lowbudget
Well-Known Member
The tank heater in my Aspen decided to quit pumping water. It still got hot but didn't circulate the coolant. After looking at the hoses I decided to replace them all. After a quick price check I also decided to go the lower radiator hose heater.
When I pulled the tank heater I found the the ball was rusted in and that no amount of beating would free it. I swapped out new heater hoses and installed the lower radiator hose heater.
I fired it up and took it for a short drive. Temp gauge pegged and I had a steam bath going on from behind where the heater core ends are. I thought I must have blown my heater core.
I checked around and no one had a heater core and it would take 5 days to get one. I got a bright ideal of how to pressure test my core. I grabbed 2 pieces of heater hose. clamped a rubber plug in one and a valve stem in the other. I then used a motorcycle suspension hand pump to get it up to 15 psi. It was leaking where the hose hooked up. I pulled the hose and there was a flat spot where someone had over torqued the clamp on it. I worked the inlet back to round and got a good test.
I decided to change out the thermostat and radiator cap. After I got that done I went for a test drive and the new Oriellys cap let go. I thought it felt weak when I put it on.
I said to hell with it and got a new cap and water pump from NAPA. I decided to put a new pump in it after looking at the bypass hose and thinking about how poor the one in my Fifth Avenue was. I was glad I did when I got the old bypass house out of it.
Now it is running like a champ with only one problem......The temp gauge doesn't even get to 1/4 now when it used to run at 3/8. It looks like a piece of cardboard to finish the job. Oh well you have to love this shit especially working outside at 10 to 15 degrees F. It was -3 degrees F when I got up this morning so we will see how my lower radiator hose heater does.
OK my rant is over.
When I pulled the tank heater I found the the ball was rusted in and that no amount of beating would free it. I swapped out new heater hoses and installed the lower radiator hose heater.
I fired it up and took it for a short drive. Temp gauge pegged and I had a steam bath going on from behind where the heater core ends are. I thought I must have blown my heater core.
I checked around and no one had a heater core and it would take 5 days to get one. I got a bright ideal of how to pressure test my core. I grabbed 2 pieces of heater hose. clamped a rubber plug in one and a valve stem in the other. I then used a motorcycle suspension hand pump to get it up to 15 psi. It was leaking where the hose hooked up. I pulled the hose and there was a flat spot where someone had over torqued the clamp on it. I worked the inlet back to round and got a good test.
I decided to change out the thermostat and radiator cap. After I got that done I went for a test drive and the new Oriellys cap let go. I thought it felt weak when I put it on.
I said to hell with it and got a new cap and water pump from NAPA. I decided to put a new pump in it after looking at the bypass hose and thinking about how poor the one in my Fifth Avenue was. I was glad I did when I got the old bypass house out of it.
Now it is running like a champ with only one problem......The temp gauge doesn't even get to 1/4 now when it used to run at 3/8. It looks like a piece of cardboard to finish the job. Oh well you have to love this shit especially working outside at 10 to 15 degrees F. It was -3 degrees F when I got up this morning so we will see how my lower radiator hose heater does.
OK my rant is over.
