Welding on tractor

Spotted Horse · May 7, 2011

Will welding on a Farmall M risk damaging the tractor's electrical system?

old · May 7, 2011

They say it is a good idea to disconnect the battery when doing so but I have never had any problems with them connect or disconnected. So simple answer is not likely

Rusty wheel · May 7, 2011

I think it depends on the path the current is going to take but I'm not sure. I'd unhook the battery just to be safe. Also unhook the ground strap.

Jerry/MT · May 7, 2011

I"m certainly no expert but I was told to keep the ground conection as close as possible to the place where you are welding to minmize stray current damage. I would disconnect the battery completly(+ and - terminals) If I had one with lots of electronics I"d try to remove what I was welding from the tractor. Maybe a real welder could answer the question more factually.

JOB · May 7, 2011

If your tractor has a generator on it and you are welding with an AC machine remove the generator. If you don't you will be polarizing the genertor to make it generate power again. If you are weldimg with a DC machine you should be all right. On the safe side remove the negative cable if you are welding on a newer tractor with an alternator. I have welded on alternator equiped equipment without removing the battery cable without any ill effects.

barnE · May 7, 2011

Not a tractor, but on lots of industrial machinery, I have had sealtite and other flex conduit and wiring burn up because of stray current paths. Like someone said, connect ground as close as possible to welding area. BTDT. Also had a 77 ford truck, ran sickly for long time. When ready to sell, welded the sliding door shut to keep from losing it. Heard a big noise while welding and thereafter it ran so good, almost kept it. Dave

teddy52food · May 7, 2011

I have never heard of that one before. How close to the generator are you welding? I always clamp the ground as close as possible to the weld so you have full power. If you would lay a cable over the generator while welding, it may lose polarity, otherwise not.

Spotted Horse · May 7, 2011

Actually my Farmall M is set up with an altenator, and it also has electronic ignition.
I need to do some welding on the front weight bracket.

teddy52food · May 8, 2011

Clamp the ground to a clean spot on the bracket & weld away. How is that current going to go to the alternator?

old · May 8, 2011

Very simple disconnect the battery and make sure both cables do not touch any thing. That way there is no way welding can harm any thing because you have an open circuit not a closed one

jdtractor · May 8, 2011

just be sure the battery is disconnected, i done lots of welding and this is the safest way . you wont overcharge the system

bruster · May 8, 2011

Definitely disconnect the battery! I did plenty of welding on trailers hooked to trucks with computerized engines, and nothing is harmed when you do this.

Welding on tractor

Spotted Horse

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old

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Rusty wheel

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Jerry/MT

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JOB

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barnE

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teddy52food

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Spotted Horse

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teddy52food

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old

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jdtractor

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bruster

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