Posted by chriscase on Thursday, September 15, 2005 at 4:47PM :
In Reply to: 48 b-1 Frame welding recommendations posted by Northern Calif Dave on Thursday, September 15, 2005 at 2:45PM :
My frame is cracked both sides, across the top leg and down the web, lost behind the spring mount. My guess is that it is 'stop driled' at a big hole in the web, inside crossmember and behind spring mount. I plan on diagonal welds on ends of an added piece of angle iron, plus longitudinal welds on edges of angle iron. Lots of frames are extended by welding. When I ran a 400 ton press brake we made the mild steel parts regularly. Usually, a copy of the stock rail, and a longer piece that fit inside. So I figure welding the crack and adding a layer ought to suffice.
Cross leg welds make a 'stress riser', or stiff area that causes the stress to increase in the adjacent thinner area. The concept may be why my frame cracked at the end of the very rigid rear section? Anyway, my plan is that mitering the ends of my 'patch' will mitigate the stiffness.
Flame away guys, I've got my leathers on.
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