Radiator drain (over) screwed!

[Slartibartfaster]

Aaaargh! After removing, reinstalling, and filling my radiator I noticed the drain plug was dripping overnight. Tightened it down and got a flood. The 'socket' looks like it's welded in. Any ideas for fixing this? If I just re-weld it it's likely to still leak around the threads.

[DRUMMOND]

did you strip the thread or did the socket come loose?
if loose socket you can flux and solder it back on.
If you stripped the threads you need to replace the socket as I am sure it will leak.
you can also seal it with solder then you would have to loosen the bottom hose to drain the rad (Messy)

[Slartibartfaster]

The socket is cracked, don't think the threads are stripped. I think there was a hairline fracture that split when I tightened the screw down. I didn't apply a lot of torque; I think it was probably fully seated and the additional torque split the fracture open.

I guess I could take to a radiator shop and have them weld in a petcock. I'm tempted to just 'JBWeld' it and just drill it out when I need to drain it next time.

[Slartibartfaster]

It's at a radiator shop getting a petcock welded in place (and i think we all know how painful that can be, amiright?) And a thorough core clean out.

An $80 lesson about overtightening bolts. Oh well, maybe this post will keep someone else from making the same mistake.

[lglade]

Sounds like the least expensive and least risky of all possible solutions. Good call.