Welding on tractor advice

[zmansmac]

I have a FEL mounted snow plow, that unfortunately has had little action this winter in SE Michigan, and had the connection bracket for my power angle break. It's a bit of a hassle to remove the plow and I would prefer to make the weld repair with it still attached. I know this can be done but I'm not sure if I risk any damage to the tractor electrical system. To be safe I'm thinking I could just disconnect the battery but I'm not sure if I only need to disconnect the positive, negative or both. Any advice before our next "fantasy" snowfall would be appreciated.

JohnZ
B7500

 

[strum456]

I have a FEL mounted snow plow, that unfortunately has had little action this winter in SE Michigan, and had the connection bracket for my power angle break. It's a bit of a hassle to remove the plow and I would prefer to make the weld repair with it still attached. I know this can be done but I'm not sure if I risk any damage to the tractor electrical system. To be safe I'm thinking I could just disconnect the battery but I'm not sure if I only need to disconnect the positive, negative or both. Any advice before our next "fantasy" snowfall would be appreciated.

JohnZ
B7500

All I ever do is pull off the easiest terminal to get to and make sure the welder ground clamp is near where Im welding. No fried electronics so far.

 

[Hollow]

Most people don't even disconnect the battery. I do most of the time just for safe measure. Just disconnect the easiest battery post you can get to and make sure you clamp the ground as close to the weld as possible. Electricity follows the shortest/easiest rout. It's not going to make laps through your tractor's electrical system before finding the welders grounding lead.

 

[pjbci]

I have welded up my equip and trucks for the last 25 years without disconnecting anything. No problems yet.

 

[4shorts]

I'm doing it on a daily basis. Just put your ground cable as close to the area your welding and you'll have no problems at all. Good luck.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I welded chain lift lugs on my Yanmar, brother in law NH 2030 and My LS P7010 without removing the battery post from any of them. I just made sure my ground was right beside my welding on the bucket and was connected to a well cleaned spot so it got a good connection. Most folks advocate removing both battery cables as extra precaution but actually removing one prevents a circuit from happening. As stated electricity follows the path of least resistance so if you have a good ground it is going to follow it back to the machine and not wander all over your tractor looking to attack your electronics. SOME folks here will tell you to remove the FEL and park your tractor at least 100 yards away or some such foolish remarks but I dont have any experience in fouled electronics from welding on vehicles. I have welded on cars, trucks and tractor and as long as you have a good ground, which I have always had, I have not had a problem. I dont know of anyone who can site a burned out computer and positively connect it to welding on a bumper etc. IF you directly arc the wires, you could probably do it. This and the other wives tale about telephones setting off gasoline fires, welding current arcing bearings, etc is told and retold but I have never seen any teller who actually experienced it.
Now that I have said that, I am sure some one here will say that they have personal experience with welding producing massive failures in electrical systems and contributing to formation of tornadoes, electrical storms etc.

 

[moored4]

Make sure that your Grounding cable makes good contact! Put it on a non painted surface and that there is not a bearing between it and the weld and you will all right. :thumbsup:

 

[moored4]

....................................................................................................................... This and the other wives tale about telephones setting off gasoline fires, welding current arcing bearings, etc is told and retold but I have never seen any teller who actually experienced it.
Now that I have said that, I am sure some one here will say that they have personal experience with welding producing massive failures in electrical systems and contributing to formation of tornadoes, electrical storms etc.

Gary I agree with your electrical part of your statement, but if the grounding path passes thru a bearing it will cause an effect called "false bernelling which will lead to a bearing failure! This is and has been a well know fact in the industry for years! It's not a wifes tall tail!

David Stevens IEng - Bearing failures - Electrical Damage
http://reliabilityweb.com/index.php/maintenance_tips/welding_on_equipment_tool_box_training/

 

[Gary Fowler]

Actually it is not a well known "fact" but a well know practice and policy. I have worked in heavy construction for 44 years with over 25 of those as a Quality Manager and have seen some issues with welders welding on lots of pumps, turbines etc and always the same thing "welding will arc the bearings". I have never seen that happen, even in some situation where the bearing were pulled and examined after a welder didnt follow the procedure. I have discussed this with lots of folks and never found one person that actually saw a bearing arced. About the only way you can induce a current to go thru a bearing is ground on the outer race and weld on the inner race and even then it is hard to get it to arc since there is not electrical path way, just like having a painted surface. Any other way and the current is going to go a different route if the bearings are greased, the there really is no metal to metal contact as the bearings are riding on a film of grease so the current will try to find a different way that has direct contact if possible

I will agree, that arcing thru a bearing will cause premature failure, I just dont think it is possible to do it without really getting serious trying to force the electricity go thru the bearing rather than following the path of least resistance.

 

[moored4]

Gary we have very similar backgrounds except mine is in Vibration analyst. I have seen it a lot! So much so that I set up a training program for any contracting welder coming on the work place had to take a class before ever striking an arc! I'm glad that you never had to deal with it!

"about the only way you can induce a current to go thru a bearing is ground on the outer race and weld on the inner race' quote by gary.

What do think happens when you ground to the blade of a pump or fan or bucket of a tractor, because it has no paint on it, and then strike an arc on the housing with a bearing between ? The path you created is thru the bearing!

The studies have been done! Just Google it! I'm not going to debate with you, too old for that, and respect you too much!
Have a good day and cup of coffee! :thumbsup: