Thread: Aluminium Radiator Repairs

Try BikeRads - 03 9793 2798. They specialise in motorcycle radiator repairs and recently repaired my Honda radiator. Cost all of $85 plus $28 postage there and back.
Great work, quick service and helpful advice

Should be able to TIG it. All depends where the hole is, You probably will have to dig a hole around the tube to properly clean it to weld. then you will be left with a hole in the fins fore ever. OR you can cut the tanks off and block up the one tube.... You have to work the cost to a new radiator

Thanks chaps. I'll ring the repair mob. I thought about just crimping each end of the tube.

What's odd is that I took the bike for a rego inspection (blue slip in NSW) this morning. I rode to the servo and fuelled up, then rode the 7km to the inspection mechanic. No lost coolant. Then I rode to an ATM to get cash tp pay him, and then back. No loss of coolant.

However, when I got home there was steam coming off the radiator that's why I looked - to see a pool of coolant below the bike.

I wonder if there was a twig sealing the hole which blew out under pressure. The damage was probably done when my son blacked out whilst riding it and crashed and passed away. I just didn't see it when I was repairing the bike.


Here's the hole:



The bike:

Originally Posted by Catmatt

Try BikeRads - 03 9793 2798. They specialise in motorcycle radiator repairs and recently repaired my Honda radiator. Cost all of $85 plus $28 postage there and back.
Great work, quick service and helpful advice

Aluminium rad? What was wrong with it?

If that is only one tube and no other damage, snipping a bit out and crimp / weld the tube should work . Just be left with a bit of a hole in the fins. Look a bit dicky thats all......

crack an egg into it.

if you give it a hit with a very fine medium sand blaster or chemically get the paint off and the clean it up you will be able to epoxy that.

devcon ally mender may also work

that will also respond well to ally soldering BUT its got to be immaculately clean. (as per expoxy repair.)

Time to resurrect an old thread.

I hadn't realised I'd never advised what happened.

For those in Sydney, I had mine repaired by Better Radiators at Lidcombe (recommended by a friend from the 2 Wheels forum) - cost $30.

But the reason for resurrection is that my L322 radiator is leaking. It was replaced a couple of years back. I suspect it's due to the very high pressure in the system when it was running a 200kPa pressure cap.

I've already replaced the cap with a 140kPa cap and replaced the coolant reservoir because it had split.

I wonder if the radiator can be repaired? I need to find out exactly where it is leaking which isn't easy with the radiator in situ.

Aren't those radiators alloy core / plastic crimped tanks?

if so, likely to be the oring that seals the plastic tank to the crimped on core. There is no cure for that, other than a replacement. re-crimping doesn't work.

Had this happen on a 4 year old genuine behr-hella radiator on my 560SL. replacement cost (genuine $2200, aftermarket $800) was exhorbitant. I took it to an earthmoving specialist and had ally tanks fabricated and welded on. Was advised the cores were made of junk, and to expect a lifetime of about 7-10 years max even with the factory spec coolant.

Hope you fare better.