Welding???

[wgbiii]

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.

 

[MadReferee]

I take a stab and say that it can be welded by a professional who knows what he is doing. He will have to figure out what the composition of the metal is but I believe it can be welded. However, it will probably not be as strong as it was before. I doubt that it will be able to take much stress or loading.

My opinion is, and I can't see exactly what those holes were used for but if it were me, I would opt for replacement rather than welding.

 

[radman1]

I would try welding. The piece that is broken appears to be part of the rear axle housing. It would probably be very expensive to replace and you have little to lose by trying it. Welding would be relatively inexpensive. Have the welding done by someone who knows what they are doing. You might try having additional pieces welded on the out side and a hole drilled in the added metal to give additional support to the broken ears.

 

[3RRL]

You can try welding but you need to re-drill or re-bore those holes. Can't tell what kind of tractor but it looks like it could be for your drag link (lower lift arm) is that right? If that's the case, it takes a lot of abuse and needs to be really sturdy (obviously). Since you'll have to machine it anyway, consider making heavy duty bolt on "ears" for it. Mill flat and drill & tap to mout the ears. If they break again, just replace them. Or like Mad said, buy a new component..looks like it bolts on to the housing?

 

[DaryleD]

wgbiii,
I would guess that it is at least closer ( properties of the metal )to cast iron than cast steel. It looks like it broke without bending first, which is why I would assume that. As you know and as radman1 said, it is going to be somewhat expensive to buy new. I think that it is also going to be quite expensive to have welded especially if it's cast iron. When you weld cast iron, you have to either heat up the part around 300-350 degrees ( if I remember correctly ) and weld it before it cools off too much. Obviously the part would have to be removed from the tractor to do it without hurting anything in the process.The other way you have to weld cast iron is by " cold welding" which means to weld a VERY small bead and stop and take a little break, then small bead and stop again etc. until it's done. The more I think about it, I think that it would be cheaper to buy a new part, due to high labor costs at the welding shop. It isn't a five minute job as you probably already know. Good luck on whatever you decide!
Daryle.

 

[JimR]

That part looks like the whole left axle housing. It more than likely is cast iron. It can be welded using Nickel rod. But as stated above. Cast iron needs to be preheated for welding. Plus you need to cool it down very slowly to keep it from cracking. I would also do as suggested and add a 1" thick plate to the outer side. You could attach this by drilling and tapping 3-4 holes in the outside of the housing. Drill the plate using the other two holes as a guide and ream all three holes to the correct size. The housing should be removed to do this correctly. Otherwise it will be very hard to do a slow cool on it. Not to mention trying to weld it in that position with the rear end in the way. There are some junkyards listed on the internet. Maybe you could find a used axle housing. Good luck and let us know how you make out with it. I welded the belly section of my old 1952 Ford 8N rear end years ago without pulling it out. I did have to remove one axle housing and the ring gear. I laid five pounds of nickel rod into that housing to keep it from ever cracking again. I used a cutting torch to preheat the rear end and to do a slow cool on it. I wrapped the housing in old blankets so that it would cool slowly once it got below burning point.

 

[Highbeam]

So what were you doing when it broke? I am obviously wanting to learn from your experience and do not want to break mine. You have nothing to lose by trying to weld it but if your weld job includes removing that housing then I would just replace it. Have you gotten a price from JD?

 

[JimR]

Check out this company. They have a ton of torn down John Deere's.
http://www.worthingtonagparts.com

 

[kennyd]

I just looked it up on JDParts.com, I assumed it was a hydro model...

Anyway, I came up with part # YZ81034, Housing Axle LH, Kit. $319.00 USD.

 

[JimR]

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