Had a new broken part on my recent 10 day trip through southern Utah with Cruiserdrew/Alvaro/TrickyT/Spressomon/Alia176/Redline...I'm known for really doing a number on driveshafts, but this time it was a radiator.
We were in Arch Canyon going through one of the 59 water crossings and a few were pretty deep. My assumption (also mentioned by Robbie and CDan) is that going through the water pulled the fan closer to the radiator thereby striking it at the bottom where it meets the bottom tank.
The fan took out three tubes/fins of the radiator and I had coolant coming out all over the place at the Comb Wash Campground on RT.95.
We pulled it in and proceeded to take the radiator out. Alvaro/Alia176 and I pulled the radiator out. Crusierdrew and TrickyT took off for Blanding to get some radiator stop leak. Thanks to my good buddies for helping!
We got the radiator out in under 1 hour (awesome!) and checked the damage. What we decided to do was to roll up and crimp three of the tubes running into the bottom tank, then clean up where those tubes entered the bottom tank and then we applied some awesome epoxy based stuff called "Waterweld". I highly recommend everyone get a tube of this stuff and have it in your trail spares box. This stuff--combined with Bar's Stop Leak--saved the day. These will be in my box from now on.
We applied the epoxy and it hardened in about 2 minutes. We re-installed the radiator, added the stop leak, filled with water, and I continued on for another 7 days on the trip with no problems. Great trail fix and it didn't ruin my (or my group's) trip. Basically killed an afternoon...no biggie since it was out blow off day anyway as we made our way to Moab for re-supply.
Anyway, pulling the radiator this weekend and installing a new one....you all know how I am with new parts.
This one will be a very useful spare radiator for the future.
Pics too....
We were in Arch Canyon going through one of the 59 water crossings and a few were pretty deep. My assumption (also mentioned by Robbie and CDan) is that going through the water pulled the fan closer to the radiator thereby striking it at the bottom where it meets the bottom tank.
The fan took out three tubes/fins of the radiator and I had coolant coming out all over the place at the Comb Wash Campground on RT.95.
We pulled it in and proceeded to take the radiator out. Alvaro/Alia176 and I pulled the radiator out. Crusierdrew and TrickyT took off for Blanding to get some radiator stop leak. Thanks to my good buddies for helping!
We got the radiator out in under 1 hour (awesome!) and checked the damage. What we decided to do was to roll up and crimp three of the tubes running into the bottom tank, then clean up where those tubes entered the bottom tank and then we applied some awesome epoxy based stuff called "Waterweld". I highly recommend everyone get a tube of this stuff and have it in your trail spares box. This stuff--combined with Bar's Stop Leak--saved the day. These will be in my box from now on.
We applied the epoxy and it hardened in about 2 minutes. We re-installed the radiator, added the stop leak, filled with water, and I continued on for another 7 days on the trip with no problems. Great trail fix and it didn't ruin my (or my group's) trip. Basically killed an afternoon...no biggie since it was out blow off day anyway as we made our way to Moab for re-supply.
Anyway, pulling the radiator this weekend and installing a new one....you all know how I am with new parts.
This one will be a very useful spare radiator for the future.
Pics too....
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