how to weld draw bar

7018 DCEP works very well.

Take a torch and preheat before welding. Heat too about 1100º then let air cool. This will stress relieve the metal before welding and removes oil and grease that can add carbon to the weld area making it brittle.

You would want to heavy tack weld ( about 1-1/2" long) the bar in several places to a welding bench or rail iron before welding as this would keep the bar from warping during welding.

Let the bar completely air cool to the touch before removing from the bench/rail iron.

Something is going to ware out using a draw bar. Since the draw bar is the cheapest and easiest to repair, I would not add any type of hard facing to the draw bar.

I've written several articles on welding over on the Tool Forum that you might want to read thru. Doing a search for "weld" brings up the most results.

T_Bone

Hard to expand on what Thurlow has said as it sounds like a good repair. With a grinder the new one can be blended to match the other side.

I would not butt weld the old piece without drilling the pin/bar about 1" both ways then adding a short piece of 3/8" or 1/2" rod then welding. I would "V" grove the pin/bar to the cross pin then weld.

This would help align the pin to the bar as well add strength to the joint. If the old pin was a tad short then you could also set it at the correct length.

T_Bone