Radiators and the cleaning thereof

Discussion in 'UK Motorcycles' started by Pip Luscher, Mar 31, 2005.

  1. Pip Luscher

    Pip Luscher Guest

    Anyone got any cunning tricks for clearing a severely gunged-up alloy
    radiator?

    I did grit my teeth, gird my loins and do other unspeakable things
    before trying the pressure washer with the nozzle set to a
    /relatively/ gentle spray.

    Results were pretty much as I expected: some fin damage but little of
    the crud removed.
     
    Pip Luscher, Mar 31, 2005
    #1

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  2. Pip Luscher

    Lozzo Guest

    Pip Luscher says...
    Take it to your local car radiator specialists and ask them to do it, at
    the same time they'll straighten all the cooling fins. It'll cost a lot
    less than screwing it up and having to get a new one.
     
    Lozzo, Mar 31, 2005
    #2

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  3. Pip Luscher

    The Older Gentleman Guest


    Caustic soda? ;-)
     
    The Older Gentleman, Mar 31, 2005
    #3
  4. Pip Luscher

    Krusty Guest

    Stick it in the dishwasher.
     
    Krusty, Mar 31, 2005
    #4
  5. Pip Luscher

    Dan L Guest

    PLEASE wear appropriete eye protection if you do.


    --
    Dan L (Oldbloke)
    My bike 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr
    M'boy's bike 2003 Honda NSR125R
    Spare Bike 1990 Suzuki TS50X
    BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005), DIAABTCOD #26, BOMB#18 (slow)
     
    Dan L, Mar 31, 2005
    #5
  6. Pip Luscher

    The Older Gentleman Guest

    That'll be a very alkali whoosh, then.
     
    The Older Gentleman, Mar 31, 2005
    #6
  7. Pip Luscher

    The Older Gentleman Guest

    Oh God.

    <Remembers putting 400 Four sump into dishwasher a few months ago>

    <Holds head again>
     
    The Older Gentleman, Mar 31, 2005
    #7
  8. Pip Luscher

    Muck Guest

    Tog, is that you....
     
    Muck, Mar 31, 2005
    #8
  9. Pip Luscher

    Krusty Guest

    Well obviously you're meant to send the wife out shopping first - duh!
     
    Krusty, Mar 31, 2005
    #9
  10. Pip Luscher

    John Munro Guest


    Excellent idea.
     
    John Munro, Mar 31, 2005
    #10
  11. Pip Luscher

    OH- Guest

    How about using time rather than force. Spray on some
    water with washing up detergent, wait for an hour, flush
    (without pressure washer). Repeat, possibly using "real"
    degreaser. Just an idea.
     
    OH-, Mar 31, 2005
    #11
  12. Pip Luscher

    raden Guest

    In message
    I've got 20 kg of that somewhere (prolly under a sink)
     
    raden, Mar 31, 2005
    #12
  13. Pip Luscher

    Pip Luscher Guest

    Oh, hadn't realised such places existed. The only problem is I was
    hoping to avoid having to take it off the bike.

    There aren't actually that many bent fins - I learned about that when
    jet-washing motocrossers. The problem is that the radiator is
    corroding and the fins are beginning to crumble - I only wanted to
    halt the corrosion before it progressed to the water tubes themselves.
     
    Pip Luscher, Apr 1, 2005
    #13
  14. Pip Luscher

    Pip Luscher Guest

    Well, it's worth a try. If this fails then I think I'll leave well
    alone - I only wanted to halt the corrosion.
     
    Pip Luscher, Apr 1, 2005
    #14
  15. Pip Luscher

    Lozzo Guest

    Pip Luscher says...
    In that case I'd be inclined to take it off the bike and have them put
    new cooling fins in. Once the rot starts you'll never stop it
     
    Lozzo, Apr 1, 2005
    #15
  16. Pip Luscher

    Pip Luscher Guest

    That's not what I want to hear!
     
    Pip Luscher, Apr 1, 2005
    #16

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