Re: tig welding alum
[Re: earthmover]
#1039986
07/25/11 06:09 PM
07/25/11 06:09 PM
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,257
gulfport, ms, west mi
rowin4
master
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master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,257
gulfport, ms, west mi
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There are place's that repair aluminum wheels that do that all the time. Are you looking to do the repair yourself ?
it's ok to butt heads, just don't do it with a butthead
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Re: tig welding alum
[Re: earthmover]
#1039989
07/25/11 07:22 PM
07/25/11 07:22 PM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 12,008
Finally a HUSKER again
Moparnut426
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 12,008
Finally a HUSKER again
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When I weld up any material that is cracked, I will use a liquid dye penetrant, and some dye developer to find the very end of the crack, use a small drill, drill out the ends of the crack, then wheld it up. Ive found especially with aluminum, and Cast iron that as it heats up the crack will chase out on you, and just get longer. the drilled hole takes out the stress risor, and eliminates where the chase can start.
In college we would have contests on who can crack a test piece of aluminum in half from start to finish by adding a lot of filler really fast, and the piece will split right down the center and you dont even need a crack to have it start. So aluminum welding can be tricks.
Kasey
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Re: tig welding alum
[Re: earthmover]
#1039990
07/25/11 09:00 PM
07/25/11 09:00 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,923
NC
440Jim
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,923
NC
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I don't have any experience on that, but my opinion:
It can be welded, no doubt about it.
But the condition of the wheel after welding is the concern.
It could be distorted, etc. But if it passes all those post welding inspections, it should be good to go (but may need some cosmetic work, ie grind/polish etc). I don't know about the heat treatment in the weld effected area (ie aluminum 6061, 50xx, 70xx, etc.)
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Re: tig welding alum
[Re: earthmover]
#1039992
07/25/11 10:54 PM
07/25/11 10:54 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY
Master
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Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
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First off i would ask how did you crack it... if you hit a curb or something, go buy a new one.... its bent... I've welded them before I V them out good then I put them in a oven and get them up to temp then use a torch to keep them good and warm while welding then back in the oven to slow cool 
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Re: tig welding alum
[Re: earthmover]
#1039994
07/25/11 11:18 PM
07/25/11 11:18 PM
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY
Master
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Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
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Quote:
thats the thing mrp there is no damage to the rim any where that i can see... its just a hair line crack that took me a while to find ....i had tires put on this thing about 8mths ago and no problems til now ... i put it in the shop and came out the next day tire was low and thought i had ran over a nail or something ...spray the tire with soap and water nothing so i just sprayed the whole thing thinking its in the side wall...you really cant see the crack i only know where its at now cause i marked the tire.....the rim is about .5 thick where its cracked at and right and the bottom of the flat that the tire seals on...now this is a heavy duty rim that carry alot of weight..i want to say 16/18000 lb axle... : 
I dont know how old it is BUT I might call the manufacturer
and see if they will replace it... since it shows
NO SIGN of damage... they dont want a bad rap out
there about their wheels... also being that its
carrying that kind of load... no way would I have
it welded
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Re: tig welding alum
[Re: earthmover]
#1039996
07/26/11 10:20 AM
07/26/11 10:20 AM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,752
detroit area
moderncylinder
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,752
detroit area
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Quote:
thats the thing mrp there is no damage to the rim any where that i can see... its just a hair line crack that took me a while to find ....i had tires put on this thing about 8mths ago and no problems til now ... i put it in the shop and came out the next day tire was low and thought i had ran over a nail or something ...spray the tire with soap and water nothing so i just sprayed the whole thing thinking its in the side wall...you really cant see the crack i only know where its at now cause i marked the tire.....the rim is about .5 thick where its cracked at and right and the bottom of the flat that the tire seals on...now this is a heavy duty rim that carry alot of weight..i want to say 16/18000 lb axle... :
So this is for a SEMI truck and its a steer.
Replace it.Dont risk it with a truck that big.
My opinon
Dont think of yourself.Think of everyone else on the road.
Sorry
Bob
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Re: tig welding alum
[Re: moderncylinder]
#1040001
08/02/11 10:29 PM
08/02/11 10:29 PM
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,695
Bitopia
jcc
If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
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If you can't dazzle em with diamonds..
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22,695
Bitopia
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Quote:
Quote:
thats the thing mrp there is no damage to the rim any where that i can see... its just a hair line crack that took me a while to find ....i had tires put on this thing about 8mths ago and no problems til now ... i put it in the shop and came out the next day tire was low and thought i had ran over a nail or something ...spray the tire with soap and water nothing so i just sprayed the whole thing thinking its in the side wall...you really cant see the crack i only know where its at now cause i marked the tire.....the rim is about .5 thick where its cracked at and right and the bottom of the flat that the tire seals on...now this is a heavy duty rim that carry alot of weight..i want to say 16/18000 lb axle... :
So this is for a SEMI truck and its a steer.
Replace it.Dont risk it with a truck that big.
My opinon
Dont think of yourself.Think of everyone else on the road.
Sorry
Bob
Alum OTR semi wheels are illegal to weld/repair, period, Further the alloy, 7000 or 2000 series is not considered to be weldable in most cases. Pure scrap. And if you want to in your spare time, calculate the surface area of the tire and rim combined in inches, multiply by say 110lbs, and think whether you would want your mom to stand next to it? 
I should restate "illegal", in the sense if a welded alum wheel was involved with in a crash causing injury/death, criminal negligence is a very likely charge.
Last edited by jcc; 08/03/11 12:05 PM.
Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
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