Broken loader

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My brothers little old loader has a broken suspension piece.The pivoting cradle that connects to the rear drive axle.It will be expensive to haul in to fix.The part is about 1" thick and 5" wide,and vertical is the majority of the welding involved.The only welder he has that is portable,is a Miller Roughneck 2e.What would be the best guess as to repair method and rod to use ?Here is a photo of the loader.The Black Hills of South Dakota are about 60miles in the back ground.And old ranch pickups are setting everywhere. Attached Images
Reply:The Roughneck 2E is an AC machine IIRC. It would not be my 1st choice for something like this. I'd probably want a DC capable machine myself.It's hard to say exactly how I'd do this not seeing the problem. My guess is I'd want to gouge out the crack, then grind and weld it back up. Given a choice, I'd probably want to do it from both sides. Tacking one side to line everything up, and then gouge out 1/2 the material from the opposite side and weld, then gouge out the  opposite side where you did the tacks and run the welds the rest of the way out.Most of the cracks we chased out of the backhoe and our big loader we did with 8018 or better. We have a friend who does nothing but weld on heavy equipment and that's what he brought over when he came over to help us with the repairs.If I had no choice but to use an AC machine, I'd use 7018AC to do the repair. I've never tried to run  8018 on an AC machine, but I'm pretty sure it's a DC rod not an AC one..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Hey Blue,you can rent bigger engine driven welders if you need to.and post up a pic of the repair area.Lincoln SA 200Esab Caddy 160Thermal Arc 201TSMiller Dialarc HFI don't like making plans for the day because then the word "premeditated" gets thrown around the courtroom....
Reply:Thanks DSW,I will pass on the info.A larger Rental welder would be the way to go,but.The nearest rental place is about 100miles away,and the loader is about another 50miles away.So the picking up and returning of the welder, and the rest would add at least 500miles travel expense and the hours involved.The rental would be added to that,so pretty bad news,on a job that didn't pay a lot anyway.
Reply:Pictures of the damaged area in question may get you better suggestions on how to go about this repair and what equipment to use. If you had your location a little more specific, there may be a forum member in your area that has a machine more capable to do this repair that may help or let you use or rent it, worth a shot.
Reply:Sell the classic pickup to an old car enthusiast and use the new found wealth to have the loader hauled back to the shop! - MondoMember, AWSLincoln ProMIG 140Lincoln AC TombstoneCraftsman Lathe 12 x 24 c1935Atlas MFC Horizontal MillCraftsman Commercial Lathe 12 x 36 c1970- - - I'll just keep on keepin' on.
Reply:Originally Posted by MondoSell the classic pickup to an old car enthusiast and use the new found wealth to have the loader hauled back to the shop! - Mondo
Reply:Looks like an old Hough or Michigan loader Would need to see pics of the breakBacked my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:An old 175 Michigan.My brother may have found an oilfield welder,with a large welder.He says he can gouge and weld it, as long as it isn't cast iron.So I guess we will see how it goes.Thanks to all for the suggestions.
Reply:Assuming the work will be done under the engine, keep plenty of fire extinguishers handy. If you get a bunch of oil soaked dirt/ debris afire the crack will be moved to the very bottom of the list of priorities.                                                            MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:It is not by the engine,but it is a grease ball.Oil soaked is an understatement.If we scrape it first,it is probably a 3 fire extinguisher job.
Reply:All that oil/grease will have to go if you want any chance of having a decent weld. I spent an entire 8 hr day once with a putty knife, a wire brush, some scruggie pads, rags, a can of mineral spirits and a can of acetone degreasing the inside and out of the boom on an extend-a-hoe that had to be welded up..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Yeah,there will be most of a day of prep work.Have to clean the crack lift the loader and pull things back into position and tack them.Dirty painted metal,that has been welded poorly by someone else.Has to be ground, gouged and roundly cussed before it can be fixed.Seems most of the time,the prep and cleanup take more time than the actual job.
Reply:I had to build a complete cradle for a 175 as there are none to be found in the USA according to the customer.
Reply:Originally Posted by lars66I had to build a complete cradle for a 175 as there are none to be found in the USA according to the customer.
Reply:I too vote to pull the axle and tipper complete.Otherwise that'll be one miserable inaccessible greasy job to repair while together.Just aks Lars66.Push down with the bucket to raise the front airborne; then crib up just ahead of the steer axle; then raise the bucket and the rear will cantilever into the air.Good Luck
Reply:Originally Posted by BlueweldersLet's hope we can get it going ,short of that.Even if we have to lift the body and pull the rear axle out to work it.Once you knock the pivot pins out,there are just 8 big bolts holding the cradle onto the rear axle.Still, it gets into the ever expanding number of days a job will take,and 100miles round trip on a field repair.It will probably be "The usual ",no good way to do it,just varying levels of pain.
Reply:Thanks for the info,we will take a good close look at the pivots.I don't think we will need a jig,but it is good to know such a thing exists.This break is outward of the pin about a foot or so, a relatively  simple job "if" it was pulled out and clean.
Reply:Good luck...........I sure don't miss working on old ranch equipment, although nearly everytime I am home, my father in law has some ancient old piece of equipment that needs a little TLC.  I can almost feel the wind blowing in that picture......don't miss that either.6 Miller Big Blue 600 Air Paks2 Miller 400D6 Lincoln LN-25's4 Miller Xtreme 12VS2 Miller Dimension 812 4 Climax BW-3000Z bore welders Hypertherm 65 and 85Bug-O Track BugPair of Welpers
Reply:Originally Posted by ExpatWelderGood luck...........I sure don't miss working on old ranch equipment, although nearly everytime I am home, my father in law has some ancient old piece of equipment that needs a little TLC.  I can almost feel the wind blowing in that picture......don't miss that either.
Reply:Can anyone explain why the tractor is set up to operate backards?........I know why..........ran quite a few that way.6 Miller Big Blue 600 Air Paks2 Miller 400D6 Lincoln LN-25's4 Miller Xtreme 12VS2 Miller Dimension 812 4 Climax BW-3000Z bore welders Hypertherm 65 and 85Bug-O Track BugPair of Welpers
Reply:and that looks like SWEET coyote calling country!6 Miller Big Blue 600 Air Paks2 Miller 400D6 Lincoln LN-25's4 Miller Xtreme 12VS2 Miller Dimension 812 4 Climax BW-3000Z bore welders Hypertherm 65 and 85Bug-O Track BugPair of Welpers
Reply:Originally Posted by ExpatWelderCan anyone explain why the tractor is set up to operate backards?........I know why..........ran quite a few that way.
Reply:Stackers were tractors,sweeps were usually a pickup with the differential flippedThe sweeps were fast and fun to drive.Kick rakes and side deliveries were for the little kids.
Reply:Here are a couple of photos.First one shows the general area,second shows the fracture and about 3/4" of shear.Don't know when we will find time to pull it,but it's got to be pulled to fix. Attached ImagesOriginally Posted by BlueweldersSeems most of the time,the prep and cleanup take more time than the actual job.
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWAll that oil/grease will have to go if you want any chance of having a decent weld. I spent an entire 8 hr day once with a putty knife, a wire brush, some scruggie pads, rags, a can of mineral spirits and a can of acetone degreasing the inside and out of the boom on an extend-a-hoe that had to be welded up.
Reply:Originally Posted by badvetteA little off subject, but in regards to cleaning I wouldn't use break cleaner. I'm not sure of all the details but I read an article sometime ago about someone who had used break cleaner to clean a repair area on an aluminum fuel tank on a big rig. As I remember he had cleaned the area blew it out with air and let it sit over night. He then welded it up and I think that night he had breathing problems. Anyway it causes permanent repertory and neurological damage. Seems that I remember something about possibly a reaction with the chemical gas off and the argon, again not sure of all the detailsKarl
Reply:Originally Posted by CharleyhorseHere's my understanding of the brake cleaner issue.  There are two kinds you'll find at the auto parts stores.  One is flammable, and is safe to use in welding operations. The hazards with the flammable type cleaner is obvious, you're a lot more likely to start an unwanted fire with it.  The other type is non-flammable and has chlorine based solvents in it. The chlorine solvents, when subjected to extreme heat and other substances present during welding, can produce deadly phosgene gas.