I've got to reinstall two radiator cores tomorrow on my 5LN D6R, assuming the radiator shop can fix the hairline crack I see along the bottom edge of the outside core where it's been rubbing a little bit against a rubber baffle. Had to pull the number 2 core first to give me a little more room to get number 1 out. (Or maybe I've got number 6 and 7 out; it's the two far right ones on the machine--far left if you're standing between the blade and the radiator.
Anyway, I've got two different kinds of Murphy tire lube in the shop that I use to mount truck tires. One is a bucket of greasy stuff that smears on the tire beads with a little mop, and the other is some blue stuff that I mix about half with water and have in a squirt bottle. Will either of these work to lubricate the bottom core seals? And can I make new little connecting hoses for the cores from 1/4 fuel hose? My present ones are a little stiff from age and now is a good time to replace them.
If the radiator shop thinks my core is not worth fixing the crack, I guess I'm off to the Cat dealer to buy a new one for $560 each. The problem with that is that all seven of them are likely the same age and degree of deterioration. Truthfully, they all look pretty clean so I'm hoping it's just a problem caused by the chafing of the outside cooler against the rubber side baffle.