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MG TD TF 1500 - Magnetic plug for cooling system?

I made some magnetic plugs for the sump and gearbox plug. Very effective.

I have just flushed out the cooling system and was wondering if the same idea would capture rust floating in the system before it starts to settle again.

There was a brass blanking bolt near the temperature sensor on my engine ( no idea what it was originally for). I made what you see in the picture.

Positioning is not ideal. I had thought about taking out the radiator drain tap and replacing that with a brass plug with a similar arrangement.

The advantage of where it is now is easy access to check it.

Rusted steel is apparently not as strongly attracted to magnets. It is a very strong neodymium magnet though so lets see.

On one hand nothing showing up may just mean I did a good job with the flushing :-)

Dave

D Moore

Seems like a reasonable idea, rust will definitely occur in the cooling system, and drawing it out on a regular basis should help...
Geoffrey M Baker

Where did you get the magnets & what did you use to attach them Dave? Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

They're readily available, Peter. Try Google.
http://www.kjmagnetics.com/products.asp?cat=1 for one.

Problem:
Neodymium magnets have poor resistance to corrosion and they can also corrode from the inside out if proper pre-treatment processes are not followed. Oftentimes a multi-layer Nickel-Copper-Nickel plating is applied, but this may not be sufficient for all applications.

Bud
Bud Krueger

Perhaps the best solution would be a removable neodymium magnet you can replace when it corrodes.
Geoffrey M Baker

Those are the type of magnets that Bud's link has. Make sure to get one with the right heat resistance . There is a page with the specs on the site Bud linked to.

I got mine from 'SuperMagnetMan'. Here is what he said when I enquired:

'You need a magnet rated for N48M or N45H. The “M” rating means it is good for 100 degrees C and the “H” rating is good for 120 degrees C'

As for size you need one 15/20mm long and 8.5-9mm in diameter. This size will both fit the plug and extend into the fluid. You want to expose as much of the tip into the fluid as you can to allow particles to gather around it.

Drill a hole in the end of the brass plug that is a snug fit. Drop in some JB Weld and tap / press in the magnet with a vice

The magnets are a little brittle. Be careful to protect the jaws of the vice / use some wood to cushion the blow.




Dave
D Moore

Thanks Dave. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Dave, that plug is for the heater take off in the TF.
Don't mix it up with the temp gauge tapping. They are different threads, heater BSP and the temp bulb fitting is NPT. They look the same but are not.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

I doubt that rust will be attracted to a magnet unless it has a remnant of un-corroded ferrous in it. Next time I am in the shed I will be experimenting!

Bob Schapel
R L Schapel

Gano, for years has made and inline screen. Stainless and brass components. They advertise in reputable old car pubs. Regards, Tom

http://www.ganofilters.com
tm peterson

This thread was discussed between 07/09/2015 and 09/09/2015

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