420 Track link

[jibs1723]

Hi all,
Got my 420 all back together and running from rebuilding the transmission and steering clutches and within the 1st hour of using it one of the track links broke. Must have had a stress fracture in it. The outer part of the link where the track pad bolts on broke on one side. The rest of the link is fine. Has anyone ever welded these back together or am I better off replacing the link? If I go to replace the link, is that something i can do or are the pins so tight that a track press is a necessity? Also, I can't seem to find any source for links. Does anyone know a source for them or have an old one laying around they would sell?
Thanks for your help!

[notmeu]

From my experience with welding these old steel John Deere parts, you have to pre heat it with a torch then weld it, then take the part and cover it in sand and let it cool slowly for the night. If you don't it will crack again, I have welded a couple pieces on a gearmatic winch this way and it has held up great. As far as replacement links I have seen them on eBay but they were expensive. Surely someone here, most likely Lavoy, will have a link for you.

[JimAnderson]

You can vee out the crack and weld it with 7018.The links are forged
steel.If you can't do this you will need a link and access to a track press.
It can be welded!!! JimAnderson

[Lavoy]

I've welded lots of them, they weld fine, wire or stick. Way less work than changing a link without a press.
Lavoy

[jibs1723]

Thanks for the advice! Cleaned it up, vee'd it out, preheated it and Mig welded it. Its holding for now. We'll see how long it lasts with my welds