I'm having some trouble installing a fluidyne radiator.

I know it's common to have to trim the fan shroud a bit for a good fit, but this seems worse than what I feel like I have read about. I can't visualize any further cutting/trimming that would result in a good fit, since the fan blade make contact slightly with the metal pipe already.

Is there a trick to this that I am just missing? Or is it a bad weld on the pipe, and I need to take it somewhere to have it corrected?

 

I assume that is the upper pipe. My fluidyne didn't look like that. That one has been modified. That fan clearance is unreal, it must have been used with non stock fans. Even if you continued trimming the shroud I don't see there being enough clearance from the blades with the hose and clamp.

 

Yep, thats the upper. The lower is just fine I think.

I guess the clearance is unreal, in the sense it does not exist lol. It is good to know I am not crazy and/or incompetent.

That's a bummer though, I bought it on here last year and I don't recall the seller mentioning it had any customizations.

Do you think the best move is to hunt down another one, or try to find a shop that can fix the pipe (maybe using the stock radiator as a reference?)

 

Probably most cost-effective since you're stuck with it is to have it "fixed" … if you can. Or just bite the bullet and get a new one. I second that your's appears to have been modded. None of those welds look like what I remember of my Fluidyne.

 

I have the same rad and i just test fit the hose and it goes in about 1 1/4 of an in into the tube and the hose i used is thick.


No need to trim anything. With one inch is enough to get a clamp on it.

 

As for the welds, mine has the same welds. Maybe it took a hit and bent the tube towards the shroud.

 

 

Holy smoke.. looking at the OP pics zoomed in, you are right.

 

i need glasses, here are the welds of mine.

 

Wow, that is different. I didn't have any point of reference before.

Thanks guys. I'll probably just pick up a Koyo from one of the board sponsors and move on with life. I'm sure it will work at least as well for my application.

A cautionary tale to check things I buy on the classified sooner rather than later.