Pouring a bridle

admin

I thought that some of you guys might like to see the repairing of a pump jack bridle I did the other day. I didn't managed to get a full series of pics due to the quick nature of the work (not much time to take pics when working with molten metal). Anyway the first pic shows after I had melted out the old babbit from the ends and removed the cable. Notice the old babbit collected in my ladle. I had just a few scraps from the melting of a rope socket which I added to that before remelting. Second shows me part way through splaying the new cable. The third shows the play dough used to dam the bottom and keep the babbit from running out. The last shows the finished pour on one of the cups. Attached ImagesMillermatic 252XMT 304'sDynasty 280DXHypertherm PowerMax 1250Miller Trailblazer 302 EFIOptima PulserXR feeder and XR Edge gun and more athttp://members.dslextreme.com/users/waynecook/index.htm
Reply:Do you have to use any type of flux in order get a strong bond?
Reply:the metal piece that you poured the babbit into does that come out or stay there?Lincoln Power Arc 4000 Thermal Arc Fabricator 252 iThermal arc 186Thermal Arc 26 tigTweeko 200 amp spool gunHobart AirForce 400WP-17V-12R
Reply:Originally Posted by forhireDo you have to use any type of flux in order get a strong bond?
Reply:That brings back memories. I lost count of all those I poured. Well, actually I never tried to keep count. Just part of the day's work like making mud anchors. You definately need to get all the grease burned off the cable to keep a rope socket from pulling out. I used to squirt a little motor oil in the babbit ladle to flux it when it started to get oxide on top. Have to be careful because it can flash on you. I tore mechanic's rags in strips and tied them around the cable on the bottom of the bridle hanger to keep the babbit from leaking out. Had a big ol' 6" Wilton vise because we had a lot of big hangers. I had a lot of the seperate sockets on the 640 pump jacks.  Makes it a lot easier since you don't have to manhandle that big hanger into the vise. I always wanted to the engineer that dreamed them up a pat on the back for saving welders all that work.Last edited by Oldtimer; 08-16-2010 at 10:19 AM.