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Welding an axle

M

Mtjohnso

Member
Was backing a load of hay into the barn with the Farmall Super A
when all of a sudden the right rear wheel falls off and axle housing
landed on the edge of the tire. The axle had broke. Near the edge of
the housing.
The axle is 2 1/4 inches in diameter at his point, but there was only
about 3/4 of an inch of bright steel holding it together. The rest of the
broken area was discolored with oil residue. So it had been waiting
to fail for a long time.
I am looking around for a good used one. However has anyone
chucked one up into a lathe, cleaned it up and rewelded one
successfully. I have seen you tubes of people in foreign countries
doing this but you wonder how long it will last.
 
Properly welded, it will last forever. To properly weld the axle, you will need to grind both ends to be tapered. The center would not have to be a sharp point, but you want to be small enough that when you weld it that you have very close to one hundred percent penetration. To taper the inner portion you might be getting very close to the surface that the seal rides on. Naturally you want to avoid getting close to it.

You can make a fixture to hold both parts in alignment to each other. As you weld, keep rotating it in the fixture to verify that it is still straight. If the welding draws it away from straight, straighten it and keep welding until it is finished. If the tractor rides like a clown car, buy a replacement.
 
WOW, with the 2 1/4 diameter axle, that should be a 8 or 10 ton rated trailer,but i know metal doesn't break all at once,can you get a jack under it, take the stub in,and have a blacksmith make a new one, or go to Pioneer Wheel, or shoups ! Is that a 8 bolt hub?
 
For the effort to weld it straight and the potential for subsequent failure, I would find a used axle. Bates equipment in Bourbon Indiana is one potential source. Shipping should not be terrible sa it is kinda short. Jim
 
it could be done , but not something the ordinary person would do. and to have a machine shop do that would way out price the axle value. for comparison could buy one for 100.00 or spend 1000.00 to repair one.
 
just change it not worth the time and will cost more for a machine shop to weld it then finding a used one and then you know it should be almost like new
 
Dont know where you are located but Kaddatz, near Hillsboro, TX has an A. Take a look.
cvphoto119617.png
 
Unless it is just to say you did it I would just put a different axle in. Not worth the work and rod to do it. If you do decide it has to be welded I would tack it together check for straighten then grind or cut out the sides then weld them then do the other two sides and weld them up then round up after welding. Will be about the easiest way to do and keep straight.
 
Most anything can be done with metal, but it would be difficult to do that right without a whole lot of expense and time. Strong weld, proper hardness, and keep a round shaft straight. These are many things going Gainst you on the average backyard, or even semi pro, getting it right.

Get a replacement!

IHC had undersized and probe to brittleness axles in those years, dad had 2 break under him on slightly bigger tractor,; neighbor was going down the pavement with a mounted picker on a bigger tractor and he wasnt known to drive slow, when the axle broke on him. I guess that was a ride!

Buy a replacement.

Paul
 
I know a talented guy that could do it. He's one of those guys that always like a challenge, and pretty much can tackle anything he tares into.

But ....., his bill would easily surpass what you could find a used one for + shipping.

My welding capabilities --- the weld would break as soon as I let the jack back down upon completion.
 
Mtjohnso ,Replace it for your safety and best results.A axle is heat treated for proper hardness from the outside inward.Just welding one would leave the area prone to breakage again.
 
Is there a Hot-Rod shop or driveshaft shop near you? Those guys cut and re-weld axles and rear ends for custom cars all the time. Might not cost as much as you think. Worth checking.
 
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