Log splitter hydraulic tank split

[Guineafowl]

A mate has bought a Thor splitter, PTO driven hydraulics, a bit like this one:


The box section that forms the upright is also the hydraulic fluid tank. Where the front plate has been stitch welded to it, there are cracks which are leaking.

I don’t have inert gas to purge it. Is it safe to clean up, degrease and weld?

 

[pedrobedro]

Seal it some other way, it's not under pressure so something like epoxy or similar would hold it.

 

[brightspark]

if i had to weld it id drain it off put an airline on to it and get welding the air will blow any build up of vapours out. done welding on my comp tank before and its got oil in it

 

[Barking Mat]

Seal it some other way, it's not under pressure so something like epoxy or similar would hold it.

How much pressure ?

Sounds like a mig job to me.

 

[Barking Mat]

Alternatively find a different hydraulic oil receptacle, and avoid welding.

But this is a welding forum, occasionally.

 

[gaz1]

since its damaged id be looking at either a rebuild of it or even upgrading what i have

as yours is a 15 ton by a quick look around on google i think yours can be very much improved upon

 

[Mma man]

30 years ago I used to do emergency repair for a company repairing heating oil tanks.
To stop the leaking we would rub soap in to the crack until we were able to get to it. Sometimes this was a couple of weeks later.
Then we would pump out the oil to just below the crack grind out and stick weld and refill. Did hundreds with no problems at all.

 

[Guineafowl]

I think the cracking is down to stresses during splitting, so I don’t think epoxy will stand it. Main worries were tank setting on fire and poor weld due to oil contamination. Looks like I can just clean up and crack on. Thanks all.

 

[Mma man]

I think the cracking is down to stresses during splitting, so I don’t think epoxy will stand it. Main worries were tank setting on fire and poor weld due to oil contamination. Looks like I can just clean up and crack on. Thanks all.

Perhaps you could also put in some bracing triangulation while you got welder out