Excavator cracks around grease bath drain

[Brettbidstrup]

Hi, I’ve just purchased a 2nd hand Hyundai r320 and it’s got some bad cracks around the grease drain under the machine. The grease looks new and the ring gear looks new and the deflection on the bearing is well within spec (thankfully), so I’m guessing it’s been changed recently (it’s done 9000hrs) but if has a crack that’s been welded around the drain and I don’t know what would cause that? If anyone had an idea? Terrible crack to wed with grease coming through, so guessing the did a crap job initially and now I have to do it again. Any ideas of why, that would be great

 

[John C.]

Stamped steel pans are never a good thing to put heat on. Clean it as best as you can and use an epoxy to try to seal it up.

 

[Brettbidstrup]

Have you seen this before? What could cause this cracking? Obviously epoxy isn't going to structurally hold it together, so I should just monitor and make sure it doesn't continue to crack?
Cheers

 

[John C.]

The pan is only a tub that holds grease. It isn’t a structural member. I haven’t seen them crack before but have seen them damaged when a swing bearing was replaced. It should have been replaced at that time.

 

[Welder Dave]

Doesn't look like whoever welded had much experience and/or didn't clean it well enough before welding.