Welding Up a Cracked Rim

[MMH]

I just purchased a used 4500 JD. It has R4 tires. Thought I had a flat, but when I went to get it fixed found out that the rim is cracked. I have a mig welder and am debating welding this up. I would weld a series of tacks then use a needle scaler to beat back down. This would be done to both sides of the crack. I would finish off by grinding/emery cloth to smooth out. Finally, would install a tube so that I would not have to worry if the weld was airtight or not. Of course, the other option is to spend $189 on a new rim.

Comments?

 

[kennyd]

Sounds like you have a good handle on it, go for it :thumbsup:

Take pictures

 

[topbuilder]

Could be the cracks are from fatigue, if so they may reappear. I'd weld it and run it.:thumbsup:

 

[beenthere]

Would appreciate a pic of the rim with the cracks.

And welding sounds worth a good 'ol college try. Nothing lost but the experience for you and all of us.

 

[crash325]

I'm not a safety nut or part of the safety police.

But its a bad idea to weld it up. You could have a real failure that happens almost instantly. Like a small explosion.

Could happen first time you air up the tire or months later, just sort of a time bomb waiting to go off.

 

[kennyd]

I'm not a safety nut or part of the safety police.

But its a bad idea to weld it up. You could have a real failure that happens almost instantly. Like a small explosion.

Could happen first time you air up the tire or months later, just sort of a time bomb waiting to go off.

Dude, he said he was going to tube it

 

[nybirdman]

DON'T WELD IT WITH THE TIRE ON THE RIM! Could explode and injure or kill you.The heat expands the air and it happens fast!A saw a video on this ,unreal don't do it ,at least with the tire on.

 

[crash325]

Dude, he said he was going to tube it

DUDE !!!!!!!
Tube makes absoluty no difference. Do you know anything about Split Rims?? They are all tubed and also have a heavy Liner that goes against the rim.

After they are put together, for safety they are aired up in a safety cage. I have fixed lots of them and never had 1 blow. But do know folks that did.

The part of the rim that gets welded will not have the same temper as it originally did. Harder, softer, brittle, stronger, weaker ????? Who knows.

I would not want to stand beside that tire and rim at any time.

In my world DUDE is an insult. Maybe you want to change you tone and language.

 

[huskerhayman]

DON'T WELD IT WITH THE TIRE ON THE RIM! Could explode and injure or kill you.The heat expands the air and it happens fast!A saw a video on this ,unreal don't do it ,at least with the tire on.

How is he going to weld both sides if the tire is still on?

 

[megaboz]

MMH, the tube will have no strength what so ever. As for the other comment about the heating making it weaker, that is a valid point, may not make it weaker but without knowing for sure, it definitely could be weaker.