Welding Pillow Blocks

[dave1701]

I don't weld, but I will be taking my kart into school so my friends can weld the pillow blocks on for me. Is it hard to weld onto a flat pillow block to a round surface?, also what process do you use for lining up the pillow blocks so the axle will go through?

 

[KieranM]

Only hard part is making it a strong weld, as its a round surface to a flat. What welder do you plan to use as im sure Pillow blocks are cast, so Stick welding would need a cast rod.

 

[Bluethunder3320]

i wouldnt say welding on a pillow block is a good idea.

grinding sucks and it would take forever to grind it off.

IMO get a heavy duty pillow block and bolt it onto a flat surface that you weld to the round surface.

 

[r_chez_08]

I wouldnt reccomend welding it on either, and if you do, take the bearing out first!
However, I managed to snap a pillow block, and weld it back together with a standard stick welder and rods. Held ever since.
Rob

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Don't weld them on. Weld brackets to the frame and bolt them on. As mentioned above, they're cast, which is a problem on it's own. Replacement would be a PITA.

If you want a weld-on solution, fab or purchase weldments for use with flange-mount bearings.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Don't weld them on. Weld brackets to the frame and bolt them on. As mentioned above, they're cast, which is a problem on it's own. Replacement would be a PITA.

If you want a weld-on solution, fab or purchase weldments for use with flange-mount bearings.

 

[dave1701]

Don't weld them on. Weld brackets to the frame and bolt them on.

Weld brackets to the tubing? What that have the same problem? What kind of brackets would you suggest? I ordered pillow blocks so I want to use them.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

These things. http://www.mfgsupply.com/m/c/AZ8127.html

OR if you already have the pillow blocks, weld a length of angle iron to each framerail and bolt the blocks on.

 

[dave1701]

Can I use Square tubing instead of angle Iron? Do I put them in from front to back?

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Yeah, lengthwise. All you're doing is avoiding bolting thru your framerails. The reason for this is tubing crush. Odds are good the tubing's not very thick, and if you try to bolt down the bearings, it's just going to deform the tubing, and the bolts will never remain tight enough. I suggest flat bar or angle iron because it simply will not crush, but you could use a heavy-walled square.

 

[dave1701]

Thanks!

 

[mckutzy]

Did someone say square pipe? here's my setup using pillowblocks and some angle.
http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5461

 

[dave1701]

How often do MIG welds break? Will MIG welds be ok for my application?

 

[Doc Sprocket]

A good MIG weld is every bit as strong a good arc (stick, SMAW) weld.

 

[dave1701]

I'm thinking I'll get some 1/4'' steel plate and weld that on and bolt the bearings to that.

 

[fowler]

thats the standard procdure

also no offence but the first welds u do will probs not be very good so have a practice

how long do u have to finish it

at my old school we all had to make a big 10cm 6 sided dice out of 5 mm steel so we could practice welding, drilling, grinding and all that stuff

the dice has no use at all but i plastic coated it and it kinda looks cool

 

[dave1701]

I probably wont be welding them, however I hope that I will learn from this project. I'm pretty much bringing my go-kart to the school and barking out orders to my friends as to what to weld where.