Axle welding?

[onlyonce]

Was told that if I try and weld closed extra bolt holes(for sprockets) on axle that there is a very good possibility that they will break. Are they heat treated? Can they be welded and if so how? I was thinking about putting a copper plug half way up hole and welding one half then attacking the hole from the other side to fill it up. Thanks

[Amphiman1]

axle

Hi what axle do you need?
this is the best route to take , get a new one....

[Mike]

What 6 wheeler are you working with?

[onlyonce]

Working with a 89 Max IV with 1 1/4" axles.

[brushcutter]

I have welded one of my Hustler axles twice, and partially welded, then redrilled the holes in two axles and one sprocket. The axle that broke was due to heavy pushing ( brush) with a dozer blade. I quit using the blade and have had no problems since - about 30 hours. But as far as welding the hole solid I don't think would be a good idea unless you have access to a TIG or MIG with gas.Cleaning the slag between passes is a must and almost impossible to do in the confines of a 3/8" hole. The processes that I mentioned would eliminate the slag problem but you are still limited to a very small work area.

I use flux cored .035 mig.

For what it's worth here's my advice: Take amphimans offer; get a good axle installed so you can ride, then use the old one to practice and experiment. I have the advantage of being able to ride near my house so I can (AND HAVE HAD TO) limp back home. So I am a little more free with what I can try. Some guys have to drive some distance to a place to offload and ride and it's no fun to break something any place. Especially an hour from home and 15 minutes into the ride.BTDT

[jerseybigfoot]

you are better off leaving the hole in the axle and drilling the sprocket and axle in a different position. You can preheat the axle to weld it other wise it may warp due to the weld shrinking when the weld cools. Probably better to replace the axle. you can save the flange and weld it to a new piece of material and make your own axle. I made removable flanges from stock axles for my Hustler by cutting the axle about an inch from the flange and machining a sleeve to slip over axle stub and pinning it to the new axle material. The flange was then welded to sleeve.

[geojanitor]

I've welded and re-welded almost every part of my max II including 2 axles. I had to cut out two of the axles so that is my experience welding on them. I have the hollow axles so I just machined a pin that would press fit into the axles, cut a grove where they mated up, welded up and turned down in a lathe. They have held so far and have taken a pretty fair beating. I ran one good bead in a deep grove with 6010 and made a second pass with 7018. I don't think you would have a problem welding back up the holes but that is just my opinion. I would rotate the axle around though like a previous post mentioned and drill you sprocket holes in a new location though.