Welding on tractor

[beppington]

This seems similar to walking in an open field during lightning; Sure you might get away with it, maybe even a whole bunch of times. But you might also get zapped, & you'll never really know exactly what caused it to happen that time when it didn't before.

 

[flusher]

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:

Good looking welds. I like those 7000 series rods. I use 1/8" 7018 for vertical welds and the 7014 and 7024 drag rods for horizontal rods, all on DC+.

 

[adjusterr]

I guess it is better to be safe than sorry but I have never unhooked the batt cables prior to welding. What I do agree with is dont hook your ground to one end of the tractor and weld on the other, keep the ground as close to the weld point as possible.

 

[del10820]

You can damage the computer(s) in the new equipment and the altnator charging system. The company I work for builds bodies and aerial equipment and when we bring in a truck to install them, we unhook the batteries an install a zapet to help protect the systems. By way make sure your ground lead has good connection in side the clamp, took out the electric chain hoist power cable when the welder found a better ground that way. Also took out a computer in the company office when high frec unit lost ground when welding on a metal shop bench and grounded through the 110 outlet box back in the 5" floppy days.
Del

 

[Soundguy]

all this talk of high freq problems makes me appreciate my plain old crackerbox much more every day.

soundguy

 

[jonyyuma]

You can damage the computer(s) in the new equipment and the altnator charging system. The company I work for builds bodies and aerial equipment and when we bring in a truck to install them, we unhook the batteries an install a zapet to help protect the systems. By way make sure your ground lead has good connection in side the clamp, took out the electric chain hoist power cable when the welder found a better ground that way. Also took out a computer in the company office when high frec unit lost ground when welding on a metal shop bench and grounded through the 110 outlet box back in the 5" floppy days.
Del

Yeah, and the guy says" I've done hundreds of these and thats never happened before"" . Or " If it screws up then you can bring it in"... :confused2:

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have welded on trucks and equipment without disconnecting the battery and got away with it, but since it is so simple to disconnect the ground, why not do it.
This is similar to the issue of arcing the bearing on motors, compressors etc. I have been in the business of welding and construction for 40 years and have heard the same thing about bearings arcing all my life but have never actually seen one arced or met anyone who has seen one get arced. But we take the precautions of grounding directly beside the weld when we weld on anything that has a bearing on it. I seriously doubt that you could arc a bearing unless you were trying to weld on the shaft of a motor and grounded on the frame and forced the arc thru the bearing. Since electricity seeks the path of least resistance, it is going not going to jump a gap when it can go directly to the electrode via solid steel

 

[Soundguy]

depending on how good the ground at that rusty painted piece of frame, vs that shiney tight bearing I think is the issue.

but yeah.. in general.. good clean ground near the arc and you are ok.

soundguy

 

[Jay4200]

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

No. Total myth.

Good luck generating any substantial voltage across your 0.000001ohm frame with a wimpy 100A weld current. All of the voltage drop is right at your grounding clip. A rusty connection for the ground clip is all the better.

JayC

 

[Mace Canute]

Since electricity seeks the path of least resistance, it is going not going to jump a gap when it can go directly to the electrode via solid steel

Not true. Almost everybody believes this, but what should be said is electricity seeks all paths of resistance. The amount of current that flows through each path is determined by each path's individual resistance.

 

[Usta]

I have arc welded a few times on my tractor / attachments. I always disconnect the battery terminal. Once I was an inch away from making rod contact when I remembered I did not disconnect the battery. I stopped and disconnected the battery.
Is it neccessary? I don't know and don't care.
It only takes a minute or so to disconnect the battery. Now I am sure there will be no problem.

 

[Johnp33]

I have worked on trucks and other equipment, for a lot of years and have seen every lightbulb on a trailor burn out in one flash and he was trying to weld on a lightbox on the "C" trailor.
I have seen The ECM on an M11, Cummins, fry, he was having a cargo box, stainless, that cracked welded. It was hanging off the frame and the ground was on the box.
Electricity does not read the book so it does not know what it is suppose to do. Personally I disconect the batteries, When you buy the equipment, it comes with a manual. I would read it and do it. Just because the equipment works today does not mean you have not stressed the circutry, and it will fail later. lots of the electronics will log a code if the failure is related to a voltage surge, and that means you pay.

 

[jimmer2880]

No. Total myth.

Good luck generating any substantial voltage across your 0.000001ohm frame with a wimpy 100A weld current. All of the voltage drop is right at your grounding clip. A rusty connection for the ground clip is all the better.

JayC

That's pretty bold statement, since a couple of us have seen it happen.

 

[k0ua]

Not true. Almost everybody believes this, but what should be said is electricity seeks all paths of resistance. The amount of current that flows through each path is determined by each path's individual resistance.

Mace is 100% correct on this.

James K0UA

 

[Transit]

No. Total myth.

Good luck generating any substantial voltage across your 0.000001ohm frame with a wimpy 100A weld current. All of the voltage drop is right at your grounding clip. A rusty connection for the ground clip is all the better.

JayC

I believe the error in your thinking is that you are thinking resistance in terms of DC resistance. When you are welding and the current [arc] is going on-off / changing it is impedance or AC resistance that rules. Short time high current spikes will do bad things.

 

[Mace Canute]

I came across this site that was asking the same question. Several posters there have had similar situations and have posted their experiences. Suspected welding damage to cars electronics. - Welding Forum

 

[Soundguy]

i'll be welding up the bucket and arms on my 1955 ford tractor with loader this weekend. will post to report if the electrics survive..


soundguy

 

[beppington]

i'll be welding up the bucket and arms on my 1955 ford tractor with loader this weekend. will post to report if the electrics survive.

Your computer is gonna be so fried dude.

 

[Soundguy]

i know. yet I expect her to start on the first rev and a tug of choke just like before i drag the welding cart out

i even expect her to charge the bat after that...


soundguy

 

[yomax4]

Un hook Battery, Run an extra ground to earth, worry not.