B7000 series hydraulic cylinder housing metal type for welding?

[Fri13]

Hi, has anyone successfully welded the B7000 (likely whole B series) bell housing, the lift arms area under seats, that has metal like aluminum?

The metal is some kind a alloy, not pure aluminum. Some google information says it could be some kind ductile cast iron, but it is silvery, non-magnetic, gathers little to no rust, and very porous metal that cracks instead bend. That is possibility, but still it is very light like aluminum.

If someone would have information what type of aluminum the bell housing is, it would be nice as my tractor is going tomorrow for a welding repair in the shop that manufactures everything from aluminum to steels to all kind industries (shipping, heavy machinery etc) and they had challenge to identify the aluminum type. Why they are leaning to either use chemical metal for repair and then rebuild a steel support, that I don't like so much as I try to restore the tractor back to original design as much as possible. The chemical metal is sure work to get small damaged area fixed, but it should have more strength than required for the application, but still don't like it so much than proper welding fix.

Thanks!

 

[GreensvilleJay]

The best way would be to have someone use a hand held spectrometer gun to analyze it. Without a PROPER analysis you don't KNOW which 'aluminum' it is,so the repair might fail. Any big 'shop' either has the gun or KNOWS who does.

 

[Fri13]

The best way would be to have someone use a hand held spectrometer gun to analyze it. Without a PROPER analysis you don't KNOW which 'aluminum' it is,so the repair might fail.

Idea was that if someone has already done successful welding, or have made the analysis, that they could advice that what they used or what type it is as in insight for faster process.
So it would be easy to just message to try specific material for the fix.

Any big 'shop' either has the gun or KNOWS who does.

They know what they are doing, they don't need to use spectrometer or rontgen as they work mainly with standard marked materials that every machine has. We are talking here from 70's machine here, that doesn't have manuals dictating specific standard materials like the modern tractors do list every material in every part here since the 80's.

And yes, they know where they can get it analyzed, but it costs 50€ a pop to do + time and distance to get things tested. Not worth the effort or cost for this purpose, but is beneficial to have such information for the future. At least I thought that if I would find it out, I would share it here for people who might get to similar situation that they need to weld the aluminum parts.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Are you talking this part?
Cast aluminum, not very easy to weld.

As this is the bell housing and it's mild steel.

 

[McMXi]

Hi, has anyone successfully welded the B7000 (likely whole B series) bell housing, the lift arms area under seats, that has metal like aluminum?

The metal is some kind a alloy, not pure aluminum. Some google information says it could be some kind ductile cast iron, but it is silvery, non-magnetic, gathers little to no rust, and very porous metal that cracks instead bend. That is possibility, but still it is very light like aluminum.

If someone would have information what type of aluminum the bell housing is, it would be nice as my tractor is going tomorrow for a welding repair in the shop that manufactures everything from aluminum to steels to all kind industries (shipping, heavy machinery etc) and they had challenge to identify the aluminum type. Why they are leaning to either use chemical metal for repair and then rebuild a steel support, that I don't like so much as I try to restore the tractor back to original design as much as possible. The chemical metal is sure work to get small damaged area fixed, but it should have more strength than required for the application, but still don't like it so much than proper welding fix.

Thanks!

I've welded up aluminum parts of unknown alloy in the past. A lifetime ago I spent months building an aluminum hulled ship in the Honolulu shipyard but we were running MIG all day long. That was an awesome project building an inter-island ferry.

If I had to weld up or try to weld up your bell housing I'd use the TIG torch to get a puddle started, after appropriate cleaning and to see how the metal reacts. I'd pick a spot that wouldn't cause further issues and see if I can get a puddle to form, how the puddle reacts, and how it cools. It would give me an idea as to how dirty the alloy was and whether or not some passes to burn off impurities would be warranted. Then if good, I'd get the puddle going and see if I can dip a filler wire into the puddle. This is how it's done in the real world in welding shops all over the world.

Obviously, if the bell housing is something close to a 7075 alloy you're not going to have fun. If it's closer to a 6061 alloy you should be able to find a shop who can fix it, but casting 6061 type alloys is problematic. This is why you'll learn a lot from trying to get a puddle started.

Here's a welding guide for common aluminum casting alloys.

 

[Fri13]

Are you talking this part?
Cast aluminum, not very easy to weld.

Yes, that part.

That houses the hydraulics and gears etc.

As this is the bell housing and it's mild steel.

View attachment 169571

Thanks, I was thought that was the otherside of the chassis that was it.
Need to fix the subject line for the future.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Yes, that part.

That houses the hydraulics and gears etc.
View attachment 169580




Thanks, I was thought that was the otherside of the chassis that was it.
Need to fix the subject line for the future.

Fixed the original title for you.