Why was this welded?

[ams2020]

Looking at a ASV and saw this.. the area inside the red circle had been welded (on both sides of the tractor). What is this part and why would it have been welded?

 

[ams2020]

here is the picture http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t274/queen_of_spodes/RC30002a.jpg

 

[ams2020]

here is the picture http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t274/queen_of_spodes/RC30002a.jpg

sorry i don't know how to make pictures work here.. http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t274/queen_of_spodes/RC30002a.jpg

 

[Tazza]

sorry i don't know how to make pictures work here.. http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t274/queen_of_spodes/RC30002a.jpg

Looks like it broke off at one time and was re-welded, hopefully it was done rite! and will not fail again. I would have guessed an idler, but doesn't seem beefy enough for that, anyone else?

 

[andrcurrie]

Looks like it broke off at one time and was re-welded, hopefully it was done rite! and will not fail again. I would have guessed an idler, but doesn't seem beefy enough for that, anyone else?

I would agree looks like some part of the idler suspension, seems like a decent weld from the pic. Just keep in mind asv has had alot of undercarriage related problems.