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Radiator Q

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62BT7

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Hello all: I'm pulling my original radiator out and noticed that the little side metal vent tube coming out of the neck (to which the 1/4" rubber tubing connects)is loose; it doesn't come out but it rotates easily in my hand. Is that a design feature? I can see how it needn't be a pressure-tight fixed connection since it's supposed to be a vent port and it never comes into use unless 7lbs is exceeded in the system. But if it's supposed to be brazed tight I'll add it to the list of repairs. For what it's worth I note that the vent tube on my spare Denis Welch radiator (a long story, don't ask...) is brazed solid. Any ideas? Many thanks,

-Tom
 
Solid.
Solder or braze.
If it's leaking, installation of an overflow system will not function, and any release of pressure by the cap will result in coolant leaking out around the loose joint.

Dave
 
Right...But if the overflow tube (metal or rubber) doesn't become "active," i.e. doesn't actually vent anything until the radiator cap's spring is pushed up due to overload, i.e. +7lbs of pressure, it won't be leaking, and by definition if it's releasing pressure (>7lbs), coolant will/should (!) be releasing out the vent tube. What difference does it make if it's out a loose tube or the fixed vent tube?? I frankly don't care but need to know if this is the intended design.
 
I have never seen an LBC or any other with an overflow vent tube factory designed loose.
And I just spent considerable effort thinking back....

The problem is, IF it lifts (or heat-soak causes it to bleed) where do you (or the factory) want the coolant to go?

Down the drain hose to the ground or splattering on your fresh engine paint?

That said, I HAVE seen a WHOLE LOT of loose ones over the years.....and they all ended up being fixed.
 
should be a soldered/brazed item, you could use devcon or similar to rectify, and you could just add a push on flex hose to a collector bottle similar to todays cars if you are worried about it splashing around your pristine engine bay
 
Many thanks for the replies. I need to have two other places brazed so I'll just add this to the list of fixes. Thanks again,
-Tom
 
62BT7 said:
Hello all: I'm pulling my original radiator out and noticed that the little side metal vent tube coming out of the neck (to which the 1/4" rubber tubing connects)is loose; it doesn't come out but it rotates easily in my hand. Is that a design feature? I can see how it needn't be a pressure-tight fixed connection since it's supposed to be a vent port and it never comes into use unless 7lbs is exceeded in the system. But if it's supposed to be brazed tight I'll add it to the list of repairs. For what it's worth I note that the vent tube on my spare Denis Welch radiator (a long story, don't ask...) is brazed solid. Any ideas? Many thanks,

-Tom
Click to expand...
Tom, yes it needs to be repaired.
Take it to any radiator shop and have the radiator dipped and cleaned out, mention the tube and they'll probably fix it as part of the job.
 
Easy enough to silver-solder, w/propane torch, otherwise it'll make mess of engine-bay. I ran mine into a overflow can, less mess. cheers Genos2
 
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