Need some (eBay) radiator wisdom
Posted: 09:59 pm Feb 16 2015
After seeing SS109's experience with some eBay Chinese radiators, I figured I would try them since mine were pretty beat. I bought a set for my 04 KDX220. This winter I finally got around to installing them. Fitting them up was work, but not a big deal.
BUT ... now that the system is filled and I have run the bike, I have learned that the plugs in the LH rad (one on top and one on the bottom) use crappy o-rings to seal against system pressure.
The top plug is a plastic wing nut. It's not really round (hard to explain) and squishes the o-ring out when tight. I replaced that o-ring with new and cranked it down. It still squishes but with the better o-ring it stopped leaking, at least after running a for few minutes in my 28F garage.
The bottom plug is metal and was leaking because it was finger tight. When I tighten it down, the o-ring squishes out of it too and it still leaks. It still has the original o-ring because I didn't realize it used an o-ring too till tonight.
Of course, nothing is a standard size so I can't just go replace the plugs, and the OEM plugs won't fit.
I'm not sure what to do. I don't really trust that the top plug is fixed. I could try a new o-ring or a flat seal for the bottom plug and see if that works.
Looking to soak up some wisdom/new ideas from the collective here ... trying to decide if I trust these o-rings if I get them to stop leaking, or do I just cut bait and recondition my LH rad and use it?
Sorry for the long post. Thanks for any opinions/thoughts/help.
BUT ... now that the system is filled and I have run the bike, I have learned that the plugs in the LH rad (one on top and one on the bottom) use crappy o-rings to seal against system pressure.
The top plug is a plastic wing nut. It's not really round (hard to explain) and squishes the o-ring out when tight. I replaced that o-ring with new and cranked it down. It still squishes but with the better o-ring it stopped leaking, at least after running a for few minutes in my 28F garage.
The bottom plug is metal and was leaking because it was finger tight. When I tighten it down, the o-ring squishes out of it too and it still leaks. It still has the original o-ring because I didn't realize it used an o-ring too till tonight.
Of course, nothing is a standard size so I can't just go replace the plugs, and the OEM plugs won't fit.
I'm not sure what to do. I don't really trust that the top plug is fixed. I could try a new o-ring or a flat seal for the bottom plug and see if that works.
Looking to soak up some wisdom/new ideas from the collective here ... trying to decide if I trust these o-rings if I get them to stop leaking, or do I just cut bait and recondition my LH rad and use it?
Sorry for the long post. Thanks for any opinions/thoughts/help.