- Joined
- May 3, 2017
- Messages
- 1,996
Hello to All.
I am in the process of changing the axle/wheel assembly on an old farm fuel trailer. I am using the front-end of a 1959 Chevrolet Apache pickup truck for the change-over. If you know those old trucks, it has a leaf spring/solid axle/tie rod assembly - perfect for this application. In order to stabilize the steering mechanism, I have fabricated a plate of 3/8" cold-rolled steel which I've permanently welded to the tie rod but only tack welded to the axle.
Here's my issue. The axle is cast, but I'm not sure if it's cast iron or cast steel. I've cleaned up the portion to be welded with a grinder, and it appears to be steel (nice and shiny), and I've drilled a shallow 1/4" hole, and it 'chips' like steel instead of 'crumbling' like most cast iron I've ever worked with. If it's steel, I can MIG weld my fabricated plate to the axle just like I did to the tie rod. But if it's iron, it needs to be welded with nickel rod, so I'm told.
Does anyone know:
a. If the front end is definitely one or the other? Again, 1959 Chevy Apache front axle.
b. If the tests I've described above are conclusive one way or the other?
c. If there are other tests I can/should perform.
I'm told one test is to weld it up then go at it with a sledge hammer and see if the weld breaks. Seriously. That was suggested. (Some of the old school farmers around here are more inclined to do things the fast way instead of the textbook way. But don't laugh. In my experience, they're usually right.)
Sure would love some guidance on this one. Don't need to be tooling down the road with 80 to 100 gallons of off-road diesel when a weld breaks.
Regards,
Terry
I am in the process of changing the axle/wheel assembly on an old farm fuel trailer. I am using the front-end of a 1959 Chevrolet Apache pickup truck for the change-over. If you know those old trucks, it has a leaf spring/solid axle/tie rod assembly - perfect for this application. In order to stabilize the steering mechanism, I have fabricated a plate of 3/8" cold-rolled steel which I've permanently welded to the tie rod but only tack welded to the axle.
Here's my issue. The axle is cast, but I'm not sure if it's cast iron or cast steel. I've cleaned up the portion to be welded with a grinder, and it appears to be steel (nice and shiny), and I've drilled a shallow 1/4" hole, and it 'chips' like steel instead of 'crumbling' like most cast iron I've ever worked with. If it's steel, I can MIG weld my fabricated plate to the axle just like I did to the tie rod. But if it's iron, it needs to be welded with nickel rod, so I'm told.
Does anyone know:
a. If the front end is definitely one or the other? Again, 1959 Chevy Apache front axle.
b. If the tests I've described above are conclusive one way or the other?
c. If there are other tests I can/should perform.
I'm told one test is to weld it up then go at it with a sledge hammer and see if the weld breaks. Seriously. That was suggested. (Some of the old school farmers around here are more inclined to do things the fast way instead of the textbook way. But don't laugh. In my experience, they're usually right.)
Sure would love some guidance on this one. Don't need to be tooling down the road with 80 to 100 gallons of off-road diesel when a weld breaks.
Regards,
Terry