In reference to the last question, I was welding 1/2" steel aprox 7" long. I chamfered both sides of the plate leaving about a 1/8" root gap. I made two passes starting from the top to the bottom.(one 1/4" weld to help fill the root gap and about a 1/2" wide weld to blend the two pieces together on both sides of the plate) I also fabricated two (per side) 4-1/2" x 1/2" gussets also chamfered and welded the same way spaced about 5" apart from each other. The brackets hold a 600lb bumper/winch assembly to a frame of a well drilling truck. The bumper assembly bolts to the frame with 4 , 3/4" x 3" grade 8 bolts on each side. Do you think the welding I did will hold the bumper to the frame?
If you did it downhand, i'd be dubious of the strength on 1/2" plate. Did you get full penetration on the root and the cap?
I imagine there will be quite a bit of force and vibration on the joint, and the last thing you want will be a weld faliure.
As we cant see the welds, it will be difficult to say either way. All i can say, if your happy, leave it. If your not, redo it.