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Removable Tube Heat Exchangers
Removable Tube
Heat Exchangers
SERVICE MANUAL
Please read and follow
instructions carefully before
installing the MESABI
�
Heat Exchanger. 2
CONTENTS
MESABI
�
RTTS
�
Tube and Shell Heat Exchangers
Standard Parts and Tool List .........................................Page 3
Tube Removal ..............................................................Page 4
Tube Replacement .......................................................Page 5
Cleaning ........................................................................Page 5
Testing and Reinstallation ............................................Page 6
Warranty .......................................................................Page 2
Manufacturing Facilities and Parts Depot .....................Page 8
AUGUST 1998
The MESABI
�
RTTS
�
Tube
and Shell Heat Exchanger is
designed with the same remov-
able tube concept that has made
our radiators and air-to-oil cool-
ers accepted worldwide.
Unlike conventional type heat
exchangers, each individually
replaceable tube is held into its
header sheet with fluorocarbon
rubber seals. These seals
absorb the stresses that can
cause premature failure of con-
ventional coolers, resulting in
costly equipment downtime. In
addition, the RTTS
�
design per-
mits tube removal for cleaning
or repair.
RTTS
�
bottom tank oil coolers can be designed in some applications to allow removal
of the RTTS
�
cooler while the radiator remains on the vehicle.
L&M Radiator warrants the MESABI
�
RTTS
�
Tube & Shell Heat Exchanger
manufactured by L&M for a period of 1
8
months from date of invoice. Under this
warranty, our obligation is limited to the
repair or replacement (at our option) of
products or parts manufactured by L&M
that are proven to be defective in
workmanship or material. Damage or
leakage due to accidents, misuse, or
corrosion is not warranted.
Warranty on components not manu-
factured by L&M Radiator shall be that of
the individual manufacturers. Individual
manufacturers operational and main-
tenance requirements must be met and
their policies regarding shipment and
inspection of claimed defective parts
will apply.
L&M is not liable for consequential or
incidental damages or costs. Consult
factory before proceeding with warranty
claims. This warranty supersedes all
previously published warranties.
RTTS
�
tube and shell coolers can be custom built for new applications or to retrofit
and utilize customers existing end caps and piping.
1
8
-MONTH WARRANTY
AGAINST LEAKAGE 3
SEAL
RETAINING
TOOL ONLY
P/N 64607
DESCRIPTION PART NO.
COOLING TUBE .......... *
SEAL .................... 52812
GASKETS ..................... *
FRAME PARTS ............. *
*
See L&M drawing and parts list
or contact factory. Please have
the L&M serial number available
at time of inquiry.
INSTALLATION AND
REMOVAL TOOL ONLY
P/N 58374
(Note: Some bottom tank heat
exchangers may require the
Extended Reach Tool P/N 61540)
DESCRIPTION
PART NO.
RTTS SEAL REAM TOOL
(used to drill out
seals with the tubes still in place) .....................................
79705
RTTS INTERNAL TUBE CLEANING KIT
.............
79901
(NOTE: Kit consists of clean out rods, brushes,
and cleaning instructions)
TUBE PLATE HOLE CLEANING BRUSH ....... 64092
SEAL LUBRICATING BRUSH ......................... 64091
MESABI
�
Tube and Shell Heat
Exchangers Standard Parts and Tool List
STANDARD PARTS
TOOL LIST
TUBE INSTALLATION, REMOVAL
AND SEAL RETAINING TOOL
(Standard Reach) P/N 92376
(Note: Some bottom tank heat exchangers may
require the Extended Reach Tool P/N 92377) 4
The following describes the dismantling, cleaning, assembly, and testing procedures for the
RTTS
�
heat exchanger. Please read and follow the instructions carefully. For further instruc-
tions, please refer to the L&M drawings that were packaged with the cooler. Remember, you
may contact any of the L&M Radiator facilities listed on the back of this manual for help.
MESABI
�
Heat ExchangerTube Remova
Tube Removal
1. For ease of removal, disconnect all plumbing to
cooler (or remove cooler from radiator bottom tank, if
applicable) and position cooler horizontally on a flat
surface.
2. Although most of our units have notches to clearly
identify the proper end cap location, if they do not,
then mark the end cap and shell for proper alignment
on reinstallation.
3. To access the cooler tubes, remove the end cap and
retainer plate from each end of the RTTS Cooler. In
many cases, the retainer plate is integral to the end
cap (see Fig. 1).
NOTE: The RTTS assembly has the letters L and S
stamped on opposite ends of the shell. The L designates
the end of the cooler that the long unfinned portion of the
tube is located. The S designates the end of the cooler that
the short unfinned portion of the tube is located (see Fig. 1).
4. Insert the installation and removal tool P/N 58374 into
a tube from the long (L) side. Make sure that the
tools shoulder contacts the tube. Grip the tube by
squeezing the tools handles together. Using a
twisting motion, pull the tube until the short (S) end of
the tube (opposite end) is pulled completely out of its
seal (see Fig. 2). Repeat for each tube.
CAUTION: While pulling the tubes, take care to avoid
pulling the short end seals into the shell. If a seal is
inadvertently pulled into the shell, it MUST be retrieved.
5. Remove all of the seals from the short end header
sheet.
6. From the short end, grip the tube with the tube tool.
With a twisting motion, pull the tube until the entire
tube is removed from the shell. Repeat for each tube
(see Fig. 3).
7. Remove all of the seals from the long end header
sheet.
Fig. 1
Fig. 2 Long end
Fig. 3 Short end
Short end
Long end
WARNING: Do not remove or loosen the bolt
located at the center of each header plate.
Contact factory for instructions if necessary. 5
al and Replacement
Tube and Seal Installation
1. Wipe out the long (L) end header plate holes with
a small amount of cleaning solvent and inspect
each for damage.
2. Install new seals into the long end header plate
holes. (Do not use lubricant to install seals.) Make
sure the seals outer lip is pushed flush to the
header plate.
3. Prior to tube installation, oil the inner surface of
each long end seal and both tube ends with
SAE10 mineral oil.
4. By hand, push the long end of each tube through
the short (S) end header plate until the tube just
contacts the long end seal. Repeat for each tube
(see Fig. 4).
5. Place a plastic or wood backstop against the
short tube ends to keep them from being pushed
out during the next step. A metal backstop could
cause damage to the tube ends (see Fig. 5A).
6. With a slight twisting motion, push the tube tool
through a long end seal until the tools shoulder
contacts the tube. Grip the tube with the tool and
with a twisting motion, pull the tube through the long
end seal until the short end of the tube clears the
short end hole. Make sure the seal lip remains flush
to the plate. Repeat for each tube (see Fig. 5B).
7. Remove the backstop.
8. Wipe clean all short end header plate holes, using
the same method as in step 1.
9. Install new seals into the short header plate holes.
(Do not use lubricant to install seals.) Make sure
the seals outer lip is pushed flush to the header
plate.
10. Oil the inner surface of each short end seal with
SAE10 mineral oil.
11. Insert the installation and removal tool through the
seal retaining tool P/N64607. With a slight twisting
motion, push the tube tool through a short end
seal until the tools shoulder contacts the tube.
Holding the seal retaining tool firmly against the
top of the seal, grip the tube with the tool and with
a slight twisting motion, pull the tube through the
short end seal until about 1/4 of the tube end
sticks outside of the seal. Repeat for each tube
(see Fig. 6).
Fig. 5A Short end
Fig. 5B Long end
Fig. 4 Short end
Fig. 6 Short end
Tools required
Cleaning
1. Clean both header plates and all holes. Try to see
that no debris falls into the shell.
2. Stand the cooler vertically and flush with a high
pressure hot water washer. Rinse out all con-
taminants.
3. Dry the inside of the cooler. Use a hot air blower, if
available.
4. Inspect the tube ends for burrs. (Remove any burrs
using a fine emery cloth.) Clean the machined
ends, finning, and inside surface of each tube. 6
Inspection, Testing
and Reinstallation
1. Inspect the tube ends for seal fragments. If you
find any chipped seal material on a tube, that
tube must be reinstalled with new seals.
2. Inspect each seal to ensure that they are all
seated tightly against the header sheet. If a space
greater than 1/32 exists between the header
sheet and the outer lip of a seal, that seal must be
removed, inspected, and reinstalled (see Fig. 7).
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
3. To test for leaks around the seals, apply 50 (fifty) PSI
to the oil side fittings for 15 minutes. Submerge the
RTTS cooler in water (or spray ends with soapy
water) and inspect for bubbles (leaks) (see Fig. 8).
4. Reinstall the retainer plates and/or end caps. Use
the proper L&M gasket to avoid damage to the
seals.
IMPORTANT: Gaskets are made from 1/8
compressed thickness. Use Ameraflex 1521-C or
equivalent material.
Apply