2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission welding hitch while on truck?

[swampinboy]

Hello all, not sure this is the best place to post this question but here goes anyway.



I am in the process of putting together a front hitch on my truck, can I tack weld the cross tube to the frame brackets while they are installed on the truck? I was going to disconnect the battery but didnt know if the current from welder would take out something electronic.

 

[illflem]

I always like to connect a computerized vehicle frame up to a good ground before welding. Battery jumper cables to a metal water pipe works for me. One time frying the $800 electronic ignition while welding the tailgate of a Toyota, battery disconnected, was enough for me to take a simple precaution.

Lots of guys will say they've welded hundreds of times no problem even with the battery connected, that was the case with me also till this one time.

 

[Rebel_Horseman]

I'd definately suggest at least disconnecting the battery. illflem made a real good suggestion that wouldn't take too much additional effort and I think it's an excellent idea as well. Replacing a computer is expensive.



Reb [><]

 

[Dennis Garrett]

I started my railroad career in Santa Fe's Topeka Shops in 1969. At the time it was more or less a box car factory. I remember working on new refrigerator cars once. A worker was welding on a car, and had the ground cable attatched to the car's sill step. When he got done, he walked over & started welding on the car ahead of it, and never moved his ground to that car. The line forman walked by and noticed that, and both cars wound up getting a 2nd set of brand new wheel sets. The electrical path had to travel through the wheel bearings to the rail, & up through the wheels & roller bearings of the next car when he struck an arc. And according to shop practice & the AAR, bad ordering all the bearings on both cars! The possibility existed that a bearing roller on each car was arced & damaged, but no way to tell which one it was.

 

[y-knot]

Your best bet would be to disconnect the neg side of your batteries, and keep the ground cable to the welder as close the the weld as possible.

 

[swampinboy]

thanks for all of the info, also just one more quick question, what does the seal on the envelope mean???????

On the forum page next to my posting?????

thanks again guys.

 

[illflem]

A closed envelope means there have been no new posts since your last visit. A dot on the envelope means you have posted to that thread. Four lines above a closed evelope means you have read the thread. The evelope color also goes dimmer if you have read the thread on your current visit. Click here and go to the bottom for a key to the different envelopes.