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Welding cast iron

Big Sky RedneckBig Sky Redneck Member Posts: 19,752 ✭✭✭
edited May 2017 in General Discussion
The water pump on the Volvo is leaking, went about bought one yesterday to replace it and I got under the truck for a close verifacation that it is the waterpump and not just a gasket leaking.

I found where someone has welded the pump, I'm guessing it cracked and they tried to repair it. The leak is coming out of the weld. I'm toying with the idea of grinding the weld out and rewelding it and taking this $450 new pump back.

Would you mess with it or just put the new one on and be done with it? I've never welded cast, all I have is a mig, no torches or tig.

Comments

  • mogley98mogley98 Member Posts: 18,291 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Ah just slap a little water weld on there and when it sets up you will be food to go!

    [:D][:D]
    Why don't we go to school and work on the weekends and take the week off!
  • jerrywh818jerrywh818 Member Posts: 2,573 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The problem is this. You have to preheat cast iron to weld it and there are seals and bearings in the pump that will not stand the pre heat temp.
  • Don McManusDon McManus Member Posts: 23,695 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I would think the housing is cast steel, and if so, it can be welded. As jerrywh818 points out, you would probably want to completely disassemble the pump so that you don't overheat the internal components. Also, it would be best to know what type of steel it is so that you can use the proper rod and preheat if required.
    Freedom and a submissive populace cannot co-exist.

    Brad Steele
  • Smitty500magSmitty500mag Member Posts: 13,623 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Fix it right and forget the afro-engineering project and put a new one on it.
  • savage170savage170 Member Posts: 37,571 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Smitty500mag
    Fix it right and forget the afro-engineering project and put a new one on it.






    +1 the short cut fixes usually end up costing more in the long run
  • JimmyJackJimmyJack Member Posts: 5,516 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you have never welded cast forget it, it takes talent and experience.
  • Big Sky RedneckBig Sky Redneck Member Posts: 19,752 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    What's that new tape I see advertised on TV? Ya know, the tape that fixes swimming pools and holds boats together [:D][:D]

    I guess that the weld leaking is a sign that says hell with it, put it in the box and send it back as a core.
  • savage170savage170 Member Posts: 37,571 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I would trust JB more than the tape[:)]
  • XXCrossXXCross Member Posts: 1,379 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Has everyone forgotten brazing ?
  • 1911a1-fan1911a1-fan Member Posts: 51,193 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    i put jb weld on the water pump of an old ford astro van that was used as a courier, had a crack and was leaking out of the weep hole at 227k miles, 100k later i gave it away and they drove it another 4 years


    but in your case i would replace it
  • tccoxtccox Member Posts: 7,379 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Have you considered a used one from salvage yard? Should be able to find one somewhere. Car-parts comes to mind. Tom
  • Mr. PerfectMr. Perfect Member, Moderator Posts: 66,437 ******
    edited November -1
    JB weld.
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    And fiery auto crashes
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    While sifting through my ashes
    Some will fall in love with life
    And drink it from a fountain
    That is pouring like an avalanche
    Coming down the mountain
  • AlpineAlpine Member Posts: 15,092 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I repaired cast iron cracks on a Johnson Horizontal saw 25 years ago (TIG and SS filler), so far no problem.
    ?The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.?
    Margaret Thatcher

    "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
    Mark Twain
  • jltrentjltrent Member Posts: 9,344 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Re-weld.....I have welded cast before as you have to heat both contact sides red hot, then weld with the appropriate rods and bury in sand to let it cool real slow so it want crack.
  • yoshmysteryoshmyster Member Posts: 22,071 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by savage170
    I would trust JB more than the tape[:)]


    quote:Originally posted by XXCross

    Has everyone forgotten brazing ?


    I was thinking both of these and raise you high temp silicone [:D].
  • kidthatsirishkidthatsirish Member Posts: 6,984 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Try the jbweld high temp.....ive repaired so many radiators with it it's not even funny
  • bigoutsidebigoutside Member Posts: 19,443
    edited November -1
    Since we all know how to ream a hole smaller, go that route.

    Or jailbreak the chip and tune it to run without water. It's a diesel, should work.

    Or, you could fix it the right way and stop messing with you paycheck.
  • jerrywh818jerrywh818 Member Posts: 2,573 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you can find the end of the crack and drill a small hole at the end of the crack then use JB weld it would probably hold for a generation.
    The trick there is to stop the original crack from extending. I was a mechanic for 45 years and I would only do that if there were no new ones available.
  • redneckandyredneckandy Member Posts: 9,716 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Smitty500mag
    Fix it right and forget the afro-engineering project and put a new one on it.






    Yep.
    Do you really like being broke down on the side of the road???
  • mag00mag00 Member Posts: 4,719 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'll say it, use a tampon. laugh.gif
  • bigcitybillbigcitybill Member Posts: 4,914 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I weld/reweld/repair castings for a living.
    Just take your medicine and use the new pump.
    You're never gonna be able to fix it with a MIG welder.
  • mlincolnmlincoln Member Posts: 5,039 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by bigoutside
    Since we all know how to ream a hole smaller, go that route.

    Or jailbreak the chip and tune it to run without water. It's a diesel, should work.

    Or, you could fix it the right way and stop messing with you paycheck.




    Sage advice indeed.
  • MobuckMobuck Member Posts: 14,163 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You're willing to risk a $????? engine to save $450?????? Even if you do weld it, sooner or later it will crack or completely blow out dumping the coolant in a puff of steam.
  • john wjohn w Member Posts: 4,104
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by mag00
    I'll say it, use a tampon. laugh.gif



    every month ? ?.
  • mag00mag00 Member Posts: 4,719 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by john w
    quote:Originally posted by mag00
    I'll say it, use a tampon. laugh.gif



    every month ? ?.


    It's for his Volvo [;)]

    You know you are a redneck when you think a Volvo is a woman's part.
  • SawzSawz Member Posts: 6,049
    edited November -1
    450 now for a new pump, OR how much does a tow in from BFE cost when it fails again, to a shop to have it done on the road somewhere?
  • grumpygygrumpygy Member Posts: 48,464 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    On a long haul truck and in some spots being way away from any services, me I would go with new.
  • montanajoemontanajoe Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 60,255 ******
    edited November -1
    you already got the new pump,go ahead and put er in. I think you'll be ahead if you do.
  • redneckandyredneckandy Member Posts: 9,716 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    "I didn't have time to do it right but I have time to do it over" comes to mind.
  • toad67toad67 Member Posts: 13,008 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by redneckandy
    "I didn't have time to do it right but I have time to do it over" comes to mind.


    Amen brother....[;)]
  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Are you even allowed to make gearhead repairs on Volvos? Is it safe?
  • Big Sky RedneckBig Sky Redneck Member Posts: 19,752 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by mrmike08075
    Duck tape
    Flex seal
    Gorilla glue
    Jb weld
    Piece of screen door mesh and some bonds
    Christian prayer
    Penny in a wishing well

    Considering your investment and the possible negative effect on your lively hood or this devolving into a much greater expense and / or loss of time or inability to make a pick up or delivery why take a chance...

    Nobody likes to take the hit in the wallet but your 1st best fix is likely to save you money and angst down the road.

    But you don't need me to tell you what to do - you know already.

    Mike


    Sometimes doing repairs instead of just changing parts is the best way. Guys who don't work on thier trucks but instead rely on $100 per hour shops go broke. The last truck shop I worked at I say drivers come in and pay $100 per hours for us to chase air leaks then have a $500 bill. Sorry, I'm going to show my arrogance, if you cannot do simple maintenance on a truck you should not be driving one.

    As far as just changing parts, the Low Air Beeper didn't work in this truck and that is a DOT Out Of Service, no beeper and you are shut down. Now most drivers would go to a shop and pay for troubleshooting and an $800 instrument cluster, Volvo only seels the complete cluster. I went on Amazon, bought a $2.50 speaker, pulled the cluster out and soldered in the new speaker, saved probably over $1000 doing that.

    The water pump, when I was looking for the leak what I found was what appeared to be a weld bead on the body of the pump, due to the location I could only go on what I could see and I knew the pump had to come off. Once I got it off I saw that it was leaking from the weep hole and the weld bead I saw was actually crusty deposits. So the mew pump is on and the old one goes in for core.

    And I have epoxied cracks before, one that sticks out in my mind is a Cummins engine in Dodge pickup. He came into the shop with it hosing out coolant, I got under it and found the block had a 6" crack in it. The owner did not want to buy an engine so it was agreed that a non warranty repair would be made, if it worked it worked if not then ohh well, we tried. I drilled both ends of the crack, used a die grinder to make a "V" out of the crack and applied epoxy. To the best of my knowledge 3 years later that pickup is still running.

    I believe that when a part can be repaired repair it. When I was one of three FSRs in a shop with over 500 mechanics I saw parts changers and mechanics. Parts changers are expensive as hell, mechanics make things work and save $$. If that water pump had infact been cracked, it would have been repaired even if I had to pay a welder to do it, $450 is too much money to just swap parts.

    77632CF9-4C21-49D5-98D2-C3984FCC5EBF_zps6eguddih.jpg

    465092AE-08C5-419B-A8F8-3E530E6EA19D_zpsotoailve.jpg
  • mag00mag00 Member Posts: 4,719 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I don't believe what I am hearing/reading here, surely must be a joke or something.
  • select-fireselect-fire Member Posts: 69,534 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Change it. It will mess up again at a very wrong time and cost you more than the part.
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