Welding on the axle

[ClevelandCruiser]

Well im new to the welding thing and im trying to weld my traction bar on to my axle and i just cant seem to get a good weld on it, it seems like the axle metal isnt even melting. Any tips would be much appreciated.

 

[RaisedK5]

what setup are you using, mig, stick?? 110v, 220v?? thickness of bracket? More info please.

 

[jekquistk5]

pre heating the axle tube can help if you have a welder that isn't up to snuff. I just crank my 180 lincoln and I'm good

 

[ClevelandCruiser]

Its 110v mig welder. And 1/4" on the bracket

 

[jekquistk5]

Its 110v mig welder. And 1/4" on the bracket

Preheat and turn down your wire speed go slower, or find someone with a bigger welder

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Are you welding on the pumpkin or on the tubes?

 

[ClevelandCruiser]

on the tubes... my uncle has a bigger welder i think im going to give that a try

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

The tubes are mild steel and are just about the easiest thing to weld to.

Either you didn't prep the metal correctly, you're having welder problems, or you aren't welding correctly.

Regardless, you should weld the tubes to the pumpkin or add a truss. Adding a traction bar without helping out the plug welds at the diff will result in spun tubes in short order.

 

[SkulzNBonz]

Make sure the base metal is bare and clean, and the area where the ground is attached is clean bare metal as well. I welded my shock mounts and spring perches on the axle tubes w/ a 110 lincoln and some gasless fluxcore no problem.

John

 

[ClevelandCruiser]

Alright thanks for the tips i just must be doing something wrong

 

[MTBLAZER89]

Regardless, you should weld the tubes to the pumpkin or add a truss. Adding a traction bar without helping out the plug welds at the diff will result in spun tubes in short order.

Really? I was not aware of this. I am going to be adding my traction bar brackets on to my 14B soon. Good to know. Any particular method to welding to the center section? ie preheating etc?

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Really? I was not aware of this. I am going to be adding my traction bar brackets on to my 14B soon. Good to know. Any particular method to welding to the center section? ie preheating etc?

14 bolts are prone to spinning axle tubes in the first place. Adding a traction bar makes it MUCH more likely that you will spin an axle tube. I've seen several and its a sucky thing to deal with on the trail and it probably ruins the housing (i.e. once the press fit is gone you won't get it back).

I researched a lot before welding my tubes and it seemed most people thought that you needed to preheat the cast center section and TIG weld it with nickel rod. After talking to a bunch of people (in person) who had welded 14 bolt pumpkins, it sounded like a MIG would work just fine.

I hit it with the MIG and it worked perfectly, no cracking and the steel welded quite well. Just make sure you only weld small sections at a time (2 inches maybe, you don't necessarily need to weld up the entire circle) and its better to have the weight off of the truck when you weld it (to help prevent the housing from warping).

 

[Cowboy_80]

A couple of years ago I dropped 8.8's into two jeeps. I welded the tubes in place. Didn't have a torch to pre-heat with, but I gave it a shot anyway. They welded very nice. I just turned the heat all the way up and stitched around the tube, welding on the cast, flowing into the tube.