Removing spring perches

[Evan]

I'm looking for some tips on removing spring perches on an 8.8. I want to flip them to the other side and reuse them, so they need to remain intact.

I know an angle grinder would work, but might be tricky due to the curve of the axle tube. I was thinking a Dremel with a small cutoff wheel might work well.

Also, I need to get a welder to weld them back on. I only have 115v available in the garage. Would a 115v stick welder be powerful enough to weld spring perches, or will I need a wire-feed?

 

[projectnitemare]

You aren't going to save them. Get on Jegs or Summit and order a new pair, they are like $12.99 plus shipping. Use a grinder to cut them off and smooth the tubes, do not use a torch. The welders you describe will be fine as long as you have decent welding skills.

Matt

 

[JFA_Spyderman]

Yo,
If you have access to a plasma cutter, you might be able to make them clean enough to use them. The problem is that they will have to be reshaped to reuse them.

 

[MAKG]

Also, I need to get a welder to weld them back on. I only have 115v available in the garage. Would a 115v stick welder be powerful enough to weld spring perches, or will I need a wire-feed?

From my very limited experience, a MIG welder (with gas, not the "flux core" BS) is LIGHT YEARS easier to make decent beads with. But then, I'm the stuck-rod king. Perhaps you can rent one?

Most electric appliances in your house have 220V available. Especially very high heat ones like electric ranges and clothes dryers.

 

[brendank]

I'm looking for some tips on removing spring perches on an 8.8. I want to flip them to the other side and reuse them, so they need to remain intact.

I know an angle grinder would work, but might be tricky due to the curve of the axle tube. I was thinking a Dremel with a small cutoff wheel might work well.

Also, I need to get a welder to weld them back on. I only have 115v available in the garage. Would a 115v stick welder be powerful enough to weld spring perches, or will I need a wire-feed?

Use a pneumatic die grinder with a large wheel. You'll be there day and night if you try it with a dremel. A torch doesn't work very well either, especially if you plan on reusing the perches.

I welded my perches back on with my MIG, although there would be nothing wrong with using the arc that you have. Either way, I'd strongly suggest running 3 passes.

 

[4x4junkie]

I used a 4.5" angle grinder with a 1/8" thick wheel to cut the stock perches off, then welded them to the top of the axle.

I would not use a 115V welder to weld spring perches, you won't get enough penetration to have a strong weld. A 220V MIG is ideal for such a job though. Yes, try to borrow or rent one for a day maybe (or maybe take the axle in somewhere to be welded).

 

[Evan]

From my very limited experience, a MIG welder (with gas, not the "flux core" BS) is LIGHT YEARS easier to make decent beads with. But then, I'm the stuck-rod king. Perhaps you can rent one?

Most electric appliances in your house have 220V available. Especially very high heat ones like electric ranges and clothes dryers.

I am pretty good with a stick welder. I have very limited experience with a MIG.

I'm basically limited to 115v. I'm doing this in my buddy's apartment garage, and have no good way of getting 220 in there. So I'm wondering which would be better at the job, a 115v stick or 115v MIG. A stick at that voltage (and assuming a 15-20A breaker) is limited to around 70A at the electrode, so I'd have to use real small rod...

 

[brendank]

If it comes down to a choice of the two, use the ARC and a smaller rod, maybe 3/32". Use 7018 and run it as hot as you can get away with.

 

[gnardoom]

a grinder works good if its at least a 5 inch wheel, my 8.8 had really deep welds so i couldnt reuse the perches but yours might be different. dont use 7018, if its a 115v machine its going to be ac, so use some 1/16 6011 rod since it digs the deepest, even in the downhill, or use 3/32 if your machine runs it properly.

 

[brendank]

a grinder works good if its at least a 5 inch wheel, my 8.8 had really deep welds so i couldnt reuse the perches but yours might be different. dont use 7018, if its a 115v machine its going to be ac, so use some 1/16 6011 rod since it digs the deepest, even in the downhill, or use 3/32 if your machine runs it properly.

1/16" rod? That's way too small. You'd want to use that around 20-40amp, and you'd never get enough penetration.

6011 is a good rod to run a root pass only, but I'd still prefer the 7018 for all three passes.

 

[Evan]

1/16" rod? That's way too small. You'd want to use that around 20-40amp, and you'd never get enough penetration.

6011 is a good rod to run a root pass only, but I'd still prefer the 7018 for all three passes.

So, I kind of have two different opinions here. Right now I've picked up a 120v 70A AC stick welder. I have 3/32 7018 rod. Will this work?

 

[ii ndica ii]

I just got done doing this about 10 mins ago. I ground down the welds to the point where a small hammer could send a hair line fracture down the weld, then used a 3lb hammer to knock them off, came right off. Hope this helps.

http://www.trsfabandoffroad.com/TRSTrucks/Transformer4/transformer4.htm

 

[Evan]

I had no problems removing mine either. Came right off with a little grinding and cutting.