Cast iron repair

Don Hanvey · Sep 13, 2014

Working on a Farmall super "C" front end. What the radiator mounts on, it also houses the steering. There is a piece broken out where one of the bolt holes is.
Would brazing another piece of cast iron in be ok?

Steve@Advance · Sep 13, 2014

A picture would be really helpful. Sounds like you're probably going to have no choice but to weld or braze it if there is a piece missing.

Again, not having a picture it's just guessing, but usually you'll want the replacement piece to be larger than the repair so it can be machined or ground down to size after it's welded.

Welding cast is not a job for a novice! Depending on the application it can be an elaborate procedure. Choose your welder carefully!

Don Hanvey · Sep 13, 2014

Would welding be better than brazing?

Steve@Advance · Sep 13, 2014

I would leave that decision up to the weld shop. I've seen some beautiful brazing work done, but not by me! LOL

george md · Sep 13, 2014

Don,

acetylene / oxy with cast iron rod or brazing,

arc weld is your worst choice.

george

Don Hanvey · Sep 13, 2014

Ok,thanks

Bob · Sep 14, 2014

Don, while cast iron certainly can be successfully repaired, you do NOT have a particularly rare tractor and (unless you can repair it yourself) you can probably find a perfect used casting for a reasonable price.

Stephen Newell · Sep 17, 2014

Yes nickel welding cast is better however cast is fickled. One piece might weld great and another may be your worst nightmare. Still it needs to be done by someone experienced with welding cast. If the metal isn't heated first and carefully cooled slowly there is a chance the cast can develop a new break just from welding on it.

greywolf224 · Sep 23, 2014

Just finished brazing a couple of 8N generator front mount brackets which are cast iron. USPS decided to break both during shipping.

Used flux coated bronze rods. The trick to cast iron is to preheat and get the whole piece or at least as large an area as possible as hot as possible before heating up the area to braze. I place smaller pieces on a stove top or in a wood stove to heat up. Larger pieces need to be heated by torch.

Just as important is to slow the cooling process down as much as possible. I bury small pieces in a bucket of sand and leave there over night or wrap up tightly in blankets or towels.
Larger pieces are covered or wrapped with fiber glass insulation, towels blankets what have you.

Cast iron repair

Don Hanvey

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Steve@Advance

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Don Hanvey

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Steve@Advance

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george md

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Don Hanvey

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Bob

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Stephen Newell

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greywolf224

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