Welding on tractor advice

[dex3361]

I would consider the path that the current must flow when welding on a piece of equipment. If the current must flow through a bearing or even a movable joint the there could be microscopic arcing that may or may not cause premature failure. People that are new to tractors and/or new to welding may never have really given much thought to all of this and it never hurts to hash it around a bit. I have learned so much from the wisdom of the TBN braintrust and for that I am always grateful.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

I usually disconnect the batteries when I'm going to be doing extensive work, but won't bother for lots of quick little jobs - especially when the batteries are 40 feet away at the other end of the truck / machine.
The only stuff I seriously worry about is the early 90's stuff with engine / transmission ECU's that where very susceptible to getting "zapped" by a welder -- it really sucks to do a 5 minute little weld repair and then realize that NOT unhooking the ECU will now cost hundreds of dollars to have it reprogrammed along with a potential towing bill since the unit won't move because of it...many times it take longer to access / unhook the ECU, then the repair will take, but you gotta do it..... luckily, I have never zapped one myself (knock on wood).

 

[cowski]

i have welded on trucks and tractors without a problem .some of the time when i am welding on equipment hooked on tractors they are running.i have not had a problem yet.maybe i am just lucky.