Welding on a tractor rim

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I have a Massey Ferguson 1020 compact tractor that has chloride filled rear tires.  Well as we all know with time the tubes leak and the rims rust out around the valve stems.  I have looked around for new rim, but so far nothing.  I keep putting this off and now the one rear tire is leaking bad enough I have to air it up every time I use the tractor.  My question is, if I can't find a new set of rims would it be safe to cut out the rusted area around the valve stem make a patch and weld it in?  My weapon of choice would be a Lincoln Powermig 300 and the approach would be make the patch only as large as necessary grind to clean metal, fit patch, weld both sides grind smooth.  I know how the safety police can be on pressure vessels, just not sure if this is the same being that it has a tire wrapped around it.
Reply:If it has tubes then there is no concern IMHO.  I have patched such wheels by just welding a washer with the right size hole to the rim then grinding it so it does not interfere with the tire."G"ConductorX - The Volkswright Shophttp://volkswright.blogspot.com/http://bugwerks.blogspot.com/Miller DVI w/Spoolgun - Miller Plasma Cutter
Reply:I've done this many times. your fine, just make a nice smooth patch and with good welds like anything else.
Reply:Be real interesting if you heat the inner tube enough to melt it at the weld spotRust problems will be the least of your worries  About a bazzillion gallons of Calcium Chloride on the ground will at least make you forget about the hole in the rimAt least I ASSUME you've got an inner tube in there  Running Chloride in a tubless would be a sure recipe for disaster"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Hey mich, what size shoes does the 1020 wear? a quick search got me 8.3x24 for ag tires but it also can turf tires and thats a differnt combo another optionhttps://www.tractorpartsasap.com/7_x...m_p/103781.htmhttp://www.chalkers.net/parts.htmlAs for fixing the originals sure can just remember to smooth any patchwork out nice as the new tube will spend its life rubbing against the patch.   a good clean for the entire rim wouldn't hurt.if your going to do a refill with calcium Cacl2 you can try pool stores for a better price over the ag store
Reply:Thanks for the comments and links guys!  The tractor has turf tires on it and they are 13.6-16 tires.  I am guessing that they hold about 20 gallons of fluid per tire.  I have new used tire that are on rims, but the rims are for a 1230 Massey and the bolt pattern is wrong.  These rims and tires are not loaded and are in great shape.  If I go thru all this, I would like to go with Rimguard rather that the junk that is in there, but I will have to get rid of whatever is in there somehow.  My father-in-law made a set years back to remove the fluid out of his JD 2010 when we restored it.  I am going to check and see if he still has it lying around.  Then I just need to come up with a barrel and the time to mess with it.  I hope to patch the bad spot in the rim and have them sandblasted and repaint them inside and out.  Then go with new tubes and the new used tires with the rimguard.
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammBe real interesting if you heat the inner tube enough to melt it at the weld spotRust problems will be the least of your worries  About a bazzillion gallons of Calcium Chloride on the ground will at least make you forget about the hole in the rimAt least I ASSUME you've got an inner tube in there  Running Chloride in a tubless would be a sure recipe for disaster
Reply:Originally Posted by MichgrizThanks for the comments and links guys!  The tractor has turf tires on it and they are 13.6-16 tires.  I am guessing that they hold about 20 gallons of fluid per tire.  I have new used tire that are on rims, but the rims are for a 1230 Massey and the bolt pattern is wrong.  These rims and tires are not loaded and are in great shape.  If I go thru all this, I would like to go with Rimguard rather that the junk that is in there, but I will have to get rid of whatever is in there somehow.  My father-in-law made a set years back to remove the fluid out of his JD 2010 when we restored it.  I am going to check and see if he still has it lying around.  Then I just need to come up with a barrel and the time to mess with it.  I hope to patch the bad spot in the rim and have them sandblasted and repaint them inside and out.  Then go with new tubes and the new used tires with the rimguard.
Reply:Yeah as the others said you can do it. My neighbor restores old john deere tractors (A's, B's, 420, etc) he has about 10 or 12 of them restored and that many or more sitting outside his shop. Anyway, I have welded most of the rims on them as they were restoring them and only one leak so far (knock on wood).Clean the area up really well and begin the repair.  here's a couple pics I took of some of his tractors...a Model A and a Model 50 Attached ImagesLast edited by Goat Driver; 02-06-2013 at 11:43 AM.
Reply:Yes I would be removing the tires from the rims, I kind of thought that was self explanatory. Plus in doing this I am going to be getting rid of the old dry rotted weather checked tires and replacing them with the much nicer used ones I already have.  I got the tires thrown in when I bought the tractor four years ago; I have just been putting the project off.  Now I waited too long and I have to do it between snowfalls.  I use the tractor for plowing my driveway, and that’s about it in the winter.  It also needs a new battery and starter so the wife isn't going to be happy.
Reply:Originally Posted by Michgriz... It also needs a new battery and starter so the wife isn't going to be happy.
Reply:When dad had to fill the rear tires of his compact, he went to a truck shop, and met the tire guy there with the tractor - they just pumped from the used anti-freeze tank. Not quite as heavy as chloride, but free.Bruce
Reply:I may run them empty for a while and see how it goes, I doubt I will like it as I have a loader on the front.  The biggest issue will be timing everything between snow storms.  The guy I use for sandblasting is sooo slow and crazy hard to get a hold of, but he gives a fair price.  Then I will need to brush paint them in the basement where its warm.  Man do I miss my heated shop at the old house.  I wish I could just find some new rims for it.
Reply:Originally Posted by MichgrizYes I would be removing the tires from the rims, I kind of thought that was self explanatory.
Reply:I also thought that by saying I was going to weld both sides that would get the point across.  On that note I have seen the videos of people welding on rims with tires on them...duh.  Darwin hard at work I guess.  By the tire wrapped around it comment I was implying when its all done and put back together it will be holding pressure to some extent.
Reply:Originally Posted by MichgrizI also thought that by saying I was going to weld both sides that would get the point across.  On that note I have seen the videos of people welding on rims with tires on them...duh.  Darwin hard at work I guess.  By the tire wrapped around it comment I was implying when its all done and put back together it will be holding pressure to some extent.
Reply:The bulk of new tractor rims come from Unverferth Manufacturing, you might try to contact them.
Reply:why you dont weld on an inflated tire for those who havent seen it
Reply:Yep that is the video I saw, the crazy part is the delay just when you think you are done and set to go....BOOM!.  I measured my rims quickly in the dark last night, looks like the are 16" dia. 10" wide have a 3 5/8 piolt hole and a 6 bolt pattern 5 1/2" from bolt center to bolt center (across the piolt hole)  Any ideas where I can find some?  I looked on the Unverferth website, but I didn't see anything about rims / wheels.
Reply:Another option hope the link worksat a 2000lb weight rating per wheel and a tractor listed as 2300lb max at 25/75 front/rear weight that still leaves 2275lb capacity for your lift and i didn't find its capacity but i can only guess its not that much (the MF 1700 series that looks to be the newer 1020 is only rated to lift 1190lb.)With backspacing options from 2.5 through 5 inch.Wheel tech for anyone that wants to know about backspacing.
Reply:I had that same thought, but the center hole is too large.  I guess I could have some sort of an adapter made or something.  That would be pretty cool to have my tractor rolling on some dubs. Just wish the rest of it looked that good.
Reply:Originally Posted by Michgriz I looked on the Unverferth website, but I didn't see anything about rims / wheels.
Reply:I'M not sure of what you have at hand for tooling or access to  but having a pair of simple rings turned and a thin backer sheet that extends out to the lugs shouldn't cost much.
Reply:Yeah, that’s the crazy part.  I design plastic injection molds and die cast dies for a living.  Yet in the past when I have wanted something like this done our customers (tool shops) what to make huge money in the process.  Last time I went thru a guy that sourced something out to China for me, took forever but I couldn't complain it was free.  I hope I can figure out a way to make it thru winter, and then I will have more time to mess with it in the spring.  We have about 4 or 5 inches on the ground since noon and we are supposed to get another 5-7 yet tonight.  Then even more snow tomorrow.  If all else fails my neighbor has a plow on his truck, but he is in process of moving so I hate to bother him.  I could be in for a lot of shoveling tonight 750ft driveway
Reply:ya were due for 6" tonight and another 12" tomorrow so I'm told, i use a 660 Grizzly with 53" moose plow myself with a John Deere 1120 with loader as backup.i Know exactly what you mean about getting parts made, if i am in NO rush i can get simple parts made free like special bushing sizes and stuff a friend does them at work in his dead time. but parts that take time and of a larger size i have to pay a shop. wish i could drop some cash on a lathe of my own, used to use the one the towing company i worked for had on the off hours (closed)  free.Well she held together for another round of plowing.  I used to use a 03 Grizzly 660 with a 60" cycle country plow, but I wore that plow out at the old house.  It was my back up, but the CDI box took a dump and then took out the digital dash with it.  Got the CDI fixed, but still need to do the dash.  I don't use it enough to justify the $400.  I would fix it now in this situation, but its stored at a friends house in the very back corner of a pole barn behind all the rest of my crap.I did discover tonight that part of my problem it the valve stem is not sealing 100%, so I don't think that it is leaking aboud the stem as bad as I thought it was.  Have fun playing in the snow!
Reply:Those are beautiful photographs. They look HDR to me--is that right? I love it when HDR is done well.
Reply:Well it's not quite the same as the other pictures in this post, but here is a picture of my snow removal rig.  I ended up plowing with it twice last nigh, I would guess around a foot of snow.  Then when I was done I had a friend shoot me a text asking if I could weld up a piece of the three point on his tractor.  So about Midnight I was out in the garage doing a little repair work for him.  No pictures of that my cell battery didn't make it. :-( Attached Images
Reply:Originally Posted by joshuabardwellThose are beautiful photographs. They look HDR to me--is that right? I love it when HDR is done well.
Reply:Goat, you can hijack all you want with cool tractor pictures.  Those are awesome.  I have a relative that has a bunch of 60's case tractors.  We take the kids to the tractor shows he goes to all the time, I think I enjoy it more than the kids do.  Restoring an old tractor is on the to do list.  A little off subject but here is my favorite picture of my truck. Attached Images
Reply:Originally Posted by MichgrizGoat, you can hijack all you want with cool tractor pictures.  Those are awesome.  I have a relative that has a bunch of 60's case tractors.  We take the kids to the tractor shows he goes to all the time, I think I enjoy it more than the kids do.  Restoring an old tractor is on the to do list.  A little off subject but here is my favorite picture of my truck.
Reply:Wicked action picture!Love the trucks as well. pretty to close to what i want.these are pretty darn close to what i want2010+ Ram3500 4x4 Dually quad cab with long box with as little chrome as possible and a deck something like this Attached Images
Reply:Originally Posted by MichgrizWell she held together for another round of plowing. . .  Have fun playing in the snow!