Recently bought a 2013 Roadster, written off but fairly light easy to fix damage, mostly.
When I bought it, it looked like the radiator was just off the bottom left mount but once I removed the covers and tried to refit the radiator, realised it is quite badly twisted having gone over on it's left side. It does not leak and bike runs fine up to temperature. having straightened out all the mounts, the radiator is so twisted it is now stressed when I force it to the mounts and bolt it up.
My plan is as follows:
Remove the radiator and straighten it, basically twist it back.
Refit
Test
If this causes leaks, replace with a Chinese radiator as new is mucho expensive and secondhand are rare
Questions
Has anyone done this? Any tips?
Is it even possible to straighten them without knackering them completely?
Has anyone fitted a Chinese one? I am told by the breaker i spoke to, Triumph'ant in Wales, that they are thicker than standard and therefore the covers don't go back on without some cutting/filing.
If someone HAS fitted Chinese, a link to the same on eBay would be great.
Any advice or guidance would be really useful and greatly appreciated.
Any Radiator specialists in a local Industrial Estate? - Guys who look after old MG's etc?. If so - See if they can repair it or point you to a bloke in a shed who can.
If not then Chinese will be the easiest/cheapest solution. It is almost certain you will need to fiddle to get the original covers on.
I fear of future disaster I am investing in a Hogweed cover and, as soon as funds allow, a spare Chinese rad.
Thank you, that post tells me pretty much all I need to know about the Chinese rads, would probably look ok naked without the brackets but liking them @hogweed covers.
And thanks all for the replies, really helpful.
One point on the repair, once the radiator is weakened to the point it springs a leak, my experience has been one after another, funnily enough this was on an old MG