Tack welding ring gear

[Wayne, NW La]

I will be replacing the ring gear on the flywheel tomorrow. I have seen posts where people have tacked the ring gear to the flywheel. My neighbor says this is a bad idea-it will affect the temper of the ring gear.
Thoughts on this? Wouldn't mind a little "insurance." Don't want to have to split this thing again any sooner than I have to.
Wayne

 

[Dan]

Shouldn't need to if it is installed correctly. I would NEVER do this, but if you must, at least wait until you see the ring gear is loose on the flywheel after installation.

Dan

 

[Dunk]

{psssssttt} (mine's tacked, and I'm proud of it)

 

[Tom N MS]

Mine too. Bet it'll be there for my Great-Grandkids..

 

[Sean (TX)]

The subject comes up quite a bit. Seems to be cheap insurance. I have mine split now. Going to have a closer look at the ring gear. Didint look to bad at a quick glance. Didnt lokk for welds, Im going to have a closer look. Might as well do clutch and ring gear while im in there...Thinking lift piston to....MISSION CREEP

 

[Ford 312]

Ring gear is tack welded on my 8N. Was done about five years ago and still working fine. I have heard some Chrysler vehicles came from the factory with the ring gear tack welded. Don't know if this is true or not.

 

[JMOR]

I have two welded, both thru the starter hole, w/o splitting tractor & have had up to & running 9 years good results. There is nothing to lose...only the purist object.

 

[wwildhorse2k]

I welded mine after having to split the tractor. The ring gear is not hardened -- its really rather soft. I used six, two inch long fillet welds equally spaced around the base of the gear. If the ring gear needs to be replaced again-- the welds can be ground out . I would definitely do it again. Good luck !!!

 

[Wayne, NW La]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. The original ring gear was spinning freely on the flywheel. Just hope the flywheel wasn't damaged. We'll know by this time tomorrow. If the new one doesn't grip like it should I'll probably tack it since several people have done it with no problems. Welding it through the starter hole...would have never thought of that!
Wayne

 

[souNdguy]

I wouldn't start out aiming to do it.

If I was broke and had a ring gear that was spinning.. I'd take a crack at tacking it on.. but i wouldn't slap a ne wone on that was tight and otherwise good AND weld it.. etc.

soundguy

 

[Anonymous-0]

Mine was welded. I found it was when I split the tractor to figure out why the starter wasn't turning the engine. The welds had cracked. So it isn't the ulitmate cure that some think it is.

The gear was really loose, once the welds broke, so maybe whoever did it was asking too much from the weld. So I think even if I intended to weld it, I'd replace the gear to get the tightest fit possible. Though I just shrunk a new one on and its still there 20 years later.

 

[MikeT]

I had mine stick welded 2 years ago with no problems. Told the guy to spot well it at 6 places around the ring (tractor was split).

It wasn't slipping. The gear on the starter had pushed one side of the ring backwards to where it would no longer engage at that spot. I had to put the tractor into 4th gear and rock it back and forth until it found a spot where it would engage. Got tired of that and had it welded when it was in the shop to replace the clutch. This was with a 6 cyl funk conversion and I couldn't find another ring gear.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I wouldn't recommend tack welding a new ring gear either. I used my brother's oxy-acetelyne rig to heat my new ring gear up to put on like Hobo's page says. I have no fear about it ever slipping. JMHO Jim.

 

[Anonymous-0]

New ring gear is in place. Seems good and tight so I won't tack weld it at this time. If it goes to slipping on the flywheel...we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
Wayne
Untitled URL Link

 

[Dunk]

You are going to take that to someone and let them surface it before you put it back in aren't you?

 

[Dunk]

There are a couple of interesting lift modifications in one of your other pictures there...
Lift Modifications...

 

[Wayne, NW La]

Hey Dunk,
This was the setup when I bought this N. I have since switched out the lift cover. Don't know why it was that way. It's right now.
Wayne