Welding Crack on rim

[Master Bator]

Im looking for your guys opinion on getting wheels welded that are cracked

i have a few cracks on the same rim, that are all on the outside of the inner barrel. The cracks are an inch long max.

I have them welded once already, and the same cracks came back.

I have read of people welding cracks in wheels but notching out where the crack was and filling it with a tig welder. and the are holding up 3 years later.

Im not sure how the guy who welded them already did it, but for some reason i feel like they could be done better. I feel like he just grinded them down a bit and welded. He's welded a lot for me. so i don't question his skill, just the technique in this particular application

I'll get some pictures later.

They are AME Modelart if that makes a difference. 3 piece.

[Crankey]

I've seen a shop local to me that adds a plate across the welded crack.

[Master Bator]

That's interesting. I always figured that would throw the balance off. But I guess it must of balanced out

[Five5poke]

link

[Crankey]

I think a small bit of 1/4" plate welded on top of a fully welded crack could help make the area stronger.
after a bend and straightening the aluminum can be work hardened and more prone to cracking. I'm sure a small bit of added material can be balanced out with some stick on weights.

the wheel I saw had a huge folded in break and not just a small stress crack.

[Master Bator]

[Master Bator]

This is after they were repaired the first time

[Nick475]

thats unfortunate that they cracked. looked like a real nice welding job!

[Master Bator]

Yeah. He's a really good welder. He did a good job. I just don't know what technique he used and I feel like he could of done a different technique to make it stronger

[electricalbox]

thats unfortunate that they cracked. looked like a real nice welding job!

Yeah. He's a really good welder. He did a good job. I just don't know what technique he used and I feel like he could of done a different technique to make it stronger

QFT, that is a good job, but I am guessing he didn't cut it out right. From what I have gathered, the best way to repair a crack on an aluminum wheel like this is to basically have them cut a thin "v" shaped cut then fill it in. If he is just welding on top of the crack it is bound to come back where as the cut method will not open up the same crack again.

[Master Bator]

Yeah. He did a really good job. He's a good welder. I read about a technique similar to that one. It was just talking about cutting a slit where the crack was and then filling it in. The best way to get rid of a crack is to grind the wheel so there is no traces of a crack and then fill it in

I'll be taking it to a welding shop today and see what they say

[Chris@fifteen52]

I had a guy that would drill a hole infront of the crack to stop from spreading and then cutting the v and welding and leaving the bead in it to strengthen it. But if you have a few cracks in a barrel ypu may want to replace it

[DeleriousZ]

I thought you weren't supposed to grind down aluminum welds that were structural?

[MommysLittleMonster]

I thought you weren't supposed to grind down aluminum welds that were structural?

Have to on a wheel, otherwise you won't be able to seat the bead.

The proper way to do it would be to machine it, but that gets expensive quickly.

[OrangeBlue]

I'm no pro but this looks like solid work...

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNa5RmO-UDs"]ACU-TRU® Bent Wheel Repair - YouTube[/ame]