Re. I broke the nipple on the radiator that goes to the overflow

[Al S]

Re. I broke the nipple on the radiator that goes to the overflowBen,
Thanks found some PC-Fahrenheit putty at the local Ace store. Fortunately
the nipple broke right at the junction of the pipe/radiator. So I think I
can put the nipple in place, with liquid epoxy and mold the putty around it
to form at super strong attachment. PC-Fahrenheit is good for 500 degrees F.

Regards,
Al
  -----Original Message-----
  From: Ben Swann [mailto:benswann at verizon.net]
  Sent: Friday, December 12, 2008 3:56 AM
  To: streichea001 at hawaii.rr.com
  Cc: quattro at audifans.com
  Subject: Re. I broke the nipple on the radiator that goes to the overflow


  Al,

  The nipple is definitely the radiatros Achilles heal.  As Mark said, the
dealer used to have a repair kit - probably still does, but you may have a
delay getting one from the mainland.

  I have fixed these before without the repair kit.  I would suppose copper
would work, but possibly not due to the difference in thremal expansion of
the dissimilar materials.  I used some high temp/pressure rated  PVC -
available through plumbing supply.  Normal PVC will likely melt, so check
that it is at least rated for hot water.  It needs to be a snug fit.

  There are some good mouldable high temp epoxies that will give a solid
leak-proof seal.  Done correctly, the repair should be stronger than the
original fitting and all my fixes lasted and never failed.

  Just do it right  - clean/prep well and size the fitting/adaptor right.
If available coat the outside of the fitting and inside broken nipple with a
liquid epoxy - let harden. Then use the moldable stuff to form a nice seal.
A good high temp epoxy will provide good strength and seal - ther is one
called Farenheat[sp?} and others labeled high temp (some steel filled) and
of course there is always JB-weld, which works fine for this application.

  Ben

  [Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2008 18:34:37 -1000
  From: "Al S" <streichea001 at hawaii.rr.com>
  Subject: I broke the nipple on the radiator that goes to the overflow
          tank
  To: "Quattro" <quattro at audifans.com>
  Message-ID: <OEEEJGHIGJACOPCFFIMDOEPMCOAA.streichea001 at hawaii.rr.com>
  Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="iso-8859-1"

  1990 80 non-Q. While working on the back of the alternator, my elbow
reached
  over and leaned on the hose from the radiator to the overflow tank.
@#$%$#@,
  yikes.

  I really don't want to ask Congress to bail me out, by buying me a new
  radiator. So has anyone have a fix for this.

   I have some 1/8" copper tubing that fits into the hole on the radiator. I
  am hoping that I can epoxy the copper tube, and broken plastic nipple onto
  the radiator. But...

  Any BTDT's. Recommendations for the right epoxy?

  If no fix, can I temporarily plug the hole, sealing the radiator. Reduce
the
  amount of fluid, so that when it expands, the fluid will have some room to
  move and not blow out the radiator.

  Anyway, Happy Holidays everyone.

  Al Streicher
  Honolulu]