Cleaning an old radiator? - SV650.org

Fallout · 27-05-13, 09:28 PM

My Gixxer radiator is old and filthy. There is a nice line of solid mud up the middle from the front wheel and also plenty of crap elsewhere, as well as hundreds of mini dings from years of stone hits. The biker gets hot pretty quickly and the fan doesn't cool it too well anymore, so I think a good clean is in order.

Does anyone have any tips for things to use? Obviously a pressure washer is a bad idea, but a hose does pretty much nothing. I'm reluctant to scrub it too as at the moment it doesn't leak and I'd like to keep it that way! Could perhaps use a tooth brush and some bog standard soap water. Any other better ideas? Any post wash care like ACF50?

Tomor · 27-05-13, 09:33 PM

Pressure washer from the back.... will work a treat.

Fallout · 27-05-13, 09:40 PM

Yeah, but I'm considering some of those fins maybe mms away from leakage. More fragile than Gav's temper in fact.

27-05-13, 09:41 PM

TFR spray will disolve the dirt!

PyroUK · 27-05-13, 10:25 PM

Muc off? Worked wonders on my mountain bikes and on the sv for removing all the spray from the scottoiler so might be ok to cut through the dirt in the rad, then just hose it out from the rear?

timwilky · 28-05-13, 06:39 AM

One of my dads businesses was a radiator repairers and builders.

They would blow out cores using compressed air from behind. straighten any damaged fins where possible with thin long nose pliers, then a soak in an bath of sulphuric acid.

Cleaner than a clean thing.

Compressed air is the easy part. I wouldn't know how joe public get himself an acid bath. Still if you do, let me know I have a large lump of organic matter to dispose of quietly

Sir Trev · 28-05-13, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timwilky

I wouldn't know how joe public get himself an acid bath. Still if you do, let me know I have a large lump of organic matter to dispose of quietly

Has that relative of yours been buying more Range Rovers?

timwilky · 28-05-13, 08:21 AM

I was thinking more of the domestic purchasing director.

And the rangerover has suddenly been replace by an Audi R something or other

28-05-13, 10:08 AM

Hmm yeah pressure washer has blasted paint off of mine. Cant say i noticed it damaged the fins but its a bit tatty anyway.

Tomor · 28-05-13, 10:13 AM

So, you can have my old damaged rad if you want to practise first?

27-05-13, 09:28 PM	#1
Fallout Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Basingstoke Posts: 2,983	Cleaning an old radiator? My Gixxer radiator is old and filthy. There is a nice line of solid mud up the middle from the front wheel and also plenty of crap elsewhere, as well as hundreds of mini dings from years of stone hits. The biker gets hot pretty quickly and the fan doesn't cool it too well anymore, so I think a good clean is in order. Does anyone have any tips for things to use? Obviously a pressure washer is a bad idea, but a hose does pretty much nothing. I'm reluctant to scrub it too as at the moment it doesn't leak and I'd like to keep it that way! Could perhaps use a tooth brush and some bog standard soap water. Any other better ideas? Any post wash care like ACF50? __________________ MotoGoLoco - You knows it The Shed - Suzuki GSX-R 750 K1 \| Triumph Tiger 1050 K6 Fallout Bikes (VLogs, Tutorials, Bike Vids) Fallout Breakbeat (My Music)

27-05-13, 09:33 PM	#2
Tomor Member Mega Poster Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Yateley, Hants Posts: 2,306	Re: Cleaning an old radiator Pressure washer from the back.... will work a treat. __________________ Yam XT125R - Sold SV650 -Sold DL 650 K6 - Sold 2012 Street Triple R - For Sale - Linky here

27-05-13, 09:40 PM	#3
Fallout Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Basingstoke Posts: 2,983	Re: Cleaning an old radiator Yeah, but I'm considering some of those fins maybe mms away from leakage. More fragile than Gav's temper in fact. __________________ MotoGoLoco - You knows it The Shed - Suzuki GSX-R 750 K1 \| Triumph Tiger 1050 K6 Fallout Bikes (VLogs, Tutorials, Bike Vids) Fallout Breakbeat (My Music)

27-05-13, 09:41 PM	#4
Elliott Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Cleaning an old radiator TFR spray will disolve the dirt!

27-05-13, 10:25 PM	#5
PyroUK Member Mega Poster Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Poole Posts: 1,083	Cleaning an old radiator Muc off? Worked wonders on my mountain bikes and on the sv for removing all the spray from the scottoiler so might be ok to cut through the dirt in the rad, then just hose it out from the rear? __________________ 2011 Triumph Daytona 675, Arrow exhaust and QS!

28-05-13, 06:39 AM	#6
timwilky Member Mega Poster Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Not in Yorkshire. (Thank God) Posts: 4,116	Re: Cleaning an old radiator One of my dads businesses was a radiator repairers and builders. They would blow out cores using compressed air from behind. straighten any damaged fins where possible with thin long nose pliers, then a soak in an bath of sulphuric acid. Cleaner than a clean thing. Compressed air is the easy part. I wouldn't know how joe public get himself an acid bath. Still if you do, let me know I have a large lump of organic matter to dispose of quietly __________________ Not Grumpy, opinionated. Last edited by timwilky; 28-05-13 at 06:41 AM.

28-05-13, 08:21 AM	#8
timwilky Member Mega Poster Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Not in Yorkshire. (Thank God) Posts: 4,116	Re: Cleaning an old radiator I was thinking more of the domestic purchasing director. And the rangerover has suddenly been replace by an Audi R something or other __________________ Not Grumpy, opinionated.

28-05-13, 10:08 AM	#9
stuR Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Cleaning an old radiator Hmm yeah pressure washer has blasted paint off of mine. Cant say i noticed it damaged the fins but its a bit tatty anyway.

28-05-13, 10:13 AM	#10
Tomor Member Mega Poster Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Yateley, Hants Posts: 2,306	Cleaning an old radiator So, you can have my old damaged rad if you want to practise first? __________________ Yam XT125R - Sold SV650 -Sold DL 650 K6 - Sold 2012 Street Triple R - For Sale - Linky here

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