23 replies to this topic

[minicj]

Rover mini cooper
h reg

how the hell do i get the radiator off, ive undone all of the bolts on the mounting and removed the fan, but i cant get at the jubilee clip at the bottom of the radiator and the bolt at the back of the mounting, is there something im missing?

[Bungle]

remove the bottom hose once the radiator is free and lifted up

once you have removed the nut from the bottom mount, slide the long bolt out

[m1n1]

MY WAY! -

top rad hose off
remove bracket which holds cowling to thermostat housing
grill off
1/2 inch socket on long bar - remove bolt holding cowling to gearbox/subframe mount.
lift complete rad + cowl up, away from fan a bit
remove bottom hose
lift up complete to remove from car.

seperate cowling when its removed, if you need to.

[steble]

i agree with that method thats how i always do it

although i am impressed you removed the fan with the radiator still there

[djshongo]

i agree with that method thats how i always do it

although i am impressed you removed the fan with the radiator still there

me too!

i did this job last week to flush rad and change fan belt.. and ill NEVER do it again, complete nightmare job!

but yea, use above method

[minicj]

thanks guys, im still struggling on this! the worst part is the jubilee clip is a bit corroded and i cant work out what size spanner/socket i need, so im going to try and get at it with a long screwdriver instead. if that doesnt work, is it worth cutting the hose off?

A right pain this job is!

[Big Guns]

thanks guys, im still struggling on this! the worst part is the jubilee clip is a bit corroded and i cant work out what size spanner/socket i need, so im going to try and get at it with a long screwdriver instead. if that doesnt work, is it worth cutting the hose off?

A right pain this job is!

Yep, it's a fiddley horrible thing. If the Jubilee clip is well gone and a screw driver doesn't work, you can get a hacksaw blade at it (the clip!) from underneath. Saw through the clip and off she'll come. If not, cut the hose off and get a new one.
Cheers....Dave

[minicj]

hacksaw at the ready then

[minicj]

I've one ittt!!!

Its only take about 4 hours as well!

[R1minimagic]

Good tip to always put a good jubilee clip on the bottom hose and try and point it in the right direction so that you can do it with a socket on a long extension or a long screwdriver.

It is easy to damage the radiator fins on the fan blades if you do it the other way and it wont come off easily!

[minicj]

ill put a decent set of clips on when i do it.

[steble]

yer always leave the clip facing up

its not that bad of a job when you get used to it i have got it done to a few mins now and thats with supercharger belts and pullys in the way too

[orac69]

I know this is an old thread, but this is still an issue many people ask about - so just to add my 2p worth.    SPI mini here.

 

It is a ball ache of a job to get the bottom hose clamp screw loosened and the pipe off, it is always rusty and corroded - even after just 9 months here in wet and salty old England.  

 

A suggestion is to replace the bottom clamp with either a stainless steel or galvanised one ( I use marine ones )  and as others have said make sure its pointing upwards towards the bonnet when refitting.

 

You can also get hose clamps with decent regular nuts (10mm) on them to tighten them up, so you can get a long socket down and on there.

[1314cc]

I always just undo the hose where it connects to the water pump then lift out rad with bottom hose still connected.
With the radiator out you can reconnect the bottom hose and lower the radiator back in

[MikeRotherham]

I have a set of nut spinners that make removing and replacing THAT jubliee clip easier:

 

https://www.spear-an...nut-spinner-set

 

Use the extension piece and I think the 8mm nut spinner.

Edited by MikeRotherham, 02 October 2020 - 01:06 PM.