Blocked Rad

[alexander]

Everyone
The Javelin keeps throwing up problems to keep me busy, I took it for it's first long run ( about five miles) and it over heated. Checked timing etc but it's a blocked rad. So before I have the rad recored any suggestions for unblocking. So far I've taken the rad out and flushed it using Fernox and hot water then tried citric acid, I did get some scale and sludge out but not that much. Any suggestions welcome.
Dave

[alexander]

Sorry there should have been a "Hi" before Everyone.

[Chris Spencer]

Dave - Sounds like its heavy limescale - Jowett Car Spares keep recored / service exchange radiators on the shelf - I think I might have a used one somewhere in my stores but unsure what its condition is - you are welcome to try it should you wish

[alexander]

Just back flushed the heads lots of crude, flushed heater as well but that was clean. So hoping it was the heads that was part of the problem. Will give rad another flush and go from there
Dave

[p.p.]

had the same problem....
flushing it myself with vary product's - rubbish.....
professionell flushing, spend lots of money - NOT worth!!!!
got myself a new radiator, now i'am HAPPY - NO OVERHEATING anymore!!!
peter

[David Morris]

Hi Dave,

Our Javelin, Black Shadow, suffered from overheating a few years ago. I decided to replace the radiator as, like Peter, attempts at flushing proved futile.

Fortunately, I found that the Javelin's radiator core is ( or at least it was then ) still a stock size. My local radiator company then offered me two types of replacement cores, one with three channels in the core or one with five channels, which they claimed would give an enhanced performance. I opted for the five channel one and they rebuilt my old radiator. My overheating problem ceased immediately. On the hottest day, she is never over 75 degrees on the gauge.

Anyway, I can only advise on my experience and a replacement radiator should solve your problem. If possible and, if faced with a choice of both types, I would opt for the five channel type.

Stay safe and enjoy,

All the best,

David

[alexander]

Hi Everyone
First, thanks Chris for the offer to try your spare rad but if I can't clear it I'II go to my local rad man and have it rebuilt.

Thanks David for the advice, when I rebuilt my TR 3a I did the same when the rad was re-cored and went for the extra channels, on the hottest days I never get a problem.

At the moment I have run the car for half a hour in the garage after taking the rad out and using citric acid on it. I've back flushed both blocks and the heater. So far so good no over heating but the test will be taking the car for a run in this hot weather. Any problems and it will be a re-core.
Dave

[Forumadmin]

Of course the overheating may not be a blocked rad.....but blocked passage ways in head, dodgy water pump, ignition or valve timing or head gasket leak. There is much discussion on this forum about such matters. Also about the recoring of rads. I would go with a new aluminium rad.

[alexander]

Sorry for delay in giving update but for various reasons I only got to take the car out Sunday
for a test to see if I'd fix the over heating problem. The good news is yes no over heating problems but the water pump started making noise like a worn bearing. I rebuilt the water pump earlier in the year with new shaft seals bearing etc from JCS so stripped the pump down and found the bearing was fine but the shaft had bad water damage , I assume that water had been getting past the seal. The seal looked good but I've changed it for one I had for a TR pump, cleaned the shaft and refitted. On running the car the noise has gone but a little water is leaking out of the little weap hole, hoping this will stop once the new seal has beaded in.
The other problem was spark plugs 1 and 3 are a little black ( running rich) 2 and 4 are a good colour so I need to check the jets. As always any advice welcome
Dave
,
,

[Forumadmin]

Running rich is often caused by float valves or too high petrol pressure.

[alexander]

Running with manual pump and only rich on 1and 3 so will check float level .
Thanks for suggestion
Dave

[Forumadmin]

Manual pumps usually do not suffer from over pressure but you can find float issue swapping sides after one side is fixed.
Also check float floats! Shake to see if anything inside.