Welding on bucket while attached to my bobcat

[rjprice]

Had a question for the hive. I want to weld some chain hooks on the bucket of my 2006 Bobcat S175. Because I'm a crappy welder I would like to curl the bucket down so the back of the bucket is up and my weld would be horizontal as opposed to uphill or downhill.

The question is can I mig weld the hooks while the bucket is attached to the machine? I would put the ground lead as close to the weld as possible. I don't want to fry the computer. Thoughts?

 

[mrbb]

MY 2 cents and no expert by any means
but I know a few guys that have welded on there machines, and all they did was disconnect the battery, and they seem to be fine doing this

But I would gather there is always some risk involved with welding on things that have electronics's on them

you might be able to remove bucket and prop it up against something, or place it on good strong work horses, , or a stack of cinder blocks , or pallets, or likes ??

cinder blocks and pallets tend to be free often in my area off Craigslist/Facebook market place or local businesses that have pallets laying all over!
and then remove all risks, and still get bucket positioned as you want it!~

I know I got a bad back, and that's how I place things to make life easier on me,
I'm sure more knowledgeable folks than me will add more to this,
but food for thought till they do !~

 

[rjprice]

Thanks. Makes sense.

 

[Yeanamoto]

I (mig) welded a new brace nut to the frame of my CAT259D3 2 weeks ago and nothing bad happened. I did not disconnect the battery but put the main switch to the off position.

 

[[email protected]]

Better safe then sorry. Disconnect the battery is one way and add a ground to ground also. If it remains on the unit. All to protect any electrical that may be damaged. Or just take the bucket off so there is not chance of a backfeed. Not that hard to do. Prop the bucket where you feel you weld will be good. Grind off all painted surface and you should be good to go.

 

[dfb]

Disconnecting battery is the way we do it in the automotive field. I know of LOTS of guys that have caused very expensive problems welding on vehicles with the battery connected.

 

[mrbb]

well as dumb luck has it, I ended up finding this out today!

I was looking over my skid steer and noticed my rear door over radiator, the hinge weld was broken about a 4 inch crack down it(guess I backed into something harder than I thought this winter)
and there is only one hinge holding door in place!
its a 99 NH LX 865,
and not helping, I also found previous owner welded the nut onto the bolt holding door in hinge, and not wanting to have to deal with removing that nut
I got to find out about welding onto my skid steer today, HAHA!

I just disconnected battery and even removed (more due to I wanted to clean out the battery tray, I got lost of pine tree's that shed pine needles like snow, so clean things out pretty often )
I then placed ground as close to weld area as I could,
as I think that helps with travel worries of voltage/electricity !
and I just welded things back to good
re installed battery , started as always, and
NO issues all, and all works as it should!
SO< worked for me!


BUT I do think older machines have a ton less gadgets and electronics's on them,so, welding on them might not be the same as on newer things where more caution might be warranted
I talked to a more experienced welder repair man,and asked him about this, and he said, on many things they unplug the computers on things before welding, as well as disconnecting the battery!
so, that might be a good idea for those on newer machines or with concerns!

 

[[email protected]]

well as dumb luck has it, I ended up finding this out today!

I was looking over my skid steer and noticed my rear door over radiator, the hinge weld was broken about a 4 inch crack down it(guess I backed into something harder than I thought this winter)
and there is only one hinge holding door in place!
its a 99 NH LX 865,
and not helping, I also found previous owner welded the nut onto the bolt holding door in hinge, and not wanting to have to deal with removing that nut
I got to find out about welding onto my skid steer today, HAHA!

I just disconnected battery and even removed (more due to I wanted to clean out the battery tray, I got lost of pine tree's that shed pine needles like snow, so clean things out pretty often )
I then placed ground as close to weld area as I could,
as I think that helps with travel worries of voltage/electricity !
and I just welded things back to good
re installed battery , started as always, and
NO issues all, and all works as it should!
SO< worked for me!


BUT I do think older machines have a ton less gadgets and electronics's on them,so, welding on them might not be the same as on newer things where more caution might be warranted
I talked to a more experienced welder repair man,and asked him about this, and he said, on many things they unplug the computers on things before welding, as well as disconnecting the battery!
so, that might be a good idea for those on newer machines or with concerns!

When computers are on the machine, I say your correct. If not, then I would still disconnect the battery and ground the unit well then do the welding or as some said take the bucket off.