2long Posted November 30, 2018 Report Share Posted November 30, 2018 (edited) I finally got my thermostat housing off the head and it is a hot mess. The worst part is shown here, with a more modern housing for comparison. The housing to head surface is corroded badly, as shown in the picture. Since these housings are not available, would it be feasible to repair this somehow? Stuart has advised that JB weld can repair the neck that the hose fits on, but I am not sure JB weld is up to this task? Cheers Dan Edited November 30, 2018 by 2long Quote Link to post Share on other sites
68tr Posted November 30, 2018 Report Share Posted November 30, 2018 Dan, That looks a bit rough. I believe the housing is an aluminum casting which has undergone some significant electrostatic deterioration. If the sealing surfaces are too thin you may be in for a challenge. (see 12 o'clock in the first photo). At least there is an option once the SDF thermostat housings become available, I am in the queue! Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ed_h Posted November 30, 2018 Report Share Posted November 30, 2018 There are solders that are designed for pot metal. Possibly they could be used to build up the corroded area. I think I'd consider machining away some of the corroded part and soldering on a new machined flange. Also, I haven't tried it, but I've read about people fixing damaged pot metal by copper plating it and using conventional solder. Ed Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cvtrian Posted November 30, 2018 Report Share Posted November 30, 2018 Hang on in there Dan, you know that new double thermostat housings are well on the way, and should be ready early 2019. Regards Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted November 30, 2018 Report Share Posted November 30, 2018 I have just had a carb body repaired (pretty much the same material) using a type of solder like this. Stuart. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dINNNtVk0cU Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waldi Posted November 30, 2018 Report Share Posted November 30, 2018 In my professional life we use Belzona for repair of pump impellors, heat exchanger parts etc. It’s a group of composite materials, and are often considered better than the original materials. Waldi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stillp Posted November 30, 2018 Report Share Posted November 30, 2018 Is it pot metal, or aluminium? Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fireman049 Posted November 30, 2018 Report Share Posted November 30, 2018 (edited) Hi Dan ~ I wonder if using JB Weld would work? I once repaired an SU piston using Aluminium welding rods and a propane torch. (Alumaweld?). Google up Frost Automotive. Tom. Edited November 30, 2018 by Fireman049 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JJC Posted November 30, 2018 Report Share Posted November 30, 2018 I have just repaired a thermostat housing on the 4 with JB weld. Worked very well but it wasn’t quite as bad as yours. It must be worth giving JB weld a try. JJC Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fireman049 Posted November 30, 2018 Report Share Posted November 30, 2018 JJC is on the ball. But make sure you clean up all the corrosion and dead metal before applying the JB Weld. Tom. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tony_C Posted November 30, 2018 Report Share Posted November 30, 2018 Bolt that shiny more modern one on ...... and be done with it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paul J Posted November 30, 2018 Report Share Posted November 30, 2018 8 hours ago, stuart said: I have just had a carb body repaired (pretty much the same material) using a type of solder like this. Stuart. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dINNNtVk0cU That looks a good useable product Stuart, I looked for a supplier unfortunately they will not supply to the EU as it does not meet EU requirements, roll on Brexit. Paul Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stillp Posted November 30, 2018 Report Share Posted November 30, 2018 This chap was demonstrating at Stoneleigh - would this work? Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted December 1, 2018 Report Share Posted December 1, 2018 17 hours ago, stillp said: This chap was demonstrating at Stoneleigh - would this work? Pete Thats similar to the stuff I have that I bought from Snapon years ago, dont know if they still sell it. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlanT Posted December 3, 2018 Report Share Posted December 3, 2018 If this is aluminium it's likely to be an easy fix by TIG welding. There are tricks like using graphite to fill the big hole in the middle, that make it easier. If it's a magnesium-zinc alloy the zinc-rich solder rods intended for aluminium will work. But this type of material requires a lot of skill. This is because temperature is critical and it gives no visual clue of it's temperature, unlike steel or brass. There is only a small margin between the melting point of the rod and the whole casting sagging and running away. And of course it's a good conductor of heat so you need a hot torch. I had a small crack in the body of a Rolls-Royce wiper motor repaired by an expert on welding magnesium alloy. Worked fine but was only a small defect. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dick Posted December 16, 2018 Report Share Posted December 16, 2018 Get your local machine shop to bore out the corroded part to a cleaned up diameter and then make a good fitting annulus with whatever the original ID was. Assemble with the appropriate Loctite adhesive. JB weld might work but this definitely will. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlanT Posted December 18, 2018 Report Share Posted December 18, 2018 (edited) This is what you can do with aluminium castings: Edited December 18, 2018 by AlanT Quote Link to post Share on other sites
2long Posted March 11, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2019 (edited) Ok, I am going to follow up with this thread, which has an amazing result! Rod B. (Rodbr) agreed to take on the task with JB weld and eye of newt. Having done one before, he was either a genius or a crazy man to volunteer to do mine, which was on death's door. The result is below, and I am so pleased he was able to preserve the original part, or at least give it a fighting chance! How about that patina of a refreshed surviving original part, which happens to be as rare as hen's teeth! I will report on it further once bolted up and put into service! Cheers Dan Edited March 11, 2019 by 2long Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John L Posted March 12, 2019 Report Share Posted March 12, 2019 I don't know if this part may be of any use, its from the Ferguson Tractor engine, but may not be the same https://www.agrilineproducts.com/parts/cooling/thermostat-housing.html May be useful the cut up and reweld perhaps? John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John L Posted March 12, 2019 Report Share Posted March 12, 2019 Available here at a price!!!https://www.limora.com/en/british-cars/triumph/triumph-tr2-to-tr4a-1953-1967/cooling-system/thermostat-housing-and-radiator-hoses/thermostat-housing-116746.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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