thick shim stock and clean the area around the crack down to bright metal, then solder the patch over the crack. I'd also opt for a replacement if possible.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | I agree with Jerry.
If you had the part off it could also be repaired with silver solder, then soft solder it back on. As another option. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 116 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 116 | Is there a special method to clean it? I tried some brasso, but it didn't seem to do very well. I also tried a wire brush wheel and that was not much better.
If I did a patch, would the shim stock need to be brass Also?
| | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | Sand paper is a good way to clean it. You'll also need flux for soldering, the liquid acid in a bottle and a little brush or corner of a rag works well for this.
I'd use copper or brass for the patch, cleaned the same way.
For heat if you haven't soldered anything like this I wouldn't recommend the torch. Instead a large electric soldering iron will make for an easier job. It's all about cleanliness and heat management. Too much heat is a very easy mistake to make. Use just enough for the solder to flow and only a tad more, anything further is counter productive. | | | | | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 430 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 430 | I haven't studied my 41 COE closely yet, but can you get the radiator out and take it to a shop? I did this in my 46 when I first got it. They cleaned it and repaired a few cracks. I'm still running it and have no problems with overheating!
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 116 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 116 | The truck is completely apart. This part is not attached to the radiator, it has a short hose to connect it to the radiator. My second link in my first post shows the whole part, unless the links don't work... | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,880 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,880 | File that one down to bright metal along the crack and clamp it into a vise to close it up. Then use silver solder to put a layer of repair material over it maybe 1/16" thick or more. It might be necessary to also run the silver solder all the way around the joint where the pressed-on top ring attaches. If it's soft-soldered the heat of applying the silver will cause it to leak or separate.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 430 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 430 | Stephen, I guess I should have looked at the photo's... It does appear to be brass. Mail it to me and I will tig weld it for you and send it back.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 116 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 116 | Really Randy? I can do that.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 Crusing in the Passing Lane | | Crusing in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 | Use acid core solder or separate cleaner.
Ed
'37 GMC T-18 w/ DD 4-53T, RTO-610, 6231 aux., '95 GMC running gear, full disc brakes, power steering, 22.5 wheels and tires.
'47 GMC 1 ton w/ 302, NP-540, 4wd, full width Blazer front axle.
'54 GMC 630 w/ 503 gasser, 5 speed, ex fire truck, shortened WB 4', install 8' bed.
'55 GMC 370 w/270, 420 4 speed, grain, dump bed truck from ND. Works OK.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 430 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 430 | Stephen, May address is listed below. Let me know when it is on the way and I'll look for it. Glad to help out.
| | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | Randy, that's a generous offer  Please share some pictures of the process/repair. I've TIG welded brass a little and while it worked out OK it was not as easy as copper or most other metals because of the zinc. Not having full confidence in by brass welding ability I'd be inclined to make a silver solder repair. Grigg | | | | | Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall | | Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 | Stovebolters helping Stovebolters. Its just awesome and good on you Randy. I also thank you. | | | | | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 430 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 430 | We do a lot of bronze work and a fair amount of brass... As well as titanium and a bunch of other materials that most people don't like to touch.
Send it along and I will be glad to help out.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 116 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 116 | | | | | | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 430 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 430 | For reference, this probably took 2-3 hours. Once the crack was repaired, we noticed that the top was also cracked in two places. The second we heated that up to weld, it came unsoldered, so it was removed. We repaired that and used silver solder to put it back on. And that led to the steel bracket coming unsoldered.... So we removed, cleaned and resoldered it as well. See pictures here http://s1006.photobucket.com/user/rrdomeck/library/COE%20filler%20neck?sort=3&page=1 | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | Thanks for the pictures, nice repair.
These "little" projects are so often more time consuming or difficult than expected.
Grigg | | |
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