Log splitter repair

[MMW]

This came in today. The block that the 8 way wedge rides on broke off. It's 2x4 solid. It sits behind the main wedge. Looks like no easy way to remove the whole piece as everything is welded to everything else so I think I'm going to gouge it out 100% and weld it back together in place. Going to be a pain no matter which way I go.

[ryanjones2150]

Just a couple tack welds, right? Just run a bead over the crack, I figure?

[MMW]

Finished this job. Started by taking off the 8 way wedge and it's cylinder and prepping the broken post.

[MMW]

Set post in place and tacked the top to keep it lined up. Veed it out. Some daylight showing in last pic, should get 100% weld, if not very close to it.

[MMW]

Root pass, then many passes alternating sides.

[MMW]

At the front was just a hole that went into the i beam so I laid a pc of 1/2" round and put a couple passes there.

[MMW]

Finished it out and ground where 8 way rides on post. Put 8 way back on and made sure it went up and down. Used Esab 7100 dual shield wire .045. Pretty straight forward repair, took 4-1/4 hours.

Back side view

[MAC702]

...Pretty straight forward repair, took 4-1/4 hours...

Wow. What's the cost for repair versus replacement on something like this? Or is it mostly time and self-sufficiency that make repair the choice?

[MMW]

I assume you mean just replacing the post vs repairing it? I considered it, however as best I can tell the i beam was notched for the post and welded on. Then side plates to box in i beam were welded on and then the side trays were welded to that. In order to cut the post out I would have had do a lot of other cutting and then put it all back together. I figured this was the cheapest route to go.

[ryanjones2150]

Solid work. Nice job.