Welded Stock Swingarm

[Turbo J]

I need to weld a stress crack in my 89 stock swing arm. the stress crack is were the cross tube meets the right side main tube near the rear shock linkage mount. Thought I seen a post on here recently about not arc welding the swing arm because it can weaken the metal around it. What's the truth here. Am i OK to lay a bead over this stress crack with a stick welder or shall I have it mig welded? Thanks Turbo

 

[jeffro189]

i would say mig weld it. easier to weld with, and i think some one told me it is a stronger weld. that or have it tig welded, i know that one is the strongest weld.

[H300F]

The swingarm is 4130 right? If so, you can weld with arc, but preheating would be necessary so the weld doesn't crack when cooling. Heat especially where the crack is.

[evil]

drill a hole in the arm at the end of the crack and have it tig welded, or have it mig welded if you have no one to tig it for you. but i wouldnt use a stick welder on it.

[locogato11283]

yea, what evil said. dont use a stick welder. just use a mig. itll work fine. ive chopped, extended and shortened many swingarms and used a mig welder. ive never had any problems with any of the welds on them.

[banshee04le]

The swingarm is 4130 right?  If so, you can weld with arc, but preheating would be necessary so the weld doesn't crack when cooling.  Heat especially where the crack is.

4130 is chromemoly, the stock swingarm is a mild high carbon steel.

4130 is tig welded. 0n 4130 thinner than .125, a gas process similar

to brazing can be employed with some added benefit over tig, in

some peoples opinion. You can mig 4130 with relatively poor results.

It is not advised however to stick weld 4130. On the stock swingarm

you can mig it or stick it. Mig is better and easier for the guy who don't

know what he's doing. Mig is also better for the guy who DOES know what

he's doing. But a guy with 20yrs experience stick welding, I guarantee

would make a better stronger weld on your swingarm than a guy with

a mig and inadequate experience.

 

Just send it to loco if you want it done right. I've seen video of how rough

he is on his machines and if his welds are holding up, they must be done

right.

Edited April 25, 2004 by banshee04le

[Cotton eyed Joe]

The only welds I know of that are weaker that the surrounding material when done properly are aluminum welds. The welds on steel when done right should be stonger than the surrounding material.