Welding on excavator track idler roller

[Sodo]

Can I build this worn area up with a weld bead?
How can i find out if this roller is weldable?
it works npw and will work for awhile if i don't weld it.
but i don't want it to crack if I weld it.
For that case I'd be better off just running it out.

 

[5030]

Put a magnet on it. If it's magnetic, it's ferrous metal and can be welded. Having said that I'd say it's beyond your capabilities to build it up with weld. You need to take it to a competent weld shop and have them do it because it will need to be machined after welding.

I'd say it's weldable because it's rusty. Only ferrous metal rusts like that.

 

[4570Man]

I’m sure you can weld it but it would take more effort to turn it back down in a lathe than it’s worth.

 

[Code54]

For around $300ish you are better off buying on and just installing it.

 

[Sodo]

Clearly its ferrous. The question is whether its likely weldable. I wouldn’t machine it. I’d grind off the high bumps where I see them then let the tracks be the machinist.

Nobody mentioned cast iron and cracking. How can you tell if cast iron is weldable?

 

[ruffdog]

Here is some history on the OP's rollers:

Rebuild track idler HELP? (Kubota KX41-3v mini-excavator)

 

[ruffdog]

If I were back in the shop and it was my unit and the bearings were fine, I would spray weld in a lathe to build up the surface.

 

[Sodo]

Here is some history on the OP's rollers:

Rebuild track idler HELP? (Kubota KX41-3v mini-excavator)

I forgot about that. 8 years ago. That (hacked) roller is in a steel pile 125 miles away, under 18” of snow at the moment.

This (today) is welding on the new idler roller that I installed in 2016. So it has 600 hours on it in those 8 years. Did I really use it that much? This is not a professional machine !!

The new idler cost $230 +$45ship in 2016. Now they cost $400. I thought this worn idler had to be the original (Kubota) idler.

I’d better take a peek at the original idler one on the other side.

Maybe grease-fill the bearing????

If I were back in the shop and it was my unit and the bearings were fine, I would spray weld in a lathe to build up the surface.

Bearings on this idler spins smoothly.

This machine has the wrong tracks. Which appear to have a lot of life remaining. The “wrong tracks” have accelerated the wear on the rollers. The drive area is about 1/2” too wide so it doesn’t center on the rollers and wears stuff out.

All new tracks and rollers will cost
$500+3x$200 = $1100 (per side)
Add to that…. I’ve not seen proper A-width tracks available aftermarket. I have not checked on original Kubota track price nor availability. But from past experience I’m gonna guess it’s about 60% more $$$$, something towards an eye-popping $2500 per side.

Or milk the rollers along (with welding time).
Then run it out.

I have to dig this week. Prefer to keep moving.

Heres the easy side. One bead.
The other wear area will take at least 5 beads.

I don’t have a lathe and don’t think it requires much precision. Furthermore it doesn’t look like the roller can be disassembled to put in a lathe anyway.

I see a hex plug and will guess the track idler bearing is oil-filled too, like the rollers were.

 

[Sodo]

OK here we are 52 minutes later. I did one pass on on side & 2times around the other side. Not 5X.

If some feller in India with bare feet can repair a heavy-truck ring&pinion with a stick welder and an angle grinder…..I gotta assume this roller will be OK for awhile in the sand & rocks.

I hope the flange doesn’t break off.

 

[Sodo]

If I were back in the shop and it was my unit and the bearings were fine, I would spray weld in a lathe to build up the surface.

I just built up the worn surface with the MIG by going around the idler.

But now you got me curious...... did I "spray weld"?