Solder that radiator filler neck DIY !

[B0B]

The radiator filler neck came loose on my 29 Phaeton the quail was spinning around like it had come to life I was glad it did not fall off on the road ! ...

back home I removed the hood and radiator shell and was thinking "could I solder it back on in the car myself ? "
I thought about it while the car sat for a couple of days and came up with this method that worked great ...

... I stuffed Some rags in to keep dirt out as much as possible and cleaned and wire brushed the radiator neck and the top of the tank where it solders on until it was really clean then suspended a Heat gun with a piece of wire from a garage rafter above the radiator neck about a foot over it pointed right down on the neck ...I pulled out the rags , turned on the heat gun on LOW and let it run awhile to pre-heat the area ...Then using a regular soldering gun mine is a a weller D-550 and using 50/50 solder with plumbers paste flux soldered right around the neck with no problem at all making a very good solder joint ... This was so much easier and cheaper than taking out the radiator and taking it to a radiator shop ...I finished the job with a quick spray of black paint ... It looks good and works good too ... By the way the heat gun came from harbor Freight model number 35776 ... The heat gun raises the temperature of the area you are soldering and this heat adds to the heat of your soldering gun so that an ordinary soldering gun or soldering iron can be used to solder the radiator ... This is MUCH easier to control than using a torch and produces a better job too ...

I have since used this same method to repair another radiator that had a leak at the base of the top inlet pipe this one I did with the radiator out and laying on the work bench but the technique was the same with my wife holding the heat gun and worked just fine ...

B0B in mIchigan

[Jim Parker Toronto]

Thanks, Bob. Sounds like a good solution.......

[Craig Lewis]

Bob great idea & sounds like a great job.
Preheating is a good trick, enabling the solder to flow deeper into the flange...perhaps not as deep as a torch & liquid flux would produce?... but no doubt adaquate.

It's good when people post hands-on repairs on here.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Glad it worked out well for you. Always nice to save money and work and have a good outcome!

On the non threaded 30-1 style necks, make sure the locking tabs are in the correct position when you solder the neck, so the quail will point straight ahead.

[Richard Wilson]

Tom makes a good point about being sure the 30-1 style neck is aligned properly. You need to check this whether you do the repair or the radiator shop does it. A man in my club pulled his leaky radiator and took it to a professional shop for repair, brought the radiator home and reinstalled radiator, hood and everything. Finally he went to put the quail cap on and it was "flying" side ways. He had to pull the radiator and make a second trip to the radiator shop. Double work for all involved!

[Glenn C.]

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Great idea Bob !! Now all I have to do is remember all these tips. cheez !