Cracked yoke

OverkillYJ · Mar 31, 2014

So I just found this hair thick crack on my yoke. I am kinda pissed because I had a trip to Rausch planned in 4 weeks. I am honestly not sure if this is forged or cast. I have a welder, I have not taken a good look at it yet and have to run out. Anyone know if I cleaned this with some brake cleaner and air, then pressed the crack closed in a vice and built up a few beads on it if it would be anywhere near the original strength? Rausch is two hours from my house so if it fails it is too far to drive home with a spartan locker in my front.

Normally I would just buy a new one, but I was planning to do a rear stretch in the fall and dont want to buy a part I will be unable to use in 6 months.

As far as how bad it is, there is about 1mm of play inside the yoke, and I do know how to weld cast, I just didn't look at it very close after yelling obscenities :atomic:. I was just replacing the ujoints doing to preventative maintenance. Good thing I was.

90yjnc · Mar 31, 2014

$65 isn't bad but boy do those little $100 whacks add up quick. Lol
Definitely interested in hearing how the welding goes.

OverkillYJ · Apr 1, 2014

90yjnc said:
$65 isn't bad but boy do those little $100 whacks add up quick. Lol
Definitely interested in hearing how the welding goes.

The welding should be to bad. I will put it in a vice with a cap in the cracked hole after I have it all nice and clean. I will bevel the crack with an angle grinder and press the crack closed in the vice. Then I will heat the end with a torch and tack the sides. After that I will tap out the cap and go into it with the welder nice and hot. Then I will wrap it in a blanket to cool.

I am not a professional welder. I have welded cast in the past with very good success. If there is a pro who has better advice please chime in. I have a Miller 211 mug welder. I would love to learn new tricks if there is a better way, but I do think what I just started will do the job.

OverkillYJ · Mar 31, 2014

So I got home and looked at it again. It is cast. I called Tattons and they sent me another for $65. Way cheaper than I thought. So I will weld this and keep it as a trail spare. After thinking about it I think it will hold for quite a while.

I know what you mean on cleaning it up too. I will make sure this is super clean and pre heat real good before welding it.

90yjnc · Mar 31, 2014

That sucks.
If I were going to try and weld it, I would probably grind in on it a bit and and really put a solid weld on it.
I'm not suggesting it though. I've never actually tried.

Cracked yoke

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