welding an end to a small cylinder

[lamanated]

I have a 10 inch long stroke 2 inch cylinder that I was going to use to make an atv blade have power angle, and thought why not dual purpose it, so I use it as a hydraulic top link in the off season.. So I figure ,a weld on top link end
Top Link Ball End Cat 1 Shank Dia. 1
and then on the body fit a nut to take this, so I can thread in 2 different length ends
Top Link End Cat 1 Thread R.H. Swivel End

So wondering on the body it has a 1 inch bore provision now, so would this be an easy chop and weld, or should I build a clevis and pin with a nut on the clevis, so I dont ruin anything????

 

[zionview]

I've done it both ways. I like the threaded adapter method better, because I can reuse the original cast clevis on another machine if I want to. If I remember correctly, I used a 1 1/8 inch nut to weld the new end to. The cylinder I welded 1 inch Sch. 80 pipe to won't be used anywhere else, as it's a stabilizer cylinder on my backhoe. The other is the boom cylinder on the same backhoe, but it wouldn't be too hard to unpin it and use it elsewhere if I had to. Just my $.02.