Chain Anchor

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My customer got a ticked by the Department of Transportation.  He needs 5 chains to hold his excavator on the trailer because of the weight of the machine.  He asked me to weld a hook onto that skinny little 1/8 piece of diamond plate.  I said Naaaa.  So here is what I did.  Field work, Ranger 250 raining on and off.Here is the plate, kind of thin, so I decided the pieces on the edge would give me something to grab onto.  Channel is 3" 5 lb/ft.First of course is have my way with it using the mikita 4.5" grinderFirst pass on the end, 3/32 hobart 7018 from tractor supply.  I went up on each end and met in the middle on top.  All rod was fresh out of the oven before I left for the job.  I had to keep a glove over the can of rod to keep the rain out.Second passSettings... about 90 amps.Last edited by David R; 07-26-2008 at 05:15 PM.Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:First pass on anchor.  The mount is pre beveled.  This time was 1/8" Lincoln 7018 H4MR or something like that, Lincoln's best.Second passMy "little" stinger with #2 cable for jobs like this and Good quality ground.Settings for 1/8", about 135 or so ampsFinished with a "baked on" enamel finishThanks for watching.David Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Looks like you nailed it down plenty good. So they wanted a fifth attachment, which is on the back? I suppose to help prevent forward movement?
Reply:Yeah, another chain.  They have to use 2 chains and 2 binders on the blade instead of one across the blade, 2 more chains and binders on the back and one on the stick.New York State DOT.  Go figure.I forgot to add 1.5 hours including travel.  I get a 1.5 minimum anyhow.  Do I get 2 hours if its raining?DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Hey Dave - gauge says you're 'bout outta gas... oops too late... empty!Gotta love DOT.  They should be happy now.Did DOT shut him down until you got him fixed up?Last edited by duaneb55; 07-26-2008 at 05:39 PM.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Originally Posted by duaneb55Hey Dave - gauge says you're 'bout outta gas... oops too late... empty!Gotta love DOT.  They should be happy now.
Reply:Originally Posted by David RMy old machine held 3 gallons.  This one holds 12.  This is one reason I bought a new machine.  The old one wouldn't make it to lunch time with out having to be refilled.  I HATE carrying gas on a welding truck.  When the gauge on this one says empty, its got 3 to 4 gallons left.  I can run 2 regular days on a full tank.  Less if I have it cranked way up.   Whattamachine!DOT will never be happy.David
Reply:Originally Posted by duaneb55I guess they figured if you went through 3 gallons of bug juice it was time to stop and eat.I edited my last post so I don't know if you noticed I was wondering if they shut the guy down until you installed the anchor?
Reply:Been there done that.  Used to work part time (after my regular job ) for a company south of Syracuse and we'd get 3 or 4 calls at once when the DOT station was open.  We had a 'shop on wheels' we'd pull in with and go to work - sometimes for hours.  Stocked trailer springs, brake drums, seals, tires, etc.  Did everything from changing light bulbs, complete brake jobs, bolting crossmembers back in, you name it on the spot before they'd release the rig.  Occassionaly a driver waited until the DOT boys left and tried to drive off and they'd impound his rig down the road and we'd get called again to go haul it in while they hauled the driver off .MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:I have seen propane trucks red tagged for a "loose" bolt holding the bulk tank on.If you changed springs on the road, your kahunas are bigger than mine!DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Looks like it should do a good job for them.In New Mexico I made a lot of calls where they tagged them out of service until repaired. Never at the Port always on the road and occasionally on unpaved roads. When I first started doing them when I finished the boss would call them and the officer would come inspect it before the driver or I could leave. After I had been doing them for a while the re-inspection part stopped. If I said it was good to go they could roll it. I do quite a bit of work on trucks and trailers down here in LA including repairing violations. A lot of times if they mail in a copy of the work ticket for the repair they will drop the fine.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:Originally Posted by David RI have seen propane trucks red tagged for a "loose" bolt holding the bulk tank on.If you changed springs on the road, your kahunas are bigger than mine!David
Reply:Nice work!!
Reply:I think the car haulers must be the worst for cracks and broken welds. Every part of the trailer moves. I had one in that had the whole back corner broken, frame and all. Someone else had welded on it before. The driver couldn't believe I couldn't fix it in an hour like the last weldor had. Of course I told him it wasn't fixed the last time or he wouldn't be here now.
Reply:Originally Posted by SandyLooks like you nailed it down plenty good. So they wanted a fifth attachment, which is on the back? I suppose to help prevent forward movement?
Reply:David, your welds cleaned up really nicely. Were you wire wheeling them a bit, or was the slag just peeling off cleanly??And then, after so much work...... you have it in your hand, and you look over to your side...... and the runner has run off. Leaving you holding the prize, wondering when the runner will return.
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWMost likely to chain the bucket down. Regs also require a maximum number of feet between chains. One DOT guy got in a fight with my old boss over how far apart the chains were on our track hoe. The DOT guy insisted they had to be closer together. We asked him if he wanted us to toss the chain over the cab or thru the windows as you couldn't get solid point on the machine any closer together. He felt satisfied after we tossed on 2 more chains, neither of which really added much.
Reply:Originally Posted by RojodiabloDavid, your welds cleaned up really nicely. Were you wire wheeling them a bit, or was the slag just peeling off cleanly??
Reply:David R,  I'll second that notion about rod fresh out of the oven and run at the right heat.  The last couple of jobs I've worked, the 7018 wasn't stored in an oven.  (Yes, I know it always should be.  I'm not looking to start a debate, so you purists just leave this one alone)  It just doesn't run the same or clean up as easy when it isn't fresh out of an oven and hot to the touch.Benson's Mobile Welding - Dayton, OH metro area - AWS Certified Welding Inspector
Reply:David, looks great!  I like the finish, too, very professional!Have a Jeep Cherokee?  Click Here!
Reply:3" 5 pound/ft channel is nominal 1/4 inch thick 'base'.Yeah, that will be better than tying in the d-ring to 1/8 thick plate.Any reason you left the skip welds on the joint between the channel and the diamond plate?  Not so much for strength, but to close off a seam from water/salt and later rust.  Or is that just a lighting artifact making it look like weld-skip-weld-skip-weld?  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:Yeah MoonRise, I wish the base was thicker, but options were limited.  It was stronger than welding a piece of plate over the original.The welds to the 1/8" plate were just for looks.  They do very little.  I thought DOT might like to see the channel welded to the 1/8 diamond plate.  I couldn't seal it anyhow because the bottom is open.  I did run 2 sticks of 3/32 on the front side too.  Not much room to get a rod in there and not at the proper angle.Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:As far as safety goes, 5 chains isn't asking too much.  PennDOT requires 6 chains and binders.WeldingWeb forum--now more sophomoric banter than anything else!