I was wondering it anyone has successfully repaired thermostat bellows, if so how did you go about it Rob
I would take a look at ratwell.com. Essentially they are brass so can be cleaned and soldered and refilled with propanol (IPA). Problem being that soft solder (plumbing/electrical) cracks easier than brass when you flex it.
I would say it is impossible to be repairing one to work properly and to work for any length of time .
Thermostat https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/to...hermostat.84384/&share_type=t&link_source=app Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I'm thinking something like the stuff they reseal fuel tanks with,runny and flexible ,they are filled with alcohol I have two bugererd ones Rob
This could be an idea.. if you can find a way to glue or solder it so it doesnt damage the lining. Also need to check that the fuel tank stuff will go on in a thin layer, and keeps working between 80 and 120 degrees C without melting.. got to be some suitable paint plus a high temperature epoxy to glue the top back on. This sounds well worth researching..
But fun to try. Have you seen the price of them? Mine is broken. I have some surgical spirit (industrial methylated spirit). Is that the same thing?
Not really. Isopropanol is what you need I think. I buy it off eBay. But as it's also useful for making homemade hand sanitiser I doubt you'll find any at a sensible price right now.
The difficulty is that when you apply heat the vapour expands and blows a hole in the solder before it has time to solidify. I did seal one once but it didn't last long.
I'm in the same predicament, so moan first...... I've taken the damn thing apart, soldered the top back and the central bolt holder. I've then filled Isopropyl Alcohol and tried to solder the bolt hole () but it won't hold and ended up having to take the top off again as I've applied too much heat and ruined the other solders Rant over... I've now run out of the plumbers solder I had, so does anybody have any suggestions about the best type of solder (pre fluxed, leaded?) or long term success with alternatives. Ta
When I read a how to on fixing these thermostats I do wonder how many failed attempts preceded. I'd like to fix mine but if it's as tricky as it seems... Any plumbers out there fixed there's? They're good at soldering...
Radio type leaded solder will work. Why not try sitting the thermostat in water to stop most of it getting too hot. Clever clogs would get some low melting point solder and use that to avoid reaching the 183 degrees C that melts the other 60/40 tin/lead stuff.
That's the trouble with lockdown, you try and use the bits you have at home. Without blaming my tools, I might need to get some proper stuff
