Welding Up a Cracked Rim

[buickanddeere]

Just weld it dude before some of these guys kill each other. Weld everything. If it breaks after you weld it, weld it again. If that doesn't work buy a replacement. That's my life.

Given the tons of force on the rim , it is a pressure vessel. If I understand the description and repair method. The repair should be ok If properly welded with the proper rod. However at a measly $189 and the chance there are other cracks. It's getting into the iffy territory if one considers the value of thier time. As previously stated , pre-heating the rim and re-heating afterwards and allowed to slowly cool under some sort of blankets .

 

[wdchyd]

Just weld it dude before some of these guys kill each other. Weld everything. If it breaks after you weld it, weld it again. If that doesn't work buy a replacement. That's my life.

:laughing:......I've heard it said:

If ya can't fix it, weld it

If ya can't weld it, throw it out....

:laughing:

 

[RoMad]

You have a good plan. Clean it up and weld it on both sides. If it isn't where the bead hits it, it doesn't really matter how smooth the weld is. I wouldn't put a tube in it when finisshed. If you do tube it then you can't use plugs.
After you have made your weld repair put a few drops or light mist of diesel fuel on the inside weld. Wait a few minutes and look at the outside. If it has any holes or cracks in it the diesel fuel will penetrate through and you will see them as dark wet looking spots. If you have a leak, just reweld and recheck. I poked a hold in one of my lawn mower rims with a large tire tool and fixed it the same way. I have also welded up old truck rims and many other things with more pressure than you are talking here.
Don't forget the pictures

 

[Soundguy]

Given the tons of force on the rim , it is a pressure vessel. If I understand the description and repair method. The repair should be ok If properly welded with the proper rod. However at a measly $189 and the chance there are other cracks. It's getting into the iffy territory if one considers the value of thier time. As previously stated , pre-heating the rim and re-heating afterwards and allowed to slowly cool under some sort of blankets .

i have to seriously set back and laugh loudly at the notion of not trying to repair that sort of damage, in that application. unless someone is rich.. or can't weld.. or doesn't know how to mount a tire... why not try.

heck.. i weld and repair 45$ and 90$ rims... because 45$ is 45$ and a welding rod and some wall amperage is cheap.. and when I'm at home with no money.. I work for free doing repairs on my equipment..

soundguy

 

[ctlguy]

Just weld it dude before some of these guys kill each other. Weld everything. If it breaks after you weld it, weld it again. If that doesn't work buy a replacement. That's my life.

ditto!!

 

[lwalsh]

I am a degreed welding engineer and I will just say cast iron and tool steel and some very thick steels require pre/post heat treat. Thats about it. Rims, air compressor tanks, even the gas pipelines that run 2000psi are not pre/post heat treated. Harder than mild steel but very weldable. I think rims are just mild steel as they bend quite easily. I agree with soundguy laugh, laugh.

 

[moored4]

On our L245 the tires were filled and the tubes rotted around one of the steams which in turn, rotted out the rim around the tire valve. It left a bad hole about the size of a big lemon. I trimmed the whole out to good metal and made a plug to fit then welded it in. I then drilled a new air steam hole in a new location and made it a tubeless tire, refilled it with water and RV antifreeze. That was 15 years or so ago and its still running! Weld it up and forget all of the dramatics!!

 

[Soundguy]

On our L245 the tires were filled and the tubes rotted around one of the steams which in turn, rotted out the rim around the tire valve. It left a bad hole about the size of a big lemon. I trimmed the whole out to good metal and made a plug to fit then welded it in. I then drilled a new air steam hole in a new location and made it a tubeless tire, refilled it with water and RV antifreeze. That was 15 years or so ago and its still running! Weld it up and forget all of the dramatics!!

yep.. i've welded in large washers or patches and relocated holes before. drill , debur and go.

no big deal.

I've got a front rim on my 2n ford ( 1946 ) that probably has as much brass ( braze ) on it as steel, if going by weight..

soundguy

 

[mfreund]

Allot of good comments. Thanks to all that replied. Tire will definately be off of the rim, so no pyrolysis. Crack is across rim, approximately 1" long, and not in circumferential direction (not in direction that would promote splitting if weld failed). Will drill small hole at base of crack to stop further crack migration. Will weld w/ series of small tacks, so heating will be localized. Original rim construction was rolled steel & welded. Cannot believe that rim was heat treated after welding as this would increase strength (and brittleness) but not toughness. As rim in this area is already annealed, further welding will not reduce the strength in this area any more. Maximum tire pressure is 45 psi. If rim fails, I would expect localized failure of repaired area, not catastrophic split rim failure where where pressure created sufficient force to push apart the two sides of the rim. This failure mode should not be significantly different that a flat - a hole will appear & the air rush out.

Maybe I'm wrong on all of the above. Would still welcome comments/discussion.

x2. That is what I would do

 

[mfreund]

DUDE !!!!!!!
Tube makes absoluty no difference. Do you know anything about Split Rims?? They are all tubed and also have a heavy Liner that goes against the rim.

After they are put together, for safety they are aired up in a safety cage. I have fixed lots of them and never had 1 blow. But do know folks that did.

The part of the rim that gets welded will not have the same temper as it originally did. Harder, softer, brittle, stronger, weaker ????? Who knows.

I would not want to stand beside that tire and rim at any time.

In my world DUDE is an insult. Maybe you want to change you tone and language.

Are we a little sensitive?