Precautions before welding?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,381
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From: Cambs, England
Precautions before welding?
I've got to weld an inch long crack on the bed of the 550 before it goes for a new spray in liner, I'm using MIG, so disconnect batteries, un plug PCM, anything else?
I'll have the earth clamp as close as possible to the weld area.
I'll have the earth clamp as close as possible to the weld area.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,381
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From: Cambs, England
I honestly don't know, from my days when I used to restore cars it was always best practice to protect any electrical stuff......
Lead Driver
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From: Ponca City, OK
I actually Googled this just yesterday. According to the Great and powerful Google you should disconnect negative battery terminals, but the thing that occurred to me is, what about all the professional welders working right off the back of their trucks building anything and everything you could imagine. They've got a machine mounted on their truck grounded to their truck welding day in and day out and I've never heard of one frying anything electronic on their pickups.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,381
Likes: 191
From: Cambs, England
I actually Googled this just yesterday. According to the Great and powerful Google you should disconnect negative battery terminals, but the thing that occurred to me is, what about all the professional welders working right off the back of their trucks building anything and everything you could imagine. They've got a machine mounted on their truck grounded to their truck welding day in and day out and I've never heard of one frying anything electronic on their pickups.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: Cambs, England
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Was that crack there when you took delivery after importation?
Or did it appear after towing with the new 5th wheel hitch?
Let's try and figure out why that crack appeared before welding and covering it up, otherwise it will reappear again, in spades, after the new weld shrunk the metal and hydrogen embrittlement exacerbates the original stress that relieved itself through the crack.
Or did it appear after towing with the new 5th wheel hitch?
Let's try and figure out why that crack appeared before welding and covering it up, otherwise it will reappear again, in spades, after the new weld shrunk the metal and hydrogen embrittlement exacerbates the original stress that relieved itself through the crack.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,381
Likes: 191
From: Cambs, England
Was that crack there when you took delivery after importation?
Or did it appear after towing with the new 5th wheel hitch?
Let's try and figure out why that crack appeared before welding and covering it up, otherwise it will reappear again, in spades, after the new weld shrunk the metal and hydrogen embrittlement exacerbates the original stress that relived itself through the crack.
Or did it appear after towing with the new 5th wheel hitch?
Let's try and figure out why that crack appeared before welding and covering it up, otherwise it will reappear again, in spades, after the new weld shrunk the metal and hydrogen embrittlement exacerbates the original stress that relived itself through the crack.
Back to the crack, I will be investigating further as it's a possible that something is slightly bent underneath, if you remember the truck was involved in a minor accident & it was the passenger side that had damage, my best guess is that when the rear fender took a hit it twisted one of the outriggers which has resulted in the weld to the tub fatiguing........I'll hopefully have a chance to pull the wheel liner & see this weekend.
I don't think it would be caused by the hitch, I've only towed around 1k miles, all smooth highway miles....
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,381
Likes: 191
From: Cambs, England
Haha, I remember a friend welding the alternator bracket on his car, when he started it afterwards there was a loud squealing noise, followed by the fan belt getting ejected as the alternator had fused solid....
i ain't rite
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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
i use ground clamp as close to weld as possible, and an OTC "anti-Zap" surge protector.
https://www.nationaltoolwarehouse.co...SABEgJ_ZfD_BwE
https://www.nationaltoolwarehouse.co...SABEgJ_ZfD_BwE