Grade of steel used for implements?

[Gus Osmium]

Hello tractor people,
I have a plough and want to extend the width of the rectangular top frame to allow the moldboards to be set wider.

I'm a little wary of just welding on additional mild steel to each end of the frame as the supplier claims the plough is heat treated (but can't tell me what grade of steel it is fabricated from or which parts have been heat treated).

Can anyone provide advice on what grade of steel are likely to be used for fabrication of a plough like this, and which parts are likely to have been heat treated?

Thanks,
Gus

 

[Egon]

For myself : get comparable sised square tubing, 3/8 plate for fillet supports and do it. Due to extra width there may be a need for fillet plates on parts of the original frame.

 

[Jim Timber]

I'd be amazed if any of that upper frame was other than mild steel, or heat treated. The arms holding the mouldboards are probably alloy, and heat treated for spring temper, but aside from that the rest of the frame is likely made rigid through geometry and wall thickness.

Rather than fish plates, I'd put a heavy wall tube gusset inside the butt joint and plug weld it in a few places on the original frame and the extensions.

 

[Gus Osmium]

Thanks Jim,
I've reinforced/repaired implements, minor stuff, but never just whacked additional steel on the end of a frame to extend it and my concern is that it is the extremities of the frame.
My guess is that the tip/toe of the mouldboard plough and the curved section are heat treated but I've never seen implements manufactured and never spoken to anyone directly involved in manufacture so I am only guessing.

 

[farm boy00]

Hello tractor people,
I have a plough and want to extend the width of the rectangular top frame to allow the moldboards to be set wider.

I'm a little wary of just welding on additional mild steel to each end of the frame as the supplier claims the plough is heat treated (but can't tell me what grade of steel it is fabricated from or which parts have been heat treated).

Can anyone provide advice on what grade of steel are likely to be used for fabrication of a plough like this, and which parts are likely to have been heat treated?

Thanks,
Gus
<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/build-yourself/434510-grade-steel-used-implements-image-jpg"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/build-yourself/434509-grade-steel-used-implements-image-jpg"/>

How do you use that may i ask??

 

[Gary Fowler]

Just use tubing same as on the implement and brace similar to what the plow has now. I wouldn't think any of the frame is more than mild steel so weld with 7018 electrode would be good. If any part is heat treated it would be the cast steel curved shanks for the plow.

 

[Sodo]

I bet the supplier knows nothing. The plowshares, cutting edges, spring supports etc are very likely heat treated (as said above by several). Doubt that the SQ tube is heat treated (or even heat treatable). It is "possible" that the SQ tube is made of a heat treatable material but unlikely.

Take a coarse hand file (a new, sharp one) and file off a corner of rect tube you want to evaluate. Find a comparable mild steel rect tube and do the same test. If the effort/result "feel" the same then it's normal mild steel (A500). There's also the "spark test" (better done in the evening!) but 1010 and 1040 can look about the same. I would try it though.

How much are you extending it? I bet you can get away with 25% extension. A couple considerations, fishplates or doublers on the outside will protect your weld joint but will create hard points, and your extensions will be very "visible". If you don't have the doublers (inside or outside), your welds will need to be very well done ,,,,, consider to make your cuts at 45degrees. What size is this SQ tube?

 

[Gus Osmium]

It's not tube, it's angle 19mm thick angle. I'll clean the paint from one of the edges in a non-critical area and butt weld a piece of mild steel to test.

 

[Sodo]

it's angle 19mm thick angle.

19mm = 3/4" - Good Lord ! How do you plan to test by welding, break it off?

Do you have better pictures or a link to this item on the web?

 

[Gus Osmium]

I'll post a close up picture tomorrow, the frame is 110x110x19mm equal angle. 19mm is the thickness.
Butt welding a piece of mild steel bar onto a non-critical area won't test the type of steel, it will just give me comfort that my electrodes and settings are suitable before I start working anywhere near the corners of the frame.
Thanks, Gus.