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Replacing Spridget Coolant

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Jim_Gruber

Jim_Gruber

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Bugsy IV has his radiator filled with water initially. I need to add antifreeze with winter coming on. Can it be as simple as opening the drain valve on the bottom of the radiator or is more work required to make sure Block gets drained. Thanks.
 
K after rotator cuff surgery this week opening the little valve down there seems like something at least I can do. Soon Bugsy soon we'll be driving again. Red tonneau o match my red interior will be here on Monday and 3.9 Pumpkin arrived today. It will need to sit in the Living Room for a while as I can't jockey it downstairs with one hand.
 
HealeyRick said:
... drain enough water from the radiator, add antifreeze and run the motor for a few minutes to circulate the mixture through the whole cooling system.
Click to expand...

That's what I'd do.
 
Rotator cuff surgery is no fun and it was a happy day when I tossed the sling in the trash:

IMG_0130-1.jpg


Good luck with your recovery and do your P.T.
 
Hey same sling complete w rubber ball.
 
Dang that's good planning! I mean, we haven't even bought our pumpkin (never mind a 3.9 one) yet, and Hallowe'en is two days!

Also have a look at your windshield washer fluid - water, or all season? I've always run 50:50 mix on the antifreeze. Mind you, I've also downhill ski patrolled twice at -40 (C or F - same thing). Doug
 
Don't forget to circulate the coolant through the heater.

Kurt
 
Tks guys
 
Jim - I've got a vague recollection of checking the manual volumes (with heater) and draining the rad completely, but I don't remember if just draining the rad gave me enough volume of 100% antifreeze, and I think that I found that I hadn't added enough pure antifreeze (i.e. screwed up on the numbers) when I checked the final mixture. So, get your anti-freeze tester out. The last few times, its been part of engine pulling, so just mixed up the 50:50 and filled that way.
And for any young farts on this forum: rotator cuff problems start becoming endemic once you're over fifty years of age. So do some strengthening exercises. Doug
 
You know and it is actually my favorite arm to use for writing and some other things as well. Anyway, went without sling for most of day, will sleep upright with big sling on two more nights. They want you to to not roll over in your sleep, and that is something I do on a regular basis. Exercises and PT will continue for at least 4 weeks. Certain motions I just can't do yet even with pain. PTerapist says I have good range of motion and flexibility. Encouragement from a 25 y.o. cute girl helps. Anyway, got the bonnet up, coolant drained, book says only 7 pints but with heater and hose call it 6 Qts of 50/50.Let it warm up and burp and good to go. Bonnet is locked back down and in place and ready to go. Tonneau arrives tomorrow. Starting to get chilly at night so snaps for tonneau will likely get installed as next priority.
 
Jim_Gruber said:
Bugsy IV has his radiator filled with water initially. I need to add antifreeze with winter coming on. Can it be as simple as opening the drain valve on the bottom of the radiator or is more work required to make sure Block gets drained. Thanks.
Click to expand...

I open the drain valve on the radiator with the cap removed and the valve on the side of the engine. That gets rid of just about all of it. For Coolant I use the pre-mixed 50/50 Prestone, open the jug and pour it in, never had an issue with overheating, freezing or crud build up.
 
Thanks guys all done. Opened bottom valve with radiator cap off. Came back 2 hours later, cranked over engine to clear any left in water pump and filled back up with 50/50. Waited until thermostat opened and topped off. May not be perfect but close enough for one kept in garage under the house attached to the basement.
 
Way back, when I was a young lad, I lost the use of my right hand for a while. Mentally, I was okay for some aspects as I expected to have difficulty taking notes (being in school\ at the time) as well as buttoning clothes and such, but it was the personal stuff - brushing my teeth with the wrong hand, wiping my butt with the wrong hand - that were really difficult. Conceptually, they're all the same: but trying to brush your teeth without putting the brush through the back of your skull! Well! It's all achievable, but sure humbling. Doug
 
So Bugsy went for a spirited cruise this afternoon running around the long, long way to the Grocery Store and to stop by Muffler Shop to discuss Install of the Harley Muffle I acquired two weeks ago. $150 seems a bit steep but they are real close. Will need to add a short piece of piece of pipe and do some futzing with the hanger. Part of the cost of ownership

Anyway, after a spirited drive and a stop at the grocery store, Temps showing 180-185 I pulled into the driveway and shut Bugsy down outside the garage. As I walked into the house Bugsy puked maybe a 1/2 pint of coolant out the overflow tube. Normal after a fillup to the brim of the tank or another symptom to fix? Radiator cap is new, could be not turned all of the way tight. Will find that out later after things cool down. Thoughts?
 
Oh and 3 people stopped me in the3 parking lot of Krogers to ask questions about Bugsy. Fun 75, sunny, leaves coming down, blue skies. I had to take advantage of this day to play a little.
 
Jim, puking a little from a full top flow rad is normal. I never worry about the levels unless I can't get my finger wet reaching in the fill hole. Its been great fall weather in the whole middle part of the country....nice you're out enjoying it.:encouragement:

Kurt.
 
Is there a drain petcock on the cross-flow radiators? I searched high and low for it, but never found it. I open up the brass nut on the top right hand side and stick a siphon into the radiator. IIRC, the manual says to fill the overflow tank, run the engine for 30 seconds and then fill again when you refill.
 
SaxMan said:
Is there a drain petcock on the cross-flow radiators? I searched high and low for it, but never found it. I open up the brass nut on the top right hand side and stick a siphon into the radiator. IIRC, the manual says to fill the overflow tank, run the engine for 30 seconds and then fill again when you refill.
Click to expand...

I don't think so - I had one installed on my rad while it was out. BTW if you get one installed (about $50) get it on the front of the rad not the back.
 
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