Poxipol resin for fixing radiators.
 

Opinions please.

In Russia on our way to Mongolia and one bike has a rad leak. We have added sealant and that is currently working.

I have been advised to also that poxipol resin (when I find some ) could fix it properly.

Opinions and experience please.

But bear in mind this is an Aprilia Pegaso Trail.

The rad may be made of cheese :-)

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What's the alternative? How bad is the leak?

I would tend to get it fixed properly in Russia where they have the facilities to do a half-decent job. Or just replace it if possible / economic. Mongolia has some wicked corrugations and is generally not a smooth ride (or you're doing something wrong if it is) and so any weakness will be exploited.

Using epoxy is a good field bodge to get you to a town, but for a mid to long term fix it will likely be insufficient. I imagine it has a very different rate of thermal expansion then the aluminium which (I assume) the radiator is made from, so after a few heat cycles it will probably separate.

A better fix is soldering / welding, or just blocking off the bad coolant passage by crimping it up... but I guss you don't have much redundancy with a tiny bike rad.

I spent years with a weepy radiator and despite numerous 'fixes' it never lasted long. What a moment when I pulled the damn thing out one final time and replaced it with a new one.

EO

A few years ago I had a Honda CBR that caught up a piece of gravel between the cooling fan and the aluminum radiator. The fan spun the stuck piece of stone in a circle, gouging a circular gash into the radiator. When I priced out a repair, Honda Canada wanted about $850 CND to replace the rad, plus a wait for one to arrive from Japan. It was too new a model for there to be any found at a wrecking yard.


The local radiator shop offered to apply an external epoxy patch for about $100. I was extremely skeptical, but thought I might as well try it. It took a few days to apply and set, then was ready to go. I rode that bike daily for about another two years, and never had any problems with the rad repair; it worked perfectly.

Personally I'd try and get it fixed in Russia. They're extremely resourceful - I reckon you'd find someone to repair it properly more easily than in Blighty. And when I say fixed, I mean soldered/brazed or whatever it needs.

I know from experience the rad cannot be brazed or soldered.

I am getting the one off my bike at home being sent to Barnaul, we will just have to chance Mongolia and adjust our route.

Fingers crossed :-)

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