Welding on Axles Tubes: Tips and Tricks?

1467 Views 8 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Topless Rubi, Mar 4, 2011

Beowulf

Discussion Starter · Nov 16, 2010

I have the Nth/AEV shock shifters that have been sitting in the box for about 3 years now and figure it is time to install them. What are tricks to welding on axles tubes? What should I avoid/do to make this go smoothly without destroying something in the axles?

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'05TJLWBRUBY

· #2 · Nov 16, 2010

Just knock the paint off, get a good ground and go! You likely won't be welding for any real distance so you should be fine and not need to worry about warping anything with those. I've done just this for various skids, brackets, risers, etc. on my tubes without issue.

Best of Luck,

Mike

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Mouse

· #3 · Nov 16, 2010

In order to minimize axle tube warpage, keep beads short. Thinner tube material will warp easier - the stock rubicon axles are on the thin side. Also, when welding vertically, or overhead with a MIG, turn the wire speed way up (I like all the way up).

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Beowulf

Discussion Starter · #4 · Nov 17, 2010

How about old school stick welding?

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Mouse

· #5 · Nov 17, 2010

Beowulf said:
How about old school stick welding?

Should work fine. I would expect any heat or warpage issues with shock tabs. As far as technique, its been a while since I've stick welded. I would guess keeping the rod a touch closer to add more material quicker.

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Beowulf

Discussion Starter · #6 · Feb 28, 2011

Does anyone know the thickness of the Rubicon Axles tubes?

What matel are they made of?

What rod do you think would work best? 6011, 6013, 7018, 7024..... I guess since this will be at an odd angle the 7024 are out.

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Topless Rubi

· #7 · Feb 28, 2011

you will want to stick with a low hydrogen electrode and something suitable for pipe if possible. heating the axles to at least 50 degF will help reduce any tendancy towards cracking if you are welding outside.

check out this electrode http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-u...-Excalibur-Excalibur7018-1MR(LincolnElectric)

welds nice and compostition is suitable for pipe major benefit is its notch toughness is good down to -50deg F, last thing you want is a weld breaking at -10 or -20 deg F.

john

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Melmo

· #8 · Mar 2, 2011

7018 rod run "vertical up" which basically means you start at the bottom of the weld and weave the welding rod back and forth across the two pieces pausing slightly on each side of the pass. The filler rod and base metal should run towards the center and quickly cool.

The weld slag will look like the weld is all boogered up but it should knock off clean and leave a nice looking and strong weld. It will take a little practice to get the feel for it, but once you do, you will be able to create welds substantially stronger and with much better penetration than MIG wire.

I would recommend 1/8" 7018 welding rod run about 140 amps DC current. You may have to use a little more or less amperage depending on your machine. You may also find it more controllable to use 3/32 rod around 90 to 100 amps as the material won't flow as fast but the downside is, if you accidentally stick a rod to the work piece it will heat up and start glowing red almost immediately. This will make it impossible to pull the rod off the base metal without first stopping the current.

Good luck!

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Topless Rubi

· #9 · Mar 4, 2011

Just a friendly point try and not to do any weaving where possible or keep it small like 2 electrode diameters (total bead width) wide. from all the testing results I have reviewed weaving will reduce the toughness of the weld dramatically from 65 ft/lbs down to 12 ft/lbs.

Loosing that much knotch toughness could result in a breakage in very cold weather.

john

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