tig welding alum

Posted By: earthmover

tig welding alum - 07/25/11 10:02 PM

i have a alum wheel that has somehow got a hair line crack init about 1" long...the crack runs along the shape of the wheel not up and down..it it just in the lip that seals the tire..can i have this tig wheeled and still be safe?????i have been trying to find another wheel but no luck...i can buy new about 1000.00 for 1 so looking for true app. about this...i may just have to go with another wheel but just hate to cause then i have to buy 2....the wheel is 22.5 and goes on the front...how the crack got there i have know idea theres no damage are anything just odd. thanks mike

Posted By: B G Racing

Re: tig welding alum - 07/25/11 10:08 PM

Weld it,dress it up and polish it.

Posted By: rowin4

Re: tig welding alum - 07/25/11 10:09 PM

There are place's that repair aluminum wheels that do that all the time. Are you looking to do the repair yourself ?

Posted By: 8urvette

Re: tig welding alum - 07/25/11 10:10 PM

maybe look at balancing the wheel after with out tire just to make sure it isn't crazy off.

Posted By: earthmover

Re: tig welding alum - 07/25/11 10:11 PM

no i plan to have a prof. do the work.. i just didnt know if it would be safe to do on a wheel like this ...

Posted By: Moparnut426

Re: tig welding alum - 07/25/11 11:22 PM

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

Posted By: 440Jim

Re: tig welding alum - 07/26/11 01:00 AM

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.)

Posted By: maxie

Re: tig welding alum - 07/26/11 01:03 AM

Hite Racing also known as A1 speed shop in Muncie Indiana has a waiting list to get the wheels done, the guy is that good.

Posted By: MR_P_BODY

Re: tig welding alum - 07/26/11 02:54 AM

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

Posted By: earthmover

Re: tig welding alum - 07/26/11 03:04 AM

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... :

Posted By: MR_P_BODY

Re: tig welding alum - 07/26/11 03:18 AM

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

Posted By: rickraw

Re: tig welding alum - 07/26/11 03:48 AM

i agree with mr.p body. why did it crack?? is ur life or equipment worth a wheel. a repair may work, it may not. why take a chance??? get a new wheel. stay safe, seeya.

Posted By: moderncylinder

Re: tig welding alum - 07/26/11 02:20 PM

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

Posted By: theclutcher

Re: tig welding alum - 07/26/11 02:33 PM

Is it an Alcoa wheel?

How bout a pic?

heat treat will be effected.

Commercial vehicle.... take no chances with liability.

Contact manufacturer.

Posted By: earthmover

Re: tig welding alum - 07/27/11 05:01 AM

just would like to say i could not do it (tig weld) and live with myself....so i put steeel wheels on today cause i can not find a wheel to replace except out of state and its 500.00 used... i just need to work so this is my plan and get a used (cheap) wheel from a cheaper place soon...so you all can feel safe and happy Along with myself .. thanks for the info guys thats why i posted ... i had a bad feeling in my head about tig welding it and cant do it..mike

Posted By: moderncylinder

Re: tig welding alum - 07/27/11 05:50 PM

good call Mike

Post a PIC in the wanted section of what wheel your looking for.
I have some truck friends and iam sure other may be able to keep an eye out for one.

Posted By: earthmover

Re: tig welding alum - 07/27/11 08:36 PM

will do thanks for all you guys help mike

Posted By: jcc

Re: tig welding alum - 08/03/11 02:29 AM

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.