Upside down rad

[Mark]

Originally Posted by clshades

In the end dude... it doesnt have to be pretty it just has to NOT leak ;)

That's the truth of it all :). Last think I want to do is desolder it for appearance sake :)

[clshades]

I hate sweating off fittings dude... messy... hot... pain in the ass nonsense!

[KaptCrunch]

Originally Posted by clshades

To the OP.. that joint doesn't look quite right.

I would use mapp gas personally it's faster and easier to control.
I wouldn't ever solder something in a bucket of water I wan't that thing to get to the right temp and I want it to cool slowly not quickly. I want the heat to draw the solder into the joint and that works by heating the tank not the nut... a little heat on the nut BUT mostly heat on the tank.
It's called capillary action.

Clean the nut and tank hole by sanding
Flux the tank and the nut
Set nut in hole
Wipe away any excess flux
Do not touch the areas you want to solder with your skin the oil off your skin will screw up the joint
heat The tank mostly... a little to the nut to bring the temp up.
Touch the solder to the area you are trying to fill. When the temp is right the solder will wick itself in.
Remove heat and keep adding solder
Add heat if the solder stops working right.
Too much heat is bad as it boils the solder a bit and you get air bubbles in the joint which is a potential leak.

The hole you drilled should be BARELY bigger than the nut or this will NOT work... the joint needs to be tight as a nuns WHOHAH.

Do not apply heat to the solder itself with the torch it doesnt work like that.

let the joint set for a couple minutes then wipe away any little bits of mess... CAUTION its HOT. If the nut moves during wiping re-solder.

I have to ask Kapt are you a plumber?

the water is protection for novice solder....if doing this the first time an over heated rad tank and loosen the bonded connection to core, a nightmare to re-solder. also your heating what you want to solder

yes the 1/8 hole is small if were me i'd make hole same size as the flat part of hex an have edges to stop going through hole an a nice place for solder

Do not apply heat to the solder itself with the torch it doesnt work like that.

correct heat from metal should melt solder to wick your joint, only add heat to solder for flood or bead joint after its wicked

for clean up damp paper towel wipe

if moves just reheat

an no, just done enough rad repair to know soldering

[Mark]

I've done soldering before including repairs on my home for years but have no experience with rad and as Kapt mentioned it would be a nightmare to repair damaged joints on these small rads, let alone the paper thin copper they use on them and thus the use of the bolt. I ran it overnight and seems solid but I could pressure test it ? Not going to use my air gun but I can rig up a hand pump to it . Thoughts or just leave it ?

[KaptCrunch]

just leave it, (if using pressure max regulated 14psi)

if was me plug 1 hose end and other with hose barb on an small length hose

suck hose and place tongue over hose end ...if looses its vacume right away.... got a big hole

if holds vacume for some time your good

Note: rad is completely dry

[KaptCrunch]

Originally Posted by clshades

I hate sweating off fittings dude... messy... hot... pain in the ass nonsense!

keep cool with saw-alls are made to hack off fittings and less heat ..unless your saving fitting

[Mark]

Originally Posted by KaptCrunch

just leave it, (if using pressure max regulated 14psi)

if was me plug 1 hose end and other with hose barb on an small length hose

suck hose and place tongue over hose end ...if looses its vacume right away.... got a big hole

if holds vacume for some time your good

Note: rad is completely dry

Well that was odd but did both. All good :)

[clshades]

Originally Posted by KaptCrunch

keep cool with saw-alls are made to hack off fittings and less heat ..unless your saving fitting

Exactly

[Capt Proton]

Originally Posted by Mark

That's the truth of it all :). Last think I want to do is desolder it for appearance sake :)

Amen to that.