Combine radiator leak

jd6420s

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Yorkshire
Hello, I have a small hole in the the very top of the combine radiator right next to the radiator cap. I had been having to add about 1 litre of coolant each day last year. What would be the best way to repair it? TIA.
 

agrimax

Member
Location
Co Down
Clean it with wire wool(Brillo pad will do) til it's shining and melt some flux paste and solder onto it with a blow torch. Just be careful not to melt the solder that's around the filler neck.
 

Flatlander

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lorette Manitoba
Contrary to wat I said if the hole isn’t on a corner and the rad is still sound there are many choices of sealants that could be used on the outside in conjunction with a. Tek screw type of fixing. Bearing in mind the top reservoir won’t support the tightening of a self tapping screw. Solder is the best fix if you can do it without un soldering other parts. Changing a rad out isnt a small job.
 

czechmate

Member
Mixed Farmer
Got both those t shirts .
The old senator was a bugger for getting hot and on fire , oops .
She went last week , fired up after standing in a field for 5 years , well pleased


With nearly every combine I’ve had experience with, it’s hard enough keeping the temp down as it is, without any cooling system maladies 🥴.
In fact, I used to just control forward speed by the temp gauge on a dominator 98, until it caught fire. Certainly bugged it up if you unloaded on the go
 

bobk

Member
Location
stafford
With nearly every combine I’ve had experience with, it’s hard enough keeping the temp down as it is, without any cooling system maladies 🥴.
In fact, I used to just control forward speed by the temp gauge on a dominator 98, until it caught fire. Certainly bugged it up if you unloaded on the go
My Dommy is outstanding for keeping normal temperature , I have become fastidious about keeping the engine bay and rad spotlessly clean , leaf blowers are great tools
 

jd6420s

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Yorkshire
The radiator seems sound and the leak is on a flat part of the radiator at the top. You can only see it when it gets warmed up and gets some pressure going. I did have it reconditioned about 12 years ago but the hole was a third of the way down and it was pouring out.
Although getting the radiator out wasn't complicated it wasn't exactly easy.
 

carbonfibre farmer

Member
Arable Farmer
My Dommy is outstanding for keeping normal temperature , I have become fastidious about keeping the engine bay and rad spotlessly clean , leaf blowers are great tools
Ours used to get up to the red line regularly. Tried numerous things. New rad solved it. Shouldn't have buggered about with "fixes" and just bit the bullet. Night and day now how the temp is.

To the op, if it's still in good nick, and not running hot, cleaned down (blown out etc) , then go for a fix.
If it's been temperamental, then haul it out and recore or replace.
 
Hello, I have a small hole in the the very top of the combine radiator right next to the radiator cap. I had been having to add about 1 litre of coolant each day last year. What would be the best way to repair it? TIA.
Fixing engine or starter or alternator problem or welding repairs to heavy capacity trailers I would not hesitate doing but leaking radiator definitely not as there is reputable family firm about 40 miles away.... how much corn do you grow? You don't want to see steam rising from engine at any time and especially if rain is forecast
 

jd6420s

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Yorkshire
I have 150 acres to cut. I was going to change the radiator cap as well because I think it might be sticking a bit. The temperature gauge has been well in the green all the time. It is just the expansion tank that is low the following morning the radiator is nice and full.
 

Badshot

Member
Location
Kent
IF you go down the recore route, make absolutely certain to take lots of pics with a tape measure to show the fin spacing, and insist on identical fins, some are louvered fins which do not allow the dust through so well. You need smooth unobstructed air flow which won't collect dust as fast.
Trust me, been there, got the t shirt, had the absolute nightmare of sorting out a boiling combine mid harvest last year in 35 degree heat., not my idea of fun at all.
 

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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