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Author Topic: Cracked Steam Boiler Repair ?  (Read 7504 times)

Offline volador

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Cracked Steam Boiler Repair ?
« on: October 16, 2019, 03:17:40 AM »
OL'Smokey needs to be replaced but until then any advice is appreciated.
Always something keeping me from motobricking.

Oil Fired Steam Boiler Peerless 700 series 4 section GBTU 446K stands about 5ft tall

The boiler is cracked on top of the first section nearest the front/burner mounting side.
Crack is about 6-7 inches long

Should I stop drill the crack? Have it welded? Any one have cast iron boiler welded? Did it work?

Any recommendations for experienced welder in NYC area?

OR
Use Hercules Boiler Solder or Hercules Boiler Liquid?
Do you leave that in or flush it out after period of time?

OR
Many threads and a boiler tech mentioned the "Oatmeal" or flax seed fix.
What the heck, have to go to the health food store for a boiler fix.
Worried about fouled up controls with this method.

Any other fix you have heard of or tried? Did it work?

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Offline johnny

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Re: Cracked Steam Boiler Repair ?
« Reply #1 on: October 16, 2019, 10:47:17 AM »
greetings...

30 years in heating before my existing life...

welding a cast iron boiler section like that was against code and was against insurance where i come from... so it was replace the section or replace the boiler...

in the mean time... it was sid harvey permaweld attempt which was 50/50 depending on the leak... or the customer could call the guy we knew who would come in a weld it and they would pay him directly...

some of those folks never replaced the section or boiler cause it likely would not leak anytime soon after a proper weld job... or if the permaweld took...

of course as a licensed insured legit outfit we had to follow the rules... the guy didnt...  he used a special rod made for oilfield boilers outta texas...

http://orders.sidharvey.com/product/R34/F1-95

good luck...

j o
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Offline Rcgreaves

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Re: Cracked Steam Boiler Repair ?
« Reply #2 on: October 21, 2019, 04:34:32 PM »
My current...today... welding instructor advises I avoid cast materials.  My attempts- failures... In practice, the weldment tends to fail adjacent and make matters worse.  My .02
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Offline volador

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Re: Cracked Steam Boiler Repair ?
« Reply #3 on: October 22, 2019, 10:36:39 AM »
Quote from: Rcgreaves on October 21, 2019, 04:34:32 PM
My current...today... welding instructor advises I avoid cast materials.  My attempts- failures... In practice, the weldment tends to fail adjacent and make matters worse.  My .02
You recommend JB Weld instead?

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Offline Laitch

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Re: Cracked Steam Boiler Repair ?
« Reply #4 on: October 22, 2019, 12:11:13 PM »
Quote from: Rcgreaves on October 21, 2019, 04:34:32 PM
My current...today... welding instructor advises I avoid cast materials.  My attempts- failures... In practice, the weldment tends to fail adjacent and make matters worse.  My .02
Welding of casting is work for specialists, not dilettantes.
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Offline Rcgreaves

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Re: Cracked Steam Boiler Repair ?
« Reply #5 on: October 22, 2019, 04:55:49 PM »
And specialists know not to touch it.
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Offline alexg

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Re: Cracked Steam Boiler Repair ?
« Reply #6 on: October 22, 2019, 06:24:23 PM »
In my previous life as a mechanic in my native country, I have gotten engine blocks welded with success. The trick is to use a high Ni rod to avoid the martensitic transformation that occurs when high carbon stuff (castings) is rapidly cooled, as it would be in when adding high intensity localized heat (electric welding) to a big chunk at room temperature (block, etc). Another trick is to preheat the part (200C or more), also to reduce temperature gradients, and avoid the martensitic reaction.

However, if this think is separating fire from water, I would not touch it!!!!
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Offline Rcgreaves

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Re: Cracked Steam Boiler Repair ?
« Reply #7 on: October 22, 2019, 06:55:20 PM »
In the past episode of the J Leno garage he highlighted an  amazing process used to make a repair to an engine block.  A One of a kind 1904 fire engine had thrown a rod and blown An enormous hole in the case. No spare.  The part was scanned and a Percision replacement plug was manufactured Using 3-D printing technology the joints were a zigzag which licked together precisely . I believe that’s a process where JB Weld could actually perform admirably!  Like I said I am but a debutante welder and the more I learn the more I realize how much there is to know ;but for certain I struggleTo get any kind of reliable results with pot metal or any form of casting.
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Offline The Mighty Gryphon

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Re: Cracked Steam Boiler Repair ?
« Reply #8 on: October 22, 2019, 07:24:48 PM »
I've had a number of antique cast iron machinery parts brazed with good results.  No big deal.
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Offline Laitch

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Re: Cracked Steam Boiler Repair ?
« Reply #9 on: October 22, 2019, 08:41:28 PM »
Quote from: Rcgreaves on October 22, 2019, 04:55:49 PM
And specialists know not to touch it.
Touch casting with welding? It's done regularly as Gryph indicated. Boilers, however, are a specialty unto themselves and welding them is highly restricted, if allowed at all.

If you still have photos of yourself with your clutch purse and corsage when you were a debutante, I'll help you post them here right side up. :-)
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Offline Rcgreaves

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Re: Cracked Steam Boiler Repair ?
« Reply #10 on: October 22, 2019, 11:32:33 PM »
Well, keeping Laitch entertained is paramount here at Motobrick!

So heres a link to this vid by “Mr tig” on weld.com. it’s  apropos (look it up!)-he demos a specialty alloy rod developed for cast ie. high carbon content Steel material. he also has a few interesting charts highlighting why cast materials are a challenge to weld effectively.

 You asked about drilling and yes, like with acrylics say the windshield on the Cessna I fly- when a crack starts by drilling a hole at the end you can slow or stop the growth of the crack as it heats and cools Etc.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=2ahUKEwiR_Lqps7HlAhXFJTQIHWG8CdgQwqsBMAB6BAgLEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fm.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DkpM050DGCA0&usg=AOvVaw0zjTGnDlO4T5Ut3FFUyR-m
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  • Livingston in Southwest WI. USA-"With the good earth all around."
  • 94' K75S, 85' GL1200 Aspencade, 96' VFR750F, 01' GL1800. Restoring: 95' K1100RS, 83' R80RT NEW: Motorvation Formula II
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Offline The Mighty Gryphon

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Re: Cracked Steam Boiler Repair ?
« Reply #11 on: October 23, 2019, 01:07:22 PM »
Drilling the end of the crack is a well known strategy amongst young, hard hitting metal drummers for preventing further damage to their long suffering crash cymbals.  I would drill the ends, rough up the surface with a grinder and have a braze repair done.

I don't know how much, if any, pressure your boiler sees, but I've had the cast iron drive sheave of a 15hp tractor successfully repaired with brazing.
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  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

Offline Laitch

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Re: Cracked Steam Boiler Repair ?
« Reply #12 on: October 23, 2019, 01:29:43 PM »
Quote from: Rcgreaves on October 22, 2019, 11:32:33 PM
Well, keeping Laitch entertained is paramount here at Motobrick!
Finally, a dawning of awareness! For some people though, entertaining just comes naturally.
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Offline johnny

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Re: Cracked Steam Boiler Repair ?
« Reply #13 on: October 23, 2019, 01:35:39 PM »
greetings..

try this... getts a allyibabba fuel pressure regulator and a allyibabba master cylinder and a allyibabba fuel pump...

melt them down and flow that material in the crack...

should be good to go until under load... butts what the hey...

j o
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Offline volador

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Re: Cracked Steam Boiler Repair ?
« Reply #14 on: October 23, 2019, 04:47:22 PM »
Quote from: johnny on October 23, 2019, 01:35:39 PM
greetings..

try this... getts a allyibabba fuel pressure regulator and a allyibabba master cylinder and a allyibabba fuel pump...

melt them down and flow that material in the crack...

should be good to go until under load... butts what the hey...

j o

chinican allyibabba recicled dongfeng metallurgy dont flow with peerless boiler cast lattices

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