Radiator cleanout and fins cleaning methods

run the engine up to temp with a big box of baking soda mixed into the water (not antifreeze) then drain it to degease and clean. and there usta be rad specialists in town that did great work, 99% gone now.

 

Any radiator shop should have a hot tank that should do the trick.

 

Most radiators are aluminum, and even some are partially plastic today. There has to be a radiator repair shop in your vicinity. I would be hesitant to stick anything into my cooling system that I couldn't 100% ensure that I could get it out.

 

In fairness, I flush the track bike radiators every other year and don't think I've ever done a street bike that wasn't having troubles. When maintained, I've never had this need. When I was very young, I remember my dad sending radiators to shops that dipped them. Those places may still be around and offer a solution or advice. Good luck!

 

If needed, I am fortunate enough to have a true, old school radiator shop about 20 minutes away. Not many of them left around. When I'm restoring a cooling system, I will flush into a container so I can see what is coming out. If super nasty, it goes to a pro. Think I've had to once. If not, I will flush with my garden hose for a little force (both into the rad and from the back, forward thru the fins), and follow up with a distilled water rinse to wait for restoration / assembly.

And then I spend a romantic evening in my shop with a tiny flat blade screwdriver, a cold IPA, 2 fingers of whisky and some music straightening every goddamn fin.

Same dude completely replaced / restored the cooling system and heater core on my '71 GMC. Factory A/C... the heater core SUCKS BALLS to replace on that model. Like partially removing a fender SUCKS BALLS. Fuck it... I'll write the check on that one. I got bikes to work on.