Morris Minor Owners Club

As I have been fiddling recently with engine cooling problems and as I had "one off for the Queen" today, I thought I would check out how good the original 94k mile rad was.
I had no idea the impact a wasp has on Radiator fins, the damage is quite extraordinary.
I wondered if anyone had made a fine mesh screen, to go between the Radiator and Grill, to avoid the Kamikaze wasps of this sceptered isle flattening the fins?
If not I shall have a bash.

I wouldn't go to the trouble of fitting a mesh screen - I expect the damage was caused by something else and the wasp just happened to have ended up in the damaged area. I suppose it could be an extremely rare form of wasp which eats ball bearings rather than sugary things but I imagine the chances of another one flying into your radiator are probably quite slim

LouiseM wrote:I wouldn't go to the trouble of fitting a mesh screen - I expect the damage was caused by something else and the wasp just happened to have ended up in the damaged area. I suppose it could be an extremely rare form of wasp which eats ball bearings rather than sugary things but I imagine the chances of another one flying into your radiator are probably quite slim

I shall photograph the rad for you Louise, there really are a considerable number and they really have bent the fins over the years,I suppose as a wasp flies at 5.59 mph (honest) and I travel at 55mph then then a combined speed of just over 60 mph is quite an impact
Perhaps the previous owner drove through a squadron of the little blighters, you have to feel sorry for them.

I think for a wasp to bend fins it would have to hit the rad at an angle, then highly unlikely, if it hit straight on it would be sliced and stick.

Maybe it was a hornet. They are heavy, especially the Wolseley ones

I've got a sheet of mesh slipped down in front of the grill. It doesn't seem to affect the cooling at all, probably less than the whole air force of bugs and insects that get wedged in there. I lost a new rad to a stone, if I'd have fitted the mesh earlier it would have saved some money.
I'll measure the size of the mesh if you want, I think you can get it from DIY stores....

M25VAN wrote:I've got a sheet of mesh slipped down in front of the grill. It doesn't seem to affect the cooling at all, probably less than the whole air force of bugs and insects that get wedged in there. I lost a new rad to a stone, if I'd have fitted the mesh earlier it would have saved some money.
I'll measure the size of the mesh if you want, I think you can get it from DIY stores....

[frame][/frame][frame][/frame]
Thats a very kind offer, I should be able to measure up and fit something.
Stones, good point, having spent on a new rad I really dont want to lose it, the photos attached show a very old and well worn rad, wasps or hornets? who knows, but there are very deep recesses where they have impacted.

looks like a small hive was on the move and ran into your car!

I forgot to mention they are Northern wasps, impervious to most things and hard as nails,also if a wasp is injured it gives off a pheremone that attracts other wasps that charge to the rescue,true, I kid you not.
Never get a wasp stuck on your yellow white fly sticky paper in the greenhouse,you will be swamped with em.

Sorry Moggie, I missed your reply. Mesh is about 5/6mm, same as bird peanut feeders, so doesn't restrict airflow but does filter out most flying insects etc. I think it was a complete square panel that I bought that is just a bit wider than the rad and long enough to fold over the top for easy removal. Tie it too the front grill with a couple of wire twists so it doesn't rattle. Biggest problem for me seems to be chippings at speed, they cause the most damage.

Thanks for that, I collected the new rad today so I will conjour something up to insert before I fit it.
New rads dont come with caps and there is nowhere for a drain tap, the fins dont flake away when touched though.