Worn Final Drive Axle Seal Surface Repair

[Lu47Dan]

I have started to repair the worn out surface of the axle were the seal lips ride on the axle . I found that it had been welded up at least once before . And it was not done well the last time . . I turned the majority of the old weld out and will tig weld in a layer of ER-70 filler weld then remove about .050" from a wider area and tig on a layer of 316L stainless filler rod to add wear resistance to the surface .
I was a little nervous about filling the original groove with 316L as it is about .100" deep .
Anyone see any major problems with this ?
Dan
Pictures tomorrow .

[stmftr395]

Dan; I used 316L for the complete weld(0.070")on my shafts. Have not completed assembly as of yet, but I see no issues. I have made many dissimilar metal pipe welds for both tests and inservice use with 316L. Take real light cuts on the lathe. I posted some pictures in show and tell. Search using "1010 flanged axle weld repair". Mark

[stmftr395]

Dan; Just to clarify my response. Although I do not have the tracks back on my crawler, I have assembled and installed both final drives with no problems. Had to make the installation tool for the flanged axle seals. Hardest part of that job was coming up with aluminum stock. Mark

[Ray III]

I just put a sleeve on it even though Lavoy said I was not allowed to (I'm a bad boy, I know). Plastered JB-Weld around before pushing that on, to fill the gap.

An unintended benefit of using the repair sleeve was that no seal installation tool was needed at all. Simply push the outer lips of the seal past the edge of the sleeve, and push it back on, and the step formed by the sleeve will catch the outer lips of the seal and point them in the right direction.

[Lavoy]

Shame on you Ray! JB Weld, duct tape in a tube, one of my favorite tools.
Lavoy