Tig welding a tractor part?

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Sandman north
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Tig welding a tractor part?

Post by Sandman north »

Hi Everyone hope you're all safe in this time of Covid

I have a steering part off of an old tractor brought to me (cant buy a new one ). It was welded by someone 15 years ago and now has broken again.
I believe it to be cast steel

The weld is not full penetration which may have been part of the problem, but it did break when it was new as well.
IMG-1766(1).jpeg


Correct me if i am wrong, but my plan was to:
#1 V out the weld area & preheat to 300 degrees in the oven
#2 TIG weld using( ER70 s 2 ) or (ER 70 s 6) Not sure of which one would be better?
#3 Then maybe post heat? No idea of temperature or duration and limited in what I can do.

If I am way off base here, please let me know.

Thanks
Sandman
John Hasler
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Re: Tig welding a tractor part?

Post by John Hasler »

Peen the weld and the heat affected area.
curtis cutter
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Re: Tig welding a tractor part?

Post by curtis cutter »

Is this a solid piece?
Gregg
Just let go of it, it will eventually unplug itself.
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warmstrong1955
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Re: Tig welding a tractor part?

Post by warmstrong1955 »

Cast iron, preheat is a must. Cast steel, not so much. I would just warm it up a bit with a torch after I had it all set up to weld.
For cast steel, just flip a coin for -2 vs -6. It's not going to make much difference. Personally, I wouldn't TIG it. I'd use a wire feed, or just good old fashioned 7018.
I would stress relieve it, both as you weld, and when you are done, a few times more, as it cools. Needles scalers do a great job at that, but a slag pick is fine too, just more work. ;)
A far as post heat, I wouldn't bother. Again, important on cast iron, but not with cast steel.

Bill
Today's solutions are tomorrow's problems.
Russ Hanscom
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Re: Tig welding a tractor part?

Post by Russ Hanscom »

If it is hollow, as the photo suggests, insert a backing strip, makes getting a full pen weld much easier. As noted, 7018 would be an option if cast steel. If cast iron, consider a nickel rod.
John Hasler
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Re: Tig welding a tractor part?

Post by John Hasler »

If it's cast iron braze, don't weld. I think it is probably steel, though. I can't see making that part iron.
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liveaboard
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Re: Tig welding a tractor part?

Post by liveaboard »

Check with a sharp drill bit; spirals and it's steel, little graphite looking flakes it's iron.
Just to be sure.
Sandman north
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Re: Tig welding a tractor part?

Post by Sandman north »

Thanks everyone an update
I do not have Mig so that's out the part is u shaped hollow in the middle
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warmstrong1955
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Re: Tig welding a tractor part?

Post by warmstrong1955 »

You might think about adding a stiffner. Cut it to fit, and lay it inside the ‘U’ and weld it on the sides.
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John Hasler
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Re: Tig welding a tractor part?

Post by John Hasler »

That would be good for a backing strip for the repair but the most effective stiffener would be a plate spanning the open side of the U.
johnfreese
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Re: Tig welding a tractor part?

Post by johnfreese »

I just learned it is possible to TIG weld cast iron using cast iron rod. Alternatively torch weld it with cast iron rod using flux. I have been torch welding it for years. In many cases Tig would have been easier. If it is cast iron preheat and postheat with slow cool are essential. On critical parts I send them to a heat treat shop for normalizing.
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liveaboard
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Re: Tig welding a tractor part?

Post by liveaboard »

I also think it must be iron; steel would have bent instead of breaking.
It's clearly a steering part, the original break could have been the result of an accident.
Cast iron seems a poor choice of material for a part like that but you have to work with what you have.
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