Welding on Tractor

[JJPWAus]

I am currently building a loader for my Iseki TS1910 and am at the point where I need to weld up some of the components with the loader mounted on the tractor. I have disconnected the battery and will put the return clamp as close to the weld area as possible.
I'll shield the fuel lines etc, when welding. Do I need to do anything further?? Better to be safe than sorry!
Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[bobodu]

Watch the sparks and you'll be fine.Never hurts to stop once in a while and look for fires,also smart to have an extinguisher handy.We like pictures!!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[blackd]

Ditto on the sparks. Don't ask me how I know! Be especially watchful around the plastic. It lights up pretty good & makes a big mess as it burns/melts away.

 

[justforme]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I am currently building a loader for my Iseki TS1910 and am at the point where I need to weld up some of the components with the loader mounted on the tractor. I have disconnected the battery and will put the return clamp as close to the weld area as possible.
I'll shield the fuel lines etc, when welding. Do I need to do anything further?? Better to be safe than sorry!
Any input would be greatly appreciated. )</font>

cover all the glass. splatter loves to stick to it.

 

[Dirtnut]

make sure you ground to the tractor frame or the piece you are welding, you dont want to be grounding through bearings. make sure cylinder rods are protected.

 

[GuglioLS]

Very Good advice above -
Don't forget to protect the TIRES.
And yes we want pictures.

 

[EddieWalker]

My most exiting welding story happened because I had a grease rag lying around under what I was welding on. I had used it to clean up with.

Of course it cought on fire from the sparks and scared me more then it caused any damage.

By the time I noticed the fire, it was much larger then you'd think from such a small rag. The grease and oil really got it going!!

 

[TOMDUALLY]

to protect your paint I'd throw a piece of canvas over the hood to protect it from the slag and sparks thrown off from welding and grinding. DON'T TIE IT ON!! that way you can yank it off if it should catch on fire.

 

[YanmarFever]

I would disconnect the battery first !!
Then put your ground clamp very close to the actual welding spot.
Tractor Ernie

 

[bobodu]

Caught a greasy forklift on fire once....love the proximity to a propane tank!! Welding in a dry cleaning plant isfun...presses are always full of lint AND grease...and they are close to each other so when one "poofs",the next few down the line follow suit....Quick way to clean 'em out....not recommended by the manufacturer though /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Kaliburz]

Yup, been there done that.....

Greasy, oily shop rag (paper) was near my weld area....splater found that. I was wondering why I smelled smoke...... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Stopped welding and looked down... /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

The other time, my buddy was welding and sparks lit his jeans on fire....bottoms were freyed....... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[BGL990]

OK, I'll post a story too, since it is closely related.

It's not just welding you need to watch out for. Last year I was doing a fair bit of grinding on a piece of metal and lit a box of rags on fire. At one point I smelled a bit of smoke and looked around but didn't see anything. It isn't unusual for a neighbor to be burning garbage or something, so I didn't think much of it and continued grinding. A few minutes later I paused to stretch and rest a bit. When I turned around, there were small flames coming out of a small box of old rags. The box was a good 10 feet away from me, but I guess the sparks from grinding were landing right in it, or at least enough to get things smoldering. If I hadn't seen the fire soon enough, or worse if I had left the garage earlier when I just smelled a bit of smoke, it could have been nasty. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

So, watch where ALL of your sparks are going - welding or grinding.

 

[Jagmandave]

I've set my own clothing on fire with sparks from grinding, I'm now much more careful where the kerf goes!

 

[notamustang]

Welding on my trailer, started a small grass fire. My boss started laughing as I pulled off my shirt and started beating down the fire. Was only a 6sq ft area but got my blood pumping. My only question to him was WTF are you doing just standing there? Never got a good answer from him /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[bobodu]

Started a fire in a wheat field....if 6 feet gets the heart agoin'....look at 300 acres of wheat stubble!!! Kept it to 40 feet....but I thought I was gonna DIE!!! Turns out the wife set the same field on fire before we met.....she never mentioned that...found about it from the neighbors when I was tellin my story!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif