Welding???

[Farwell]

Do not think you can get a good weld job for that price. I would go for it.
I also want to know how you broke the part so I can avoid doing the same.
Farwell

 

[scott_vt]

Mornin WGBiii,
Im in the same school as 3rrl and JimR, take it off and machine it with new ears, drill and tap casting and put it back on the tractor and go!!!

$319 is a lot of money to me for something that could be fixed by machining and IMHO never break again.

 

[MadReferee]

The cost of having a shop machine new parts and having an experienced welder do the welding (with no guaranteee that it will work any better) will be just about the same or a little more than a new part. Seems like a no brainer to me, so buy the new part.

 

[JimR]

You couldn't get that welded properly and plated for $319.00. Plus, you will have to remove the housing to get it done anyway. I would not even mess with it. Go new and leave your worries behind that it is fixed properly.

 

[GaryE]

I agree with JimR. I have the tools and capabilities to make that repair. But if it were my tractor, I would spend the $319.00 and be done with it.

Gary

 

[keving]

For that kind of money I wouldn't even mess with it. I'd replace it.

I agree. If you had a perfect weld (no such thing) it might not happen again. It was probably a weak spot in the cast. A replacement hopefully will be better.

 

[john_bud]

WBGiii,

It is 99.9% probably cast iron. It can be repaired if you can heat it up, hold it at temp, weld it hot with Ni rod, keep it hot for a while, then slow cool it over 24-48 hours.

I tried to fix a similar deal and was not successful. Wound up getting a used casting.

How did you manage to break it?

 

[Soundguy]

Please help!!!! I have a JD 4400 in which I have broken the casting for the 3 pt hitch on the frame. Can this be successfully welded? I'm not sure if it is cast iron or cast steel.

Being an axle trumpet.. I'd have to guess cast iron.

That's going to be a dicey repair if it is a lower lift arm hitch point.

Best I can say is to agree witht he others.. .. try having a GOOD welder weld it up.. and perhaps take a piece of 1/2" rebar or cold roled, bend/contour it around the welded up piece, and stitch it in as a gusset .. have the rod overlap the good areas as much as possible.

Hopefully you won't get heat distortion if the welder is worth his salt and the stars line up for you.

Might need a rebore or re-align o fthe pin.. but maybee you will get lucky.

If you were froddy.. i think I would even take a hand file tot he insides of the holes v-cut them. and weld up the sides and ID, then file back down. Will be a bit extra hand work.. but will add strength.

I'd look at adding some flat and stitch it over the joined sides.. or at least good layers of tie in weld anyway.

Hope the trumpet doesn't have any seals right at the weld point .. or at least if it does.. the oil heat sink sit ok.

Also.. you may want to price the axle trympet and associated seals and bearings and just see what you are up against.. some GOOD welders charge decent mulah for this type of repair.. especially if there will be align boring onthe pin mount afterwards. If the repair was withing a couple hundred of the new part.. I'd have to think that one over before comitting to either..

Good luck.

Post a pic of the good side.. also.. any idea of how it broke would be helpull..

Soundguy

 

[dfkrug]

If a three point backhoe did that, I am adding your photo to my
Subframes_Required file. Thx for posting.

 

[wgbiii]

Thanks for all the replys. I broke it because I did not do a quick inspection of the 3 pt hitch assembly. I had found a pin when I was taking off my mower and wrongly assumed it was the one I had lost the previous week. The upper pin came out and when I was backing up the lower arm dug into the ground and "pop" goes the casting. As I pilot I always do a preflight of an airplane. Now I know I should do the same on my tractor.

I'm going ahead and replacing the axle housing as I have been quoted $200 or $300 for the part and 3 hours labor. I am getting a used backhoe installed at the same time. ($5000 for a JD 48).

Thanks again,
Will

PS: Don't forget to take a quick look at your pins so you don't end up out $500 or more. Lesson learned.