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Bodger Fix What they don't show you in the repair manual - tales of duct tape, bailing wire and WD 40. Bodge, Bush Mechanics, farmers fix, patch, temporary repair, or whatever your definition, tell us YOUR best story of a bodge that got you home!
Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

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Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



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  • 1 Post By davebetty
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  #1  
Old 13 Dec 2015
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Leaking radiator
If your radiator has sprung a leak you can put ground pepper in the coolant. This will swell up and close the hole if it's not too big.

You can use raw eggs as well to do this.
If the holes is bigger try and plug it with a piece of dry wood first, then add the egg(s) or pepper.
I fixed a leaking radiator once by putting a self tapping screw in the hole.

If the pressure is too high undo the radiator cap about a quarter turn when the bike has cooled of, the excess pressure can escape therefor not compromising the temporary fix to the radiator.
Warning ! Do not undo the cap when the bike is hot or you stand a serious risk of getting burnt by the coolant !
If you don't have a coolant reservoir you could strap a bottle to the bike catching the coolant that'll come out of the overflow hose when the engine warms up and put it back in later.
Last edited by Dutchgit; 13 Dec 2015 at 19:38.
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  #2  
Old 13 Dec 2015
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Originally Posted by Dutchgit View Post
When the pressure is too high undo the radiator cap about a quarter turn, the excess pressure can escape
Health and Safety First.
It is very dangerous to open any radiator when the coolant is under pressure and very hot. This can result in very serious injuries.
A good bodge needs also be a safe one; if you chose to take risks that is your business but please don't suggest dangerous practices as ' a good idea'. Others could get injured.
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  #3  
Old 13 Dec 2015
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bertrand View Post
Health and Safety First.
It is very dangerous to open any radiator when the coolant is under pressure and very hot. This can result in very serious injuries.
A good bodge needs also be a safe one; if you chose to take risks that is your business but please don't suggest dangerous practices as ' a good idea'. Others could get injured.
Just to reiterate, radiator cap removal can be very hazardous. In case anyone does not know, water under high pressure boils at a higher temperature than in the atmosphere. If you remove the cap from a very hot system the pressure drops and the all coolant is likely to boil instantly and escape under very high pressure.

A colleague of mine was once very badly scalded, when he attempted to prevent a student, just too late i'm afraid, from releasing a hot cooling system pressure cap on a car in our college workshop. The resulting geyser of boiling coolant emitted from the system scalded his face and arm. The student was uninjured as he was pushed out of the way.
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  #4  
Old 13 Dec 2015
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Thanks for reminding me. I've edited the post.

Undoing the cap a quarter turn usually only lets the pressure of so that can escape via the overflow hose or into the catch tank but it is safer to wait untill there is no risk.

Sorry for that.

Cheers, Ard
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  #5  
Old 13 Dec 2015
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Health and safety aside, if the system is not run with a pressure cap, the coolant is likely to boil off and you could end up with a more serious problem than a leaking radiator. Pressurised cooling systems were introduced to allow engines to run at higher temperatures and therefore more efficiently, so without the pressure-induced increase in the boiling point of the coolant, it is like to boil and escape.

Putting anything in a coolant system can also block coolant passages in the engine block and cause long-term damage.

So unless it's a real emergency situation I would get a tow and repair the radiator properly. Damaged fins can be crimped / rolled shut.
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  #6  
Old 17 Dec 2015
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The system allows for the over heated coolant to fill the overflow tank, when cools abit returns, returns to fill the radiator( works by pressure differential). If this is not happening, then you have a leak in the system( usually a hose or cap) or the cap is malfunctioning- not working as it should.
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  #7  
Old 17 Dec 2015
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The stuff I take on my travels is the silicone glass stuff that comes in a bottle. I think it is much more popular in the USA, but it works a treat. I had a holed radiator which i could not fix with any method, radweld, chemical metal, welding.

This stuff just pours in the rad, heat it up and where it meets the air it will turn to a kind of glass compound. on some you have to empty it out but other brands allow you to keep it in the system where it will plug further holes.

I've done about 20 000 miles on this repair and it it still solid. Its supposed to work on blown head gaskets too, so, in my opinion, it is well worth the space it takes under the seat!
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Old 18 Dec 2015
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Any brand names that come to mind ?
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  #9  
Old 18 Dec 2015
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Originally Posted by Dutchgit View Post
Any brand names that come to mind ?

There you go.
Its about£13 off ebay.
not very common in Europe
but has been used widely in the USA
from what I see
There are good online instructions for its use in differing situations too
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Old 19 Dec 2015
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There you go.
Its about£13 off ebay.
not very common in Europe
but has been used widely in the USA
from what I see
There are good online instructions for its use in differing situations too

Link doesn't seem to be working for me
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  #11  
Old 25 Dec 2015
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Its called hyper seal liquid metal sealant.
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  #12  
Old 12 Jul 2018
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Powdered cinnamon is a well known remedy.
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  #13  
Old 12 Jul 2018
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If you mix the cinnamon with the pepper and add cumin, kardemon and cloves it will also make for a nice garam massala for curries.

But honestly, for leaks in radiators I prefer metal putty over herbs and spices.
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Old 14 Jul 2018
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Originally Posted by duibhceK View Post
If you mix the cinnamon with the pepper and add cumin, kardemon and cloves it will also make for a nice garam massala for curries.

But honestly, for leaks in radiators I prefer metal putty over herbs and spices.
Yeah, best to stick to cooking with the spices. Health and safety requirements preclude me giving full instructions but my 'never fails' radiator fix involves a mixture of plutonium dust, blue asbestos and botulinum toxin. You pressurise it into the hole using hydrogen gas ignited by a spark plug duct taped to the thermostat opening. There is some technique involved so I'd suggest you practice on a scrap radiator first.
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  #15  
Old 16 Jul 2018
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Originally Posted by backofbeyond View Post
There is some technique involved so I'd suggest you practice on a scrap radiator first.
If the radiator uses a cap rated 1.2+ bar I find it helps if you point the hole to magnetic north. Unless it's a full moon, then step away from the vehicle and brew a curry with your spices.
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