boom crack

wrecd · Apr 21, 2010

evening fellas

i found a hairline crack in the boom of my 580e.

what would it take to fix this? i've found a used boom for $650.

im not sure what to do at this point.:beatsme

Phil · Apr 21, 2010

I believe that is quite repairable. There are some welders here, the recent thread on the Ford 555 brought them out. It's possible that the casting goes up into the tubing a bit. The crack could be veed easily with a torch or ground out. I use dry 7018 and a DC stick welder on reverse polarity. If you don't have a lot of experience welding, I would get a welder to come out and do it for you. Phil

daman · Apr 21, 2010

Yep very fixable.....

grind her out good "V" pre heat, root pass 6011 then top fill multi pass with 7018 cool slow.

fish plate if feel needed.

wrecd · Apr 21, 2010

thanks guys

im glad to hear its repairable. i'm gona see if i can get someone to weld this for me. any ideas of what a welder would charge for something like this?

daman · Apr 21, 2010

Boy that simple repair i would think not much at all.

xcmark · Apr 22, 2010

figure under $400 for a guy that does this type of work for a living. Pre heat and a wide fillet with multible passes will take 3~4 hours, again let it cool slow useing a torch to keep some heat in the area.

SouthOnBeach · Apr 23, 2010

it's a pretty easy fix like everyone has said. just don't let anyone that thinks they know how to weld do it. get a really good welder to do it.

Scott Hightower · Apr 25, 2010

After you perform the repair as recommended by the previous posts take it one step further and add a fish plate overtop of the welded area. Use a 3/8" thick plate 8" x 8" and place it on a diagonal. Never hurts to add a little insurance.
Scott
www.welders360.com http://www.welders360.com/

wrecd · Apr 25, 2010

i appreciate all the input guys. so far i've exhausted all my friends and family an no one knows any "good" welders.

i guess my next step is going to the phone book. could any of you guys give me some pointers on what type of questions to ask a welder to find if he is any good?

i have been interested in learning to weld for some time now. i could probably spend near $1000 usd to get started. is it even close to reasonable to think i may be able to do this myself???

thanks for the link Scott, im gona check that site out.

maytag · Apr 25, 2010

You might check with a local vo-tech school if they have a welding program.
Some of the students that are further along in the program might tackle this project-might be a place where you could learn also. I attended one of these schools many years ago and it has served me well.

Good luck,
Maytag

daman · Apr 25, 2010

Wow there's no one around you that does any fabricating/selling steel welding supplies?

dirt digger · Apr 25, 2010

where in PA are you located? i know a few good guys in the Philly area

ADMSWELDING · Apr 25, 2010

Been there,Done that..

Air arc out the crack,grind,weld.Pre heat not needed the air gouging will put enough heat into that to weld it up.Very fixable,been welding 25yrs trust me thats all you need.

2hrs max. $150-$200 is about the price range.

wrecd · Apr 25, 2010

daman said:
Wow there's no one around you that does any fabricating/selling steel welding supplies?

there are a few. i just dont know any welders personally or have anyone i know that will vouch for one. i dont know anything about welding and wouldn't know what to ask a prospective welder about his credentials. :beatsme i'd hate to pay some guy to do a poor job with me none the wiser.

ADMSWELDING · Apr 25, 2010

wrecd said:
there are a few. i just dont know any welders personally or have anyone i know that will vouch for one. i dont know anything about welding and wouldn't know what to ask a prospective welder about his credentials. :beatsme i'd hate to pay some guy to do a poor job with me none the wiser.

If the guy don,t have at least a 300Amp engine drive and own a air arc torch.Chances are he hasn,t fixed much heavy equipment before.

Orchard Ex · Apr 25, 2010

wrecd said:
i appreciate all the input guys. so far i've exhausted all my friends and family an no one knows any "good" welders.

i guess my next step is going to the phone book. could any of you guys give me some pointers on what type of questions to ask a welder to find if he is any good?

Have you stopped in your local welding supply shop and asked them who they would recommend? If you have more than one welding supply in town, stop at each one and see if the same names come up.

2stickbill · Apr 25, 2010

Wish you were close.I know a dang good one.First time we used him.He drove up in a beat up old truck got out and the first thing he unloaded was his chair and fan.Everybody looked at each other said we are in trouble now.We used him for every job since because when he said it's done it was.Never had a weld to break every thing fit right.I remember one guy asked him can you weld this where it will hold? Old man said yep and give you a life time guarantee too.He was slow but never redone his jobs.

Phil · Apr 26, 2010

I think the admswelding chap has got it right on. I've welded some stress cracks on earth movers and dozers, but never had the luxury of an air-arc. I like the old Lincoln 200 and 300 amp welders, they have a real nice arc. Personally I don't think I'd fish plate it unless I had to. It's probably the most important weld on your E, just get a pro to do it.

For the beginner, a mig welder is nice, much easier to learn with than a stick, and good for bodywork. For under $1k maybe one of the 220V ones, that you can carry, also buy your own tank with mig gas. Get a name brand, the blue or red one, I think there is one other that's good also. Be sure to ask the guys on 'Shop Floor Talk' forum, in the welding section. Phil

TD-5 · Apr 26, 2010

Just Curious, What is that tack welded along the bottom side of the boom?

ADMSWELDING · Apr 26, 2010

Phil said:
I think the admswelding chap has got it right on. Thank you Phil.Guys this does not need a fish plate.A deep gouge with a carbon arc rod,grind,weld and your good to go.

boom crack

Well-Known Member

Senior Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Senior Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Senior Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Super Moderator

Senior Member

Senior Member

Well-Known Member

Attachments

Well-Known Member