broken mouldboard

[simonmeridew]

I have a 2 bottom Ford plow. One of the mouldboards broke off on the back end. The way it "popped" when my son backed up into a tree made me think it is a casting, plus it didn't bend or distort before it broke. I'd like to weld it, but not sure if it is cast steel or cast iron or even a forging which would probably weld ok. Can I use an AC stick welder, if so what rod would work best? It's not a high stree area, it's the part of the mouldboard that "flips" the sod over.
simonmeridew

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

From the first days that Oliver started making chilled plows, people have been breaking the wings on moldboard "bottom" plows.

Sure you can try to weld it, but most people have limited success. Some plows were cast iron and others were steel, depending upon the age of your plow. Most likely it is steel. The issue is that the silicon in the dirt gets ground into the metal, at a microscopic level. Silicon is nasty to deal with and it also makes the metal brittle. If its a relatively new plow made within the last 30 years or so, you might be better off paying the 60-100 or so dollars to replace it.

Here's a good place to start looking. They'll ship to your door, cheaply.

MOLDBOARDS - Agri Supply

 

[HCJtractor]

I have a couple of used Ford moldboards that I took off a plow I restored. They have lots of life left in them. I would sell them cheap!! I can send pictures if you are interested. They are in my way.

 

[simonmeridew]

I bought a pound of specialty type rods at tractor supply co. for welding cast iron, 1/8 inch, spec for 70 to 120 amps. I used probably 6 of them @ 120 amps for max penetration. The welds don't look great--my out of position welding isn't the greatest, but the rods work good. Thanks those who helped, we'll see how they hold up.
simonmeridew