toothbar is bowed...

[HiTechTed]

Long story short, I am making a toothbar for my tractor out of 3/8 x 4" steel and some teeth I purchased. I got my teeth welded on and noticed that the steel bar is bowed from one end to the other, about an inch out in the center. All the welds are on one side of the bar (of course) and it bowed up towards the welds.

I feel bad about it because my welds look pretty good, but the bar is bowed enough that it won't go on my bucket without some good force. My dumb question is, can I just put a block under either end of the bar, then run over the high spot with the tractor to push the bow the opposite direction? And could somebody tell me what to do in the future to avoid having things like this happen to me again? I know how to make a good weld, but I don't know all the tricks, apparently! Thanks

 

[Shield Arc]

Two ways to stop something like that from bowing, one is to pre-heat on the opposite side from where the welds will go. Second way is to shim under the middle and clamp the ends down before welding. Either way is pre bending the bar.

Something like this should be easy to force back straight, or do it with heat.

 

[HiTechTed]

Thanks for the info. I was just reading your posts in the "show your welds" thread, very interesting stuff. Anyway the next time I'll remember!

 

[nwngunner]

3/8 isnt that heavy you could take put each end up on blocks and put a bottle jack in the center between your loader bucket and the tooth bar. Slowly bend it past flat and let it off see how far you need to go with it. I had a draw bar of a friends that was bent 4inches. Put it in the 20ton press and was able to get it with in an inch. Had to leave it past center for about a week how ever.

 

[CT Jay]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/welding/197781-how-straighten-out-warped-steel.html

 

[PILOON]

Same happened to me when I made my tooth bar.
In my case I used a sledge hammer to convince it to fit and I don't regret my choice as it makes for a nice snug fit without showing any wear from movement.
Mind you I have never tried to remove it either.