Welding on tractor

[jake98]

Any truth to the rumor that it can fry the electronics?

 

[Ford tractor]

yes..

 

[nuffer460]

Yes and No! It really depends on the location of the welders ground and electrode. If you can keep them close to the work area you should be all right. It is also safer to disconnect both battery cables from the battery. There are a couple of companies that make an anti zap device that protect the electronics from getting a surge when welding. I have one that MAC Tools sold and it is simple to use.

 

[radman1]

I spoke with mechanic at my Bobcat dealer. Asked him if he disconnects the battery before welding. (This guy welds a lot). He said never has, never had a known problem. I have welded many things attached to skid steers and tractors and not had an issue. My local welding guy also does a lot or welding on trucks putting in goose neck hitches and does not disconnect the battery. I have come to the conclusion, that my chance of screwing up the battery or terminals is probably greater than a electrical issue caused by welding.

 

[Bison]

Do disconnect the batt ground before welding on a tractor or veh.
Better to be safe than sorry.
electr do fry in situations.

 

[Jeff Lary]

I have worked for the D.O.T. for 21 years back when I was a truck driver I was the guy that did all the welding in our Crew when the Cert.Welder was off .We always disconnected the batteries when welding or at the least hit the disconnect switch.These trucks have such high tec computers in the cab to control the sanders that it was a precaution we always took.Was there really a good reason ? not sure in our case it was a matter of not voiding the warrenty on the electronics I think. None of us ever wanted to be the guy that fried $ 30,000.00 of electronics. Probaobly no need but someone some where had a reason for it I am sure.

 

[Baby Grand]

Back in the 70s I worked for a local building supply company. During the Winter months we often had to use jumper cables to get the Mack diesels started. I witnessed what can happen when someone cross connects the batteries. The explosion almost knocked me off my feet and I was a good 20 yards away when they went.

This may not apply in any way to what the OP asked, and you can call me superstitious, but I always disconnect the battery and remove it a good distance from the vehicle if I can't remove the thing to be welded from the vehicle itself. Electricity & hydrogen gas never seem to play nice together.

-Jim

 

[Jeff Lary]

scary stuff aint it

 

[jake98]

Well, just for the record, the tractor still works.
TSC had these box hitch reducers for under 10 bucks. I used 7018 rod and man, the stuff melts like butter. Had been using 6011 and I'm not sure if that's the whole difference, as I may have not had enough juice last time, but what a pleasure when it works right. :thumbsup:

 

[arsenix2001]

The theory is, a welder is creating a controlled short, routing a flow of electricity through the steel your working on, which is why you want the ground clamp as close to the work area as possible. Its a fairly closed loop. Now if you go attaching it to your 3pt hitch and try to weld your bucket (gross example) you may very well fry some electronics unless the battery is disconected.

 

[jake98]

I'm trying to figure how the battery figures into it.

 

[Transit]

I'm trying to figure how the battery figures into it.

Jake, the negative battery terminal is connected to the tractors frame and so would be the ground clamp of the welder. Any stray current from the welder may pass through the battery and on to the electronics. It would be safest to disconnect both battery terminals and have the welding ground clamp as close to the weld as can be.

 

[arsenix2001]

Thatsca good question i cant even for sure answer, i am assuming it hasxsomething to do with the fact the electronics acting as an arc themselves do to the fact they are grounded and energized by the battery, and with the welder you are introducing both alternate power and ground... The weakest link may go first... Aka sensitive electronics. I do know this much, everytime i would recieve an automotive exhuast kit for welding or aftermarket car computers it always said in bold print "dissconnect battery before welding". That being said i never really have and never had a problem but then again my ground clamp was at most 18 inches from my work space.

 

[jake98]

I guess if the key was on you could be introducing some strange spikes into the circuits. It's probably just a precaution to disconnect the battery.

 

[jimmer2880]

I have personally witnessed a 3500HD computer get fried from the guy welding on it with the battery connected. The boss was pretty ticked when he learned he had to buy a new computer for the truck.

 

[chopped]

I spoke with mechanic at my Bobcat dealer. Asked him if he disconnects the battery before welding. (This guy welds a lot). He said never has, never had a known problem. I have welded many things attached to skid steers and tractors and not had an issue. My local welding guy also does a lot or welding on trucks putting in goose neck hitches and does not disconnect the battery. I have come to the conclusion, that my chance of screwing up the battery or terminals is probably greater than a electrical issue caused by welding.

If it were me I would take the time to disconnect the terminals. Maybe even put in a disconnect.These Battery Disconnect Switch
Can be had at walmart for about 4 or 5 bucks..I simply wouldnt take a chance. And also I always like to be able to disconnect a battery in an emergency..(without bolt cutters lol)

 

[some zilch]

i think anything that has fairly modern electronics/computers *could* be at risk for an issue when welding. i use an "anti-zap" that just clamps to the battery terminals like jumper cables. anything old; i just let her have it.......

 

[Soundguy]

Do disconnect the batt ground before welding on a tractor or veh.
Better to be safe than sorry.
electr do fry in situations.

i've done both with no problems.. though if I remember I do opt to disconnect the bat thus the rest of the electronics.

also to note. don't choose a ground that takes a path thru a bearing, bushing, or ratating pin.. etc..

soundguy

 

[PoorMansCat]

With our CUT's and simple analog electronics, you'll be fine. Just for safety sake, do as others have suggested, keep the ground clamp close to the work area.
With that being said,... IF you are welding on a more modern computer controlled engine, you should be disconnecting the ECM from the wiring harness.
I have seen COUNTLESS fried ECM's and scrambled software from welding... Sometimes the ECM is ok, just have to re-load all the software and set up the configuration again and do all the calibrations.. Other times, I cannot even communicate with the ECM..
Disconnecting the batteries does nothing but protect the batteries. Stray electrical current from a welding arc can get to an ECM just as easy thru a harness ground.... so unplug your ECM when welding....

 

[wvpolekat]

Disconnecting the batteries does nothing but protect the batteries. Stray electrical current from a welding arc can get to an ECM just as easy thru a harness ground.... so unplug your ECM when welding....

100% correct. Although, I don't agree about the risk to the ECU, disconnecting the battery will do nothing to protect it, unless you happen to be welding on the battery.