Please help me repair this

[oldboyscout]

This is my pathetic little log splitter. The wedge which was poorly welded to the tubes broke free. I know there's no good way to weld it there, so I'm looking for suggestions on fixing it. Thanks!

 

[CBW1999]

Northern tools sells a bolt on anchor block that can be welded. Not too expensive but you would need to modify your splitter a little to get it to fit. This will help support the wedge and transfer energy over a larger area. I would think that you may even be able to bot it on the flat bar below the tubes.

If you weld the existing one it will fail again- without a backing plate or extension on the back, it will put all the force on the small welded area

 

[easygo]

I would try to weld another 1/2-3/4" thick piece of plate or flat bar to the bottom of the wedge so it extends down below the two pipes and brace it on the bottom. The "extension" should be ground down to a deep "v" notch and welded to the wedge with a good many passes taking care not to overheat the wedge and make it loose the hard edge. Also weld between pipes just like the original and then lay a couple of 1/4-3/8 plates flat on the pipe and bump up against the wedge and weld on for some top strength . I would clean all the metal well with a wire wheel and use 7018 electrode for maximum strength.

 

[oldboyscout]

I was also thinking about reversing the wedge to the piston end, letting the splits stay at the rail rather than getting pushed off. Not sure if that makes the repair any easier, or more or less work while splitting in general.

 

[dstig1]

Mount the wedge to the flat side of a piece of C-channel that fits over the sides of the tubes. Weld as much area as you can across and down the channel. Bevel the leading edge of the channel so it doesn't catch stuff.

My $0.02..

 

[hosspuller]

Doesn't look like there was enough weld penetration between the wedge and tubes. If the tubes are up to the total force, then proper welding and placement of the wedge will work.

 

[20 20]

that could be reinforced with an angle piece going down from the(back of) wedge to another piece of flat steel reinforcment welded under the pipes. You may have to lengthin your tongue some. It's hard to explain, over a keyboard but that is, IMO, a fairly easy fix. I also agree with Hosspuller, just figured why not add some reinforcment while working on it.

 

[oldboyscout]

The wedge now is located well beyond the length of the piston, so I can move it closer. I never need to split that length anyway.

 

[radioman]

you really just need gusset behind the wedge. I would also take that wedge out and weld it to a plate real good and then stick it up between tubes and weld plate to tubes on bottom. THEN you can reweld the wedge back to the tubes after removing the old welds. Add a gusset in back of wedge and call it good.

 

[Gator6x4]

I would check to insure clearance between the bottom of the ram and the two tubes. If good clearance existed, I would obtain a piece of c- channel the length of the rails, weld the wedge to the c-plate with a brace behind and then weld the c-plate onto the top of the rails. The wedge broke off because it was the weakess link. Reinforce the wedge and the rails will bend or break without some added support. Just my opinion.

Disregard post: I looked at the photo again and you would have to modify the end of the ram if an attempt was made to use my suggestion. The current ram has circles of steel around the tubes to prevent upward movement of the ram.