fannitti

so i bought a hp30 with a artic truss and outer gussets and sleeves welded already for 100$. I couldn’t pass it up. Welds look ok but ok i think it will hold. My question is the guy i bought it from didn’t know much on it as he bought it already done. He couldn’t tell me if the sleeves where plug welded because you can only see it welded on the outside of the tube. Can i drill the axle tube till l hit the sleeve and then plug weld it you think?

Bugout4x4

Personally I would pull an axle and take a peek up in there with a bright flashlight. It should show some indication of if it is indeed already welded?

fannitti

It’s a empty housing. So ur saying look down the tube and see if i see heat marks on the sleeve from where it could be welded to the tube?

Bugout4x4

Yes... there should be evidence of welding you would think? I don't think evidence of welding can be completely hidden from one direction or the other inside the tube or housing? Maybe with a mirror from the housing side?

fannitti

If i don’t see anything u think i can drill tube and weld sleeve

Bugout4x4

I have never done it myself. So this question would be better served by someone who has done it or knows more about it than I do in case there are precautions. I was hoping it may have already been done for you.

Maybe we can get some attention to your question here.

fannitti

one can only hope

Rogue4x4

Sleeves welded on both ends? Any pics?

Bugout4x4

Thank you very much for your time.

Rogue4x4

No problem...

my gut instinct is you don't need to bother, as long as the sleeve is welded on both ends, and the truss is welded to the sleeve. No sense in blind drilling at that point in my opinion, as it is reinforced through the stitch welds of the truss.

Bugout4x4

Thank you. I guess just being trussed is a huge increase in strength it's self.

Rogue4x4

Well the plug welds would be there to keep the sleeve from spinning in the event of a failure on the end welds, but the truss pretty much covers that. Once both ends are welded and the stitch welds for the truss go in it's not much different.

A couple of plug welds from the get go wouldn't hurt, but if they aren't there at this point, why make more work?

fannitti

I looked today they arnt there