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Old 02 April 2010, 16:50   #1
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Stick/Arc welding on TD

I'm going to look at removing the front bumper on my truck this weekend so that I can start looking at welding a front mounted tow bar bracket on the front.

What precautions if any do I have to take with regard protecting the electrics of the truck? Alternator, ECM's, or just disconnect the battery?
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Old 02 April 2010, 16:53   #2
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Originally Posted by Hightower View Post
I'm going to look at removing the front bumper on my truck this weekend so that I can start looking at welding a front mounted tow bar bracket on the front.

What precautions if any do I have to take with regard protecting the electrics of the truck? Alternator, ECM's, or just disconnect the battery?
just the battery should do it, have you a code on the radio?
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Old 02 April 2010, 17:04   #3
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just the battery should do it, have you a code on the radio?
No code on the Radio Biffer, the only ECM's are the ones for the ABS brakes and the alarm/immobiliser module and apart from that, thought that the diodes from the alternator might need protecting too.
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Old 02 April 2010, 17:53   #4
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I was taught to pull the plug off the alternator to prevent damage to the diodes.
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Old 02 April 2010, 17:54   #5
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I was taught to pull the plug off the alternator to prevent damage to the diodes.

Same here.
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Old 02 April 2010, 18:23   #6
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I was taught to pull the plug off the alternator to prevent damage to the diodes.
we'll it certainly won't be a difficult job to pull the plug out, so was going to do this as a matter of course. I was more worried about the ECM for the ABS and alarm system.
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Old 02 April 2010, 18:54   #7
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I've never heard of any problems caused to ECU's, tbh I rarely bother disconnecting batteries, alternators or anything else and I've never had any trouble.

Now I've said that watch what happens next time I weld on a car
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Old 02 April 2010, 20:11   #8
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Good luck with the project Andy.

I've always just disconnected the Battery.

I think it's overkill though, on the principle that Electricity always takes the path of least resistance, and as long as I've got the earth clamp near where I'm welding it should be OK.

If I was welding anywhere near an ECU it would be a different matter, and I'd probably take it out altogether.

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Old 02 April 2010, 20:46   #9
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Yes Nasher I tend to agree with you on that one. But with all that amperage an all, you never quite know

It'll take 5 mins to remove the battery connection and to take out the alternator plug so will do that before striking an arc.

Thanks for all your help guys. I doubt that I'll do much in this weather of ours this weekend anyway and if I get a sniff of a nice day I've got a little trip planned on the water and some boaty related work to include picking up a 2 years supply of cheap XD50.
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Old 19 April 2010, 09:26   #10
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I've never heard of any problems caused to ECU's, tbh I rarely bother disconnecting batteries, alternators or anything else and I've never had any trouble.

Now I've said that watch what happens next time I weld on a car
Neither have I, and i have done more than my fair share of welding.
As long as the earth for the welder is near the piece you are welding then
its impossible to do any harm to anything, especially with a MIG as its DC so unlikely to cause eddy currents.
Is a good idea to disconnect the battery though for safety,
a mate of mine was welding a hillman imp on a 4 post ramp, he melted the wiring loom, the car started itself, it was in gear, it ended up on top of another customers car which was parked behind the ramp both written off.
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Old 19 April 2010, 10:59   #11
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a mate of mine was welding a hillman imp
Mmm yes done lots of that in the past.


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it ended up on top of another customers car which was parked behind the ramp both written off.
As long as the other car was a mini, as that would be the only acceptable circumstance for an Imp to commit suicide.

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Old 19 April 2010, 11:18   #12
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Mmm yes done lots of that in the past.




As long as the other car was a mini, as that would be the only acceptable circumstance for an Imp to commit suicide.

Nasher

I spent all day saturday under the landrover started off as a 2p size hole!

Only good mini is a dead un!
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Old 19 April 2010, 12:15   #13
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I made brackets up for a soft A bar by clamping the pieces in place and then removing and welding then away from the car it took a little longer but no problems, I used the holes for the front towing eyes as fixing points

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Old 19 April 2010, 19:15   #14
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I made brackets up for a soft A bar by clamping the pieces in place and then removing and welding then away from the car it took a little longer but no problems, I used the holes for the front towing eyes as fixing points

Jim
I ended up taking the bumper off and doing the whole welding thing off the car. I did at one point have to reassemble on the front of the car to get the pitches right, before final welding but am well happy with my results.
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Old 01 May 2010, 11:12   #15
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Neither have I, and i have done more than my fair share of welding.
As long as the earth for the welder is near the piece you are welding then
its impossible to do any harm to anything
I only stick weld and I dont bother to disconnect anything either ... aint much I havent welded on .. and I aint never fried nuthin' yet (apart from a few cotton jerseys !! ...and the back of my lugs before I noticed)
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