Visual Inspection for Rubber End Sheet Coolers

Visual Inspection and Repair

Coolers with obvious damage to the end plates or main casting should not be used again. Do not try to repair broken, cracked, or dented castings.
Make sure that tubes do not have loosened or broken joints, because these tubes can leak later.

Illustration 3 g06677979
Cracked or broken cooler castings should not be repaired.
Do not use again

Illustration 4 g06677984
Cracked or broken cooler castings should not be repaired.
Do not use again

Illustration 5 g06279917
Broken ear on the tube mounting flange.
Do not use again
Stripped threads in the hole can be repaired with a Caterpillar threaded insert or by installing a steel plug and machining the hole again. For more
information on threaded inserts, refer to the Special Instruction, SMHS8438, "Chart for Heli-Coil Repair". The procedure for installing plugs to repair
stripped threads is in Service Magazine, SEBD1323, "Repair Of Damaged Threads".

Illustration 6 g06279919
Stripped thread in the mounting flange.
Use again - after thread repair.

Any cooler that has obvious physical damage to the tubes or the end plates should not be repaired or used again. Coolers that are damaged in this way
can leak later, and it is not practical to repair the cooler.

NOTICE
Most physical damage is caused by improper handling of the
cooler during disassembly, cleaning, and handling. Handle
coolers with care because the copper tubes and end plates are
not protected when the end housings are not installed.

Illustration 7 g06279921
Physical damage to the tubes.
Do not use again
Illustration 8 g06279923
Physical damage to the end plate.
Do not use again
Inspect the coolers for signs of obvious damage. If there are signs of obvious damage, replace the cooler. Do not use again if the cooler is blistered,
wrinkled, or chipped.

Illustration 9 g06279957
Wrinkling
Do not use again

Illustration 10 g06279959
Chipping
Do not use again
Illustration 11 g06279953
Blistering
Do not use again

Illustration 12 g01217294
Important areas of the cooler for inspection

Inspect the seams of the cooler. If there is any sign of a leak, replace the cooler. Refer to Illustration 12.

Only personnel with the appropriate skill and experience should attempt repairs to coolers. Repairs could include cooler leaks, damaged mounting
studs, or broken mounting studs.

Do not reuse a cooler when the mounting flanges do not fit square with the cooler cover.

Normal Rubber End Sheet

Most of the rubber end sheet coolers inspected will fall into this category. The most noticeable difference between new and used end sheets is that the
used end sheet exhibits some softening. These coolers can be returned to service as is.

Illustration 13 g06279946
Rubber end sheet cooler - Normal condition. The cooler is an earlier model with tube ends almost flush with the end sheet.
Use again

Illustration 14 g06279952
Rubber end sheet cooler - Normal condition. The extension of the tubes beyond the end sheet indicates that the cooler is a newer model.
Use again