Playing with my left nipple... time to kill. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

cphilip · #1 06-06-2008, 09:20 PM

Time to go back to an original issue that I got side tracked on due to my Alternator dying. The Nipple off the Radiator. At one point, I had adjusted the hose and the slight leak stopped so I sort of put that off for the time being. Living on borrowed time, but it appears that, probably, the Indy leaned on that hose some evacuating the AC to replace the Pressure switch and got her going fairly good now. Not his fault really as it was probably time. I forgot to warn him of it too. But it is creating a small spray now. At some point during running. Not a noticeable amount of coolant loss... yet. But its evident. Spray from there on things. Turns to white after drying on stuff. Cleaned it off this morning and ran it back home and return of spray. Probably less than a half cup of coolant is gone but this is pretty diagnostic. I wiggled the thing and its now come loose.

So it now radiator time I am fairly certain. But I got some time to play here for a few days until I can get a radiator in and on the way. So I figure I might attempt the temporary fix. Got nothing to really lose I don't think.

So the question is this;

Has anyone had any success with a methodology of attaching the nipple. I did a search and find a lot of negativity in that regard. Probably well founded. Even saw some questions that went unanswered about tapping and threading a nipple.

My thought is a clean, scuff and fast Epoxy bead (I have some "super" stuff I have good luck with) is about the most likely to last a few weeks. If at all. Problems and challenges being the proper cleaning, the bond to the surface and then relieving of the hose tension and weight on the nipple.

But also of interest is tap and thread but I have no idea how thick that plastic is either. It would be necessary to be about 1/4 " thick or more to have any chance to work.

Anyway, I got some time to play with it over the weekend at least. Not really relying on the car for daily so just need to at least leave it able to make it to the shop is all. Heck... I can even load it on a trailer if need be so even that not a big deal. I think I want to mess with this tomorrow. Gimme some ideas here.