Welding a hydraulic reservoir frame

[Ohming]

I dont have a loy of wleding experience, any tips are greatly appreciated.

My Massey Fersuson deisel backhoe developed a hairline crack at a weld that connects the vertical hollow FEL / Engine brace frame, to the horizontal hollow frame that goes to the rear end area. These combine to form the hydraulic reservoir for the implements. The hyd fluid is leaking out at the rate of a quart a week while sitting and making a real mess. I have an arc welder and wanted to give it a shot repairing depending on some knowledgable answers.

1. Which rod should I use? I have some "farmer" rods, 6014? I believe

2. I would drain the oil to a level below the crack first, is there a fire or exposive danger? How should I prepare the area?

3. Do I need to disconnect the battery or other items?

3. Is there a better solution than welding?

Thanks

 

[Sprucegum]

[
2. I would drain the oil to a level below the crack first, is there a fire or exposive danger? How should I prepare the area?

3. Is there a better solution than welding?

DANGER!! Draining the fluid below your crack allows the heat and sparks to access the explosive fumes and blows your whole place to smithereens!

If I had to weld it I would drain it completely and fill it full of water, do the repair (6010 with 7018 cap), then try to get all the water out again.

Another option may be an epoxy patch if it is an area with no stress or pressure.

 

[Shield Arc]

If you're worried about an explosion, rig up away to pipe the exhaust of the diesel engine into the hydraulic reservoir. Clean the cracked area with some rubbing alcohol. Use your torch to burn out the hydraulic oil from the walls of the crack. Drill a small hole at each end of the crack. Then use some 6010 or 6011. I would start in the center of the crack work towards one end where the drilled hole is. Feather / ramp grind the start of that weld, start there and weld towards the other end with the drilled hole.

 

[Ohming]

Thanks Spruce. I guess there is still no dumb question. I'll try the expoxy first, if that fails, I will drain, fill with water & weld. I have 6011 rods, will they substitute for the 6010?

 

[Ohming]

Thanks Shield. I can handle that.

 

[Shield Arc]

Maybe you can use a metal funnel over the engine's exhaust pipe, and some heavy hose to pipe the exhaust into the reservoir. Remember all you have to do is remove the oxygen from the reservoir.
When you use the torch to burn out the hydraulic oil from the crack, hold the torch 8 to 10-inches away from the crack.

 

[Ohming]

That would work, as the drain hole is below the crack and the fill neck is above it. I would have a constant air flow through the welding area. Would the soot act as a contaminant, or just get filtered out as the pump runs afterward?

 

[Shield Arc]

Before doing the repair I would drain all the hydraulic oil out and save it. After the repair flush the reservoir out with something cheap, replace the oil, run for a short time, and then replace the filter.

 

[eastexan]

Thanks Spruce. I guess there is still no dumb question. I'll try the expoxy first, if that fails, I will drain, fill with water & weld. I have 6011 rods, will they substitute for the 6010?

Yes, 6011 will substitute for the 6010.

But if you decide to use epoxy first and it fails, you will need to clean/grind every bit of the epoxy off before you can weld it.

 

[deereman75]

I think the water idea would be a pain, trying to weld up a crack with water pouring out, because it wouldnt just be a hairline crack anymore, you would have to get it clean, and that would open it up more. I would probably purge it the way shield arc sugested, and weld it with a 6011. I have tried epoxy for things like this, and even the stuff rated for use with oil and gas, will fail if constantly in contact with oil or gas.

 

[Ohming]

I'm really warming up to this exhaust flow concept. But, if I have all of the hyd fluid out of the reservoir, would that be hard on the pump while the tractor is running (its a 54hp Perkins). I could park my little Kioti deisel next to the Massey and use its' exhaust instead.....

 

[Shield Arc]

I thought of that too, later. I wouldn't run the engine without hydraulic oil in the tank. Use another diesel engine / tractor / truck! I've used gas engines before, but it's not recommended.

 

[RPW]

Instead of using exhAust gas use either CO2 or Arson from a tank. Would most likely be easier to rig up to one of the fittings plus there wouldn't be any contamination of the tank.

 

[deereman75]

Instead of using exhAust gas use either CO2 or Arson from a tank. Would most likely be easier to rig up to one of the fittings plus there wouldn't be any contamination of the tank.

You could also use a co2 fire extinguisher to purge it, even though it costs a fair bit to get it refilled, it is cheeper then a big tank. (I had thought of this yesterday, but I was really tired, and forgot how to spell extinguisher)

 

[Ohming]

Assuming Arson was a typo for Argon. This just gets better, that is a great alternative.

This little crack on the weld is right below the FEL valve (which has a drop of hyd fluid hanging on the bottom of one of the spools sometimes). I have stared at the valve for minutes on end on many occasion trying to figure out the exact source -- after replacing all the o-rings, of which some were torn and bad. Then as I wiped off the frame to lie an ambush for a future drop from the FEL valve, I saw the ever so slight bubbling from a hairline crack at the base of the weld - I was stunned, but relieved I found the continuing source.

It was one of the rare times that there were 2 causes to the same issue.:confused2:

 

[Shield Arc]

I have read where people used dry ice to repair gas tanks. Haven't tried it myself.

 

[weldermike]

Wouldnt ev

 

[weldermike]

Wouldnt even think about it, heat up crack w a torch, let it cool so crack opens up, drill the ends of the crack, tnan weld it w a 6010, grind it down with a flap wheel and do a cover pass w a 7018, and ur good to go bud!

 

[dstig1]

Assuming Arson was a typo for Argon. This just gets better, that is a great alternative.

No he was suggesting that you hire someone to burn it down :laughing:

 

[deereman75]

No he was suggesting that you hire someone to burn it down :laughing:

that would be the same net result if he didnt purge it.:laughing: