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+--- Thread: Half shaft welding (/showthread.php?tid=5210)
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Half shaft welding - Howard Wright - 08-11-2020
Hi All
I seem to have collected a number of half shafts most of which display small cracks at the ends of the taper key-way. I would hate to scrap them
.I understand that these can be “repaired” by grinding out the cracks, welding up the key-way and cutting a new one on the opposite face.
Question. What if any special techniques, weld rods etc are needed to weld half shafts?
Cheers
Howard
RE: Half shaft welding - Colin Reed - 08-11-2020
HI Howard,
Unless you have experience using welding rods (ie) Low Hydrogen and a good welder also a means of pre heating .
I would suggest using a firm that specializes in this type repair.
and because it will not be cheap as there will also be machining cost
Probably not worth it
Colin
NZ
RE: Half shaft welding - bob46320 - 08-11-2020
Years ago, I built one up with a stick welder, using mild steel rods and re-machined the taper and got a friend to put the keyway back in on the opposite side. Worked OK for me for road use but changed it for a known good one after about 10,000 miles. I guess a new end could be friction welded onto the half shaft and re-machined - not cheap unless you were in the business of doing it!
RE: Half shaft welding - dickie65 - 08-11-2020
New half shafts are probably cheaper than a repair to and old shaft.
A lot off the offset single seaters run welded half shafts but they are expensive builds.
If you look on your halfshaft you might find a flat with a dimple in it from the brinnel test for hardness.
RE: Half shaft welding - Stuart Giles - 08-11-2020
I have only welded up the cracked keyways when I've been shortening long halfshafts in order to re-machine them into short ones, I have used both MIG and TIG for filling in the old keyway (otherwise the base of the keyway appears in the new thread) personally, although it's quick and cheap, I wouldn't use a stick welder for this job as the risk of the arc weldment 'chilling' with the resulting machining difficulties is too high.
If you have a lathe and a mill, the cost of doing this job is a nothing but time, and possibly a Woodruff cutter, if you don't already have the right size in stock.
During the 10,000 mile record attempt I did weld broken halfshafts (yes plural) on Chris Gould's car with a stick welder; all spare parts needed to be carried on the car, so replacing them wasn't an option. The welds repeatedly failed until I gave them a preheat with Oxy Acetylene to dull red before arc welding them, and then only allowed a slow cool in dry sand, whereupon these repairs lasted until a piston failure put a premature stop to the attempt.
RE: Half shaft welding - Zetomagneto - 08-11-2020
Andy Bird makes short shafts from long ones, but as said by Stuart they have to be weled in order to put a thread back on the end.
I wouldn’t bother to try and repair a short shaft for reasons already stated
RE: Half shaft welding - Dave Mann - 08-11-2020
I find knackered half shafts are a good source of material.
RE: Half shaft welding - Austin in the Shed - 08-11-2020
Problem with them is the crack usually goes out through the bottom of the key so if you grind the whole keyway out the crack is still there. You can use long half .shafts to make short ones however.
I wouldn't fit repaired 1/2 shafts to anything other than a bog standard car.
At one time I had 12 half shafts from various sources,when ground out that reduced to 2 I was happy with so the time I spent and postage in some cases was wasted. Better to get a good original if you can find one ,or new.
RE: Half shaft welding - Jacob Fowkes - 08-11-2020
all depends how much power your putting through it. if the weld was well done with decent results it would work okay
RE: Half shaft welding - Howard Wright - 08-11-2020
Hi All
Thanks for the responses.
I realise that the welding would be specialised and fully expected the need for preheat and controlled cooling.
I could probably investigate whether local welders were up to it but as it happens I have a number of long shafts that could be shortened. So I’ll probably take that route. As Dave Mann suggests old half shafts are a useful material source.
Thanks again.
Howard