Welding on a vehicle

Summarized from a Ford service manual: Disconnect the batteries, and attach the welder work lead (ground clamp) as close to the weld area as possible.

Thanks Pete. That from a recent manual?

Jon

I would also add that you want to make sure that the ground clamp is making a really solid connection. If it's intermittent, you could possibly get so me inductive reaction in the frame that would carry further towards the ele ctronics.

I wonder (but I have no idea whether it's true or not, so take it with a sh ovelful of salt) whether it would be a good idea to disconnect the batterie s and ground the positive battery lead - essentially short-circuiting all o f the vehicle electronics. Just something to think about.

From the body repair section of the 2009 F250-550 service manual (factory official CD via HELM). There is no shortage of electronics on one of those trucks, multiple CAN busses, micros for PCM, TCM, ICM, nav, lignting, etc.

Thanks Pete, much appreciated!

Jon

Jon Danniken wrote in news:lj9g54$pro$1 @speranza.aioe.org:

Yes, you will. Disconnect both battery leads, and I think for good measure I'd disconnect everything from the alternator also.

Well I got done with my project, and as it was necessitated to modify my plans during construction, I didn't actually end up having to weld while it was on the vehicle. Here are some pictures of the event, although I wish I could blame someone else for the welds:

Jon

Hey thanks, sometimes my welding looks picture perfect, and other times not so much. At least it's passable in this case, and it served its purpose.

Jon

I'd actually be pretty proud of those welds. Does that tell you what a "novice" I am?

Looks great and thanks for the idea. I may borrow it to make a boat/canoe rack for my son's Forrester. He does have a 1" receiver hitch in the rear as one point of attachment. The front will be the one requiring some engineering.

Kerry