jack707
Veteran Member
Thanks a lot 1st.Deuce! I know it's stronger I use 8018 that's 80 pounds per inch of weld!.
I'd be OK with any use...
You can buy a welded ball assembly from Harbor Freight, and it's welded in China with sub-standard components, using sub-standard equipment... Your welds look solid, and from a materials standpoint, there really isn't any issue with what you've done.
I take that back. Generally speaking, you need to grind off the chrome plating before you weld, I believe. But you welded the top and bottom, so it's probably 2x stronger than the crappy HF 3-way ball mount, and I HIGHLY doubt they grind the chrome off the balls before they weld them.
Nice looking welds, btw.
Yup there is just long enough not to go thru the bottom hole.Hitches are designed to resist shear loads with a shank through a thick plate. As long as there is a shank through the plate, welds just provide a clamping force.
The question is, is there a shank on the bottom of the ball that extends through the thick plate?
Yup there is just long enough not to go thru the bottom hole.