Welding Pitman arm. (2 Viewers)

[Downey]

Since this is a"bushing" post that metamorphed into a "welding" post, I'll just end my contribution by stating that certified welders can very successfully weld cast iron to mild steel- - - all in the technique and wire used, so definitely no issue welding mild steel to cast or forged steel.

 

[Pin_Head]

But the title of the thread is still "Welding Pitman arm".

There is no cast iron involved here, but it is never good to weld cast iron. You only do it when you have to.

 

[Tigerstripe40]

Since this is a"bushing" post that metamorphed into a "welding" post, I'll just end my contribution by stating that certified welders can very successfully weld cast iron to mild steel- - - all in the technique and wire used, so definitely no issue welding mild steel to cast or forged steel.

First, I know that you can weld cast iron using a nickel stick welding electrode and preheating the cast iron piece.
My question was primarily if the steering arms are typically Iron or Steel.

If steel, my plan was to weld the hole closed, heat the whole thing to cherry red with the O/A torch, then put it in a bucket of sand for a few days to slowly cool. After it had cooled, I was going to drill out a new hole then have it tapered.

That was the initial plan.

 

[Pin_Head]

It is definitely forged steel. You would not use cast iron, nodular iron or even cast steel in this application. While you can weld cast iron it almost always compromises its strentht and ductility. The exception is OA welding cast iron with cast iron filler under the same cooling characteristics under which it was originally cast.

If you weld up the hole and drill it and taper it, it will fit, but you will lose the strenght due to the forging process in the part that was welded no matter how you cool it or heat treat it. Whether the result is strong enough is up to you.

 

[pbgbottle]

Bump I’ll add a pic.

 

[MOTOV8R]

Thank you for the decade later update

I have seen a few arms like the one pictured. They seem to have held up OK but I think there are better options.

 

[archie73]

Bump I’ll add a pic.

View attachment 3903052

So are you then using just the upper hole? Or are you running a bolt through both and have a “double shear” situation? If the first, that seems like a sketchy moment arm on the welded area. I’m not saying it wouldn’t work, just makes me stretch my head.