Bob :
Rodding is a bit hard on a radiator, and may damage a marginal one that
could have been reused otherwise. But, IMO, it does a much better job at
cleaning the passages than just 'boiling out'. So, I always have mine
rodded out, unless the radiator man tells me it will likely ruin the
radiator, and I can't afford a new one (or recore) at the moment. Another
point : tubes that are too fragile to be rodded may break at any time.
Given all the hassle involved, I feel it's a false economy to put back a
radiator that is too far gone to be rodded, but of course sometimes you
gotta do what you gotta do. Probably depends too on how long you plan to
keep the car. I always plan on keeping mine forever <g>
OTOH, I can see the radiator man's point of view, too. He probably really
hates having to tell you that he ruined your "perfectly good" radiator by
trying to rod it out. And if the weak tube blows out next month, you are a
lot less likely to blame him.
Randall
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-triumphs@autox.team.net
> [mailto:owner-triumphs@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Bob Danielson
> Sent: Monday, February 14, 2000 1:45 PM
> To: Triumph
> Subject: Radiator Repair Advice
>
>
>
> I pulled the radiator over the weekend and want to have it
> professionally
> "cleaned". There's 2 shops in town that have been here for as
> long as I can
> remember....... back to the 50's. One shop is a small garage, one man
> operation, does nothing but radiators who removes the
> top/bottom and runs a
> brush through every rod, seals it back up and pressure tests
> it for $50. The
> other larger shop does radiator repair and general
> maintenance but only
> recommends "rodding" as a last resort, especially on older radiators.
> They'll flow test it, then some kind of "bath" and then flow
> & pressure test
> it - $55. I've heard good and bad about "rodding" a radiator.
> One lister had
> a bad experience due to rusty parts that couldn't be
> repaired. A visual
> inspection shows my radiator to be in good shape. A flushed
> it last spring
> and it ran clear and I don't have an overheating problem. So
> why am I doing
> this??? It's winter and I need to do something plus I'll get
> to paint it
> before putting it back in. Any recommendations on rodding vs.
> not rodding?
> Thanks
> Bob Danielson
> 1975 TR6 Status at
> http://pages.cthome.net/BobD
>
>
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