Is this worth trying to weld ?

[scons]

Hi all,

On my latest "score" I have 1 defect (for now). The previous owner bumped of one of the pullies which are needed for driving the rotation breaker. It is an old JF manure spreader, rear discharge.

A new pullie is hard to find, and would probably cost a lot. Separate parts even harder to find. So I was thinking of welding it back together ...

It probably is cast iron by the looks of it.

What do you guys think ?

 

[motownbrowne]

Go for it. I don't think I could weld cast iron. Not without doing some research anyway. I think you need to start by determining if it is cast, and if so, what the proper welding technique would be, but I think it'd worth a shot.

Worst case scenario, you've still got a broken pulley.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I am not a professional welder by any means but get by. I did successfully weld a cast iron floor drill base utilizing a charcoal grill to preheat the base prior to welding. I used nickle rods and the weld held fine. You can get a non machinable rod and then finish off with a machinable rod if you want a professional look. When I completed the weld I placed the base in the charcoal grill and put a bag of play sand on it to slow the cooling process down. The next day I came back and all was well. Heat it up slow and cool it down slow and you should be OK.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I wouldn't be scared to weld it. A bit of preheat and a couple of ArcTech 223 rods and your in business. Others who do welding for a living might have better ideas.

The way I see it you're going to have more trouble getting the hub off of the shaft than the actual welding. Unless you just weld the pulley on without removing the hub.

 

[RickB]

I am not a professional welder by any means but get by. I did successfully weld a cast iron floor drill base utilizing a charcoal grill to preheat the base prior to welding. I used nickle rods and the weld held fine. You can get a non machinable rod and then finish off with a machinable rod if you want a professional look. When I completed the weld I placed the base in the charcoal grill and put a bag of play sand on it to slow the cooling process down. The next day I came back and all was well. Heat it up slow and cool it down slow and you should be OK.

That's exactly how to do it. Preheat, cool slowly. Slow cooling is just as important as the preheat.
Get the hub off the shaft, and clamp the hub and sheave pieces to a flat plate so the welded assembly is true.

 

[Shield Arc]

Here are some good articles on welding cast iron.
Cast Iron Welding - Turlock, CA - LOCK-N-STITCH Inc.
Cast Iron Flux and Filler Metals for Gas or TIG welding
Stick Electrodes - Welding Cast Iron

 

[flusher]

Use the spark test to determine if it's cast iron or cast steel. Check YouTube for info on the test.

SPARK TEST FOR METAL IDENTIFICATION - DETERMINE THE METAL TIPS TRICKS AND ADVICE - YouTube

If it's cast steel, you can use common welding rods for the repair (6011, 7018, 7024, etc)
If it's cast iron, you need to use high nickel rods. I use Super Missile rod (1/8" rod, DC positive, 120-140 amps).
For cast iron, grind only with silicon carbide tools. Don't use metal grinding bits (you'll contaminate the cast iron).

Super Missileweld | The Harris Products Group

Pre heat to 300-400F.
Use a skip weld. Start at one end of the crack and make a short weld (1" or so). Allow the piece to cool to 100F or so. I use an inexpensive IR thermometer from Harbor Freight to check the temperature during cool down.
Repeat at the other end of the crack.
Continue alternating and connecting the short welds until the crack is filled.

Good luck

 

[yomax4]

As long as it doesn't have to be perfectly round or balanced, Weld it. It will be difficult to get it perfect and it will likely not spin 100% true. I'd at least visit a belt and bearing house and see if you can get an aftermarket pulley. There are millions to choose from. Might not be an OEM but I bet you could find a new one pretty reasonable. They can get a blank pulley and put in keyway or setscrews or bore larger etc. I have friends in that business and they sell a crap load of these.

 

[arkydog]

to get the pulley off, use a thread file on those smashed thread and it will clean up those threads real nice.

 

[bcp]

If welding doesn't work, clean up the break on the pulley, leaving a flange inside as large as possible. Bolt a circular steel plate inside the old pulley, with a new hub to fit the shaft.

Bruce