The generator was running fine and the radiator was not leaking, however, the radiator was shedding fins and dropping them like little eggs on the generator mounting platform. I'd never seen a radiator do this before. I figured it was on borrowed time so I took it out with the hope of getting it recored. With some difficulty I was able to slide it out with the light metal framing attached. Anyhow, when I got a good look at it I couldn't believe that baby wasn't spewing coolant. The bottom two horizontal coolant tubes were completely unattached to the tanks and the bottom radiator mount (the part that the fin section is attached to) was completely unattached as well. It had broken free of its solder on both sides.
In order to get the actual radiator out of its housing I had to remove the two cushion mounts on the bottom end. After soaking the bolts in penetrating oil (Kroil) for five days I finally broke one loose. I had to destroy the other rubber mount to get that one off. Anyhow, I'm going to take the radiator to a commercial radiator shop and see what they say. I'm hoping that I don't have to buy one of those $600 jobs that have been referenced in other threads.
jor
John, Strange rad fin problem... Our gen rad also broke at bottom.
We had it repaired and did not reuse the original bottom mount design that supports the rad on the bottom solder tube, a weak point.
We now support bottom on the strongest radiator point, the two end cap solder joint. In fact, for years our bottom rubber mounts were broken, still supporting the rad just fine, but all the vibrations were not stressing the bottom tube, so our broken mounts were protecting us. By mistake we replaced the bottom mounts, so all the vibrations were directly on the bottom tube and it eventually broke them.
BTW, our 8kw gen has the integrated radiator with belt-driven fan, no gen parts in side compartment.
Here are pics of our new revised radiator bottom brackets. . .
Stray currents? Should not be happening.
more pics of our 'new' gen rad bottom brackets.