Advice on sealing oil cooler

[teamster1975]

Afternoon chaps!

I need some advice, I was assisting my brother (well actually doing all the work ) with his Triumph Daytona on Saturday. On top of all the other jobs it had a persistent oil leak which I decided to attack. Having degreased it all I can see that the union which the banjo bolts screw into on the oil rad have cracked from over tightening. As a temporary botch I wrapped the bolts in PTFE tape which has sort of worked but there is still a weep coming through the cracks. A new rad is silly money, do any of you have any suggestions for sealing it properly?
Thanks for any advice!

Matt

[eoin27]

If its weeping through, then perhaps gasket paste?

[Welly]

Why not look at an aftermarket oil cooler of the same sort of capacity and bosh that in there?

You'd be able to get a MOCAL type for about £85.00 (or is that what you meant by silly money?)

There's one on ebay for £80.00.....http://rover.ebay.co.uk/rover/1/710-673 ... dZViewItem

[teamster1975]

£85 (or is that what you meant by silly money?)

Try £400! Daylight robbery!
He's a bit up sh1t street because it's a '92 model, the newer ones are a different shape. Ebay it'll have to be but I will have another go at improving my "repair"
Thanks for the input fellas

[omega]

id try cleaning it up then useing some chemical metal
once its in place run the nut up and down the thread a few times to clean it before it sets

[trem1]

can you take a photo to give us a better idea what it looks like

[teamster1975]

can you take a photo to give us a better idea what it looks like

Course I can, we're going for a beer tonight so I'll take a snap if he gets here early enough (The side fairing needs to come off to get access which is a bit of a pig on this bike)
The chemical metal idea sounds good!

[trem1]

can you take a photo to give us a better idea what it looks like

Course I can, we're going for a beer tonight so I'll take a snap if he gets here early enough (The side fairing needs to come off to get access which is a bit of a pig on this bike)
The chemical metal idea sounds good!

sunshine,beer and bikes.......................................................im not jealous

[steve_earwig]

Is this the sort of joint where an olive on the end of the tube goes into a funnel-shaped hole and a nut forces it in from the outside? If so I don't think you'll have much luck. Mate of mine had this exact problem on his 650 Kat, he tried all sorts of things including chemical metal, epoxy, etc. etc. and nothing worked. The problem is unless the glue is firmly attached in the crack the force of the olive being squeezed into it will open the crack again.

It might help to make sure the crack is absolutely clean and gradually tighten it until the leak stops but I have a feeling this one'll drive you nuts I'm not sure if they exist any more but if you can find a place that fixes car radiators they might be able to help or suggest someone who can. What it really needs is someone who can solder/weld a new fitting onto the rad.

[mjb]

duct tape

[steve_earwig]

It works for NASA

[mjb]

works for everything

[teamster1975]

Is this the sort of joint where an olive on the end of the tube goes into a funnel-shaped hole and a nut forces it in from the outside?

No, there is a threaded boss welded on either side of the rad; the oil feeds have banjos which bolt straight on. No olives, just copper washers either side of the banjo. (I did put new washers on for good measure!) It's the side of the bosses that have split. One has held up with the PTFE but the other is leaking again a good'un

[Doggy]

works for everything

Promise?

- As trem1 said, if you can post a pic or two, I'm sure my motley crew can come up with a suggestion or two tomorrow....

[teamster1975]

Right. Sorry these were a long time coming, we only got around to pulling it apart on Saturday.
I couldn't get the first shot in focus but basically; there is a crack running the length of the union that the banjo bolts onto.
I had another go at it on Saturday, I widened the crack out and filled it with chemical metal; also bound it in metal tape for good measure! Did it work? No.