Welding Draft Arm

[Deere Dude]

Sadly I backed into a tree with my finish mower and broke my 3pt draft link, and worse yet I had to tell my wife. Regardless, I either need to buy a new one or weld this one up.

I could take the easy way out and just order one, but I want to try welding it. I wouldn't have a problem just sticking two pieces of regular steel together but am unsure about this type of material. It is some kind of casting and don't know the rods to use or even if it is a good idea to weld it.

I have 1/8" 7014 and 6011 rods along with a AC 240 amp welder. I planned on welding it together and use add a tab of metal on the back side. The bar is 3/4" by 2-3/8" and snapped cleanly. I am assuming to weld it I need to bevel it down all around and make maybe 3 passes.

Any tips as to the process will be appreciated. Welding skill is maybe hack to intermediate.



Thanks.

 

[stuckmotor]

This should be an educational thread when the good weldors come on.

 

[hosspuller]

Don't feel too bad about the damage. It was going to fail anyway. Notice the two rust marks at the break … Fatigue failure … The cracks would continue to propagate until the arm broke.

You might check the other arm at the same places for cracks.

When you try to weld it, preheat both pieces to 250 -350 degrees before welding.

 

[Deere Dude]

Don't feel too bad about the damage. It was going to fail anyway. Notice the two rust marks at the break … Fatigue failure … The cracks would continue to propagate until the arm broke.

You might check the other arm at the same places for cracks.

Actually I bent that arm about 5 years ago and straightened it out using a log splitter as a press, but it worked. The rust marks were ever so slight in relation to the thickness of it.

 

[RNeumann]

It should be a multi pass process after grinding both sides to a point making a nice “V” when the two pieces are touching. 6010/6011 passes with a 7018 cap weld is what I’d do........if I was welding it up- which I probably wouldn’t.

 

[Dneel81]

It should be a multi pass process after grinding both sides to a point making a nice “V” when the two pieces are touching. 6010/6011 passes with a 7018 cap weld is what I’d do........if I was welding it up- which I probably wouldn’t.

Agree. It's likely to not be stable after adding more heat to that area.

 

[Jeepnford]

Are you certain it's cast iron and not cast steel? You could do the spark test if you're not sure.

 

[RNeumann]

Are you certain it's cast iron and not cast steel? You could do the spark test if you're not sure.

I’m guessing (and agreeing with you) it’s weldable steel since it has other welds on it. They also sell just the ends that are made to weld on to your own link.

 

[yomax4]

Bending it and then bending it back tells me it's not cast. +1 on th spark test.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I've welded both arms on my 4410. They both broke through the lift hole. Welded with 7018 AC. No preheat. They haven't given trouble since.

I'm not a professional welder.... But I've done a lot of welding.