Specialty Shop Can Build Or Restore Any Radiator

2021 - Volume #45, Issue #6, Page #35

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Need a radiator fixed, restored or custom-built? Empire Radiator can do it all. They do so many radiator jobs of all sizes that they just moved into a 30,000-sq. ft. facility, triple the size of their previous shop.
“We get stuff in from across the country,” says co-owner Jim Schelkun, Empire Radiator. “Our specialty is figuring out how to build products that don’t exist, building entire radiators from scratch.”
Schelkun has multiple engineering and design teams at his disposal. This is vital when people bring in designs on napkins and ask him to turn them into products. “We just ask for something physical to work with. It could be a sample, a blueprint or a dimensional drawing, even if scratched in pencil. If the measurements are accurate, we’ll take it from there.”
When restoring or repairing a radiator, he and his crew look for ways to make it more efficient and provide better cooling.
“We may change or reconfigure the core itself, its tubes and fins,” says Schelkun. “We can change the fin count for more heat transfer or the tube count for greater flow. If we take it from 3-row to 5-row, we can add 20 percent volume. Change the fins and add another 10 to 20 percent heat transfer.”
It’s simple in concept, he adds, as long as the laws of physics are followed. “You have to know what can and can’t work,” he says.
Restoration starts with a careful visual inspection. That is followed by a thorough cleaning. Once it is disassembled, repairs are made, the core is measured, and a replacement is ordered. Reassembly is done with lead-free solder for copper/brass units. Once it has been tested for leaks, it is painted and returned to the customer.
The number one problem that Schelkun sees with radiators is being plugged up inside, outside or both. It may be from lack of maintenance, tough working conditions, or use of Stop Leak.
“It is amazing what comes in,” he says. “Sometimes there are big holes blown through a radiator tank because someone took a torch to it, thinking they could fix it. Age often produces rust or sludge, and things just wear out.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Empire Radiator, 606 Hague St.,
Rochester, N.Y. 14606 (ph 585-254-7140; empireradiator@gmail.com; www.empireradiator.com).

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Specialty Shop Can Build Or Restore Any Radiator TRACTORS Parts Need a radiator fixed restored or custom-built? Empire Radiator can do it all They do so many radiator jobs of all sizes that they just moved into a 30 000-sq ft facility triple the size of their previous shop “We get stuff in from across the country ” says co-owner Jim Schelkun Empire Radiator “Our specialty is figuring out how to build products that don’t exist building entire radiators from scratch ” Schelkun has multiple engineering and design teams at his disposal This is vital when people bring in designs on napkins and ask him to turn them into products “We just ask for something physical to work with It could be a sample a blueprint or a dimensional drawing even if scratched in pencil If the measurements are accurate we’ll take it from there ” When restoring or repairing a radiator he and his crew look for ways to make it more efficient and provide better cooling “We may change or reconfigure the core itself its tubes and fins ” says Schelkun “We can change the fin count for more heat transfer or the tube count for greater flow If we take it from 3-row to 5-row we can add 20 percent volume Change the fins and add another 10 to 20 percent heat transfer ” It’s simple in concept he adds as long as the laws of physics are followed “You have to know what can and can’t work ” he says Restoration starts with a careful visual inspection That is followed by a thorough cleaning Once it is disassembled repairs are made the core is measured and a replacement is ordered Reassembly is done with lead-free solder for copper/brass units Once it has been tested for leaks it is painted and returned to the customer The number one problem that Schelkun sees with radiators is being plugged up inside outside or both It may be from lack of maintenance tough working conditions or use of Stop Leak “It is amazing what comes in ” he says “Sometimes there are big holes blown through a radiator tank because someone took a torch to it thinking they could fix it Age often produces rust or sludge and things just wear out ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Empire Radiator 606 Hague St Rochester N Y 14606 ph 585-254-7140; empireradiator@gmail com; www empireradiator com

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