Damaged radiator

[ronnie]

Hi all. Stupidly I damaged the bottom of my radiator while showing a friend me cranking the engine with the starter handle . I've put a very small hole in the base of the rad . Is it possible to have this braised ??

[diggerjones]

I've done this twice over the years, years ago I passed a gritters on m6 and put a hole in rad. I mended that with a soldering iron.
When I put the starting handle through the bottom like you, I used my blow torch. It's only copper dead easy. I put an extra flap of copper on like they had originally.

[ronnie]

The hole is about 4mm so probably would need a small patch. So a small square of copper soldered on should hold pressure ?

[diggerjones]

I would say yes. Wouldn't think there would be that much pressure in it. Soldered pipes in a house take 6 bar plus, hot then cold and they seem to standpoint to it.
Did your mate laugh.

[bmcecosse]

Problem is the heat may loosen near joints. Take it to experts for repair. But how did it happen?

[mike.perry]

The hole is in the bottom of the rad so there should not be too much heat. I have a patch on top of the header tank which is perfectly satisfactory