General Discussion     Tech Questions     Parts & Services     Suggestions/Ideas     Help & Website Instructions     Blogs    

Truck & Transportation History

Home Search Tags
Welcome Guest ( Login | Register )
Latest Posts Popular Topics

Home » ATHS Discussion Forums » Tech Questions and Tips » Warning: Frame Rails are Heat Treated, Do not Weld or Drill

Warning: Frame Rails are Heat Treated, Do not Weld or Drill

Posted By deguitars Thursday, June 10, 2010 5:23 PM
Add to Favorites1

Warning: Frame Rails are Heat Treated, Do not Weld or Drill

Author Message
deguitars
Posted Thursday, June 10, 2010 5:23 PM
ATHS Member

ATHS Member - (41,153 reputation)ATHS Member - (41,153 reputation)ATHS Member - (41,153 reputation)ATHS Member - (41,153 reputation)ATHS Member - (41,153 reputation)ATHS Member - (41,153 reputation)ATHS Member - (41,153 reputation)ATHS Member - (41,153 reputation)ATHS Member - (41,153 reputation)

Group: Forum User
Last Active: Tuesday, March 19, 2019 9:23 AM
Posts: 709, Visits: 4,075
Anybody remember these warning stickers on virtually every Kenworth and Peterbilt? With so much frame stretching going on I was just curious what/how folks deal with it, if at all?

Cheers,
David
Post Information
Aaron
Posted Thursday, June 10, 2010 5:31 PM
ATHS Member

ATHS Member - (112,312 reputation)ATHS Member - (112,312 reputation)ATHS Member - (112,312 reputation)ATHS Member - (112,312 reputation)ATHS Member - (112,312 reputation)ATHS Member - (112,312 reputation)ATHS Member - (112,312 reputation)ATHS Member - (112,312 reputation)ATHS Member - (112,312 reputation)

Group: Forum User
Last Active: Wednesday, November 28, 2018 2:05 PM
Posts: 2,617, Visits: 5,384
Cut,weld and drill, and keep going, thats just mubo jumbo to cover their but, if the frame were to brake they could blame it on the owner.

I can't get anymore out of it, I've got both sticks hot clear up to the knobs allready.
www.killcarb.org
Post Information
Bodacious
Posted Friday, June 11, 2010 3:53 AM
.

. - (2,308 reputation). - (2,308 reputation). - (2,308 reputation). - (2,308 reputation). - (2,308 reputation). - (2,308 reputation). - (2,308 reputation). - (2,308 reputation). - (2,308 reputation)

Group: Forum User
Last Active: Friday, August 06, 2010 1:47 AM
Posts: 44, Visits: 1,874
Actually if you'll notice, the stickers read "Do not drill flanges." There's no problem with drilling holes in the side of the rails. And as far as welding them goes, no, they should not be welded to because they are heat treated. Welding just at the splice though, as part of the overall modification, including an appropriate length of bolt in rail section is acceptable however.
Post Information
Dan Closser
Posted Friday, June 11, 2010 6:19 AM
.

. - (786 reputation). - (786 reputation). - (786 reputation). - (786 reputation). - (786 reputation). - (786 reputation). - (786 reputation). - (786 reputation). - (786 reputation)

Group: Forum User
Last Active: Saturday, April 09, 2011 3:15 AM
Posts: 8, Visits: 1,040
786
Welding to a frame is still not recommended.  However, if you find you need to weld in front of the rear axles, the best practice would be to bolt on a plate or angle to weld onto.  Also, if drilling, do not use a scribe to mark the hole: remember, that is the same as scoring glass, the crack will start from the scribe line.  When welding as in a splice, the weld needs to be backed up with an insert that is bolted into the frame.
Post Information
deguitars
Posted Friday, June 11, 2010 6:34 AM
ATHS Member

ATHS Member - (41,153 reputation)ATHS Member - (41,153 reputation)ATHS Member - (41,153 reputation)ATHS Member - (41,153 reputation)ATHS Member - (41,153 reputation)ATHS Member - (41,153 reputation)ATHS Member - (41,153 reputation)ATHS Member - (41,153 reputation)ATHS Member - (41,153 reputation)

Group: Forum User
Last Active: Tuesday, March 19, 2019 9:23 AM
Posts: 709, Visits: 4,075
Okay so basically you guys are saying don't worry just drill or weld at your leisure which seems to be what everyone does anyway with stretching, shortening, whatever. Heck, my frame had a bunch of extra holes in it that I've already welded up anyway to no ill effect so far (we're talking about steel here by the way). But why the warning not to drill "flanges" (thanks for the correction) and why not the web? Does anyone know how the rails were supplied to the maker, were they pre-drilled and then heat treated? That doesn't seem likely, so what's the difference in the factory drilling holes or someone down the road doing so? A lot of steel, and aluminum, is heat treated for strength so that's nothing new...it sounds like the warning was more to do with preventing some well intentioned owner from setting up stress points bolting junk onto the frame. Probably a pretty good thing to warn about. As was pointed out, some guy might decide to simply install a bracket and scribe a few lines, drill a few holes, and presto - cracked frame!
Thanks for the tips. Somewhere down the road I might stretch mine a foot or so.

Cheers,
David
Post Information
Geoff Weeks
Posted Friday, June 11, 2010 9:47 AM
ATHS Member

ATHS Member - (219,291 reputation)ATHS Member - (219,291 reputation)ATHS Member - (219,291 reputation)ATHS Member - (219,291 reputation)ATHS Member - (219,291 reputation)ATHS Member - (219,291 reputation)ATHS Member - (219,291 reputation)ATHS Member - (219,291 reputation)ATHS Member - (219,291 reputation)

Group: Forum User
Last Active: 8 minutes ago
Posts: 3,630, Visits: 15,628
The flanges should not be drilled as they make up all the stiffness. a hole would weaken the frame and a crack would start. The web on the otherhand doesn't need to be solid. Take a look at the frame of any steel flatbed trailer and you'll see they are cut out to make the frame lighter. Haveing said that, I have seen some frames where the front axle shackle bracket does have a bolt going thru the flange from the factory, with no bad results.
Post Information
Dan Bruno
Posted Friday, June 11, 2010 3:15 PM
Standin' Dan ATHS Member

Standin' Dan ATHS Member - (39,475 reputation)Standin' Dan ATHS Member - (39,475 reputation)Standin' Dan ATHS Member - (39,475 reputation)Standin' Dan ATHS Member - (39,475 reputation)Standin' Dan ATHS Member - (39,475 reputation)Standin' Dan ATHS Member - (39,475 reputation)Standin' Dan ATHS Member - (39,475 reputation)Standin' Dan ATHS Member - (39,475 reputation)Standin' Dan ATHS Member - (39,475 reputation)

Group: Forum User
Last Active: Saturday, April 06, 2013 7:28 AM
Posts: 1,228, Visits: 6,014
As a rule, you never drill the flanges and any area on the web that is less than 1" from the flanges.

Dan
www.stlouisdumptrucks.com

www.rdproductionstv.com
Post Information
JEllingwood
Posted Sunday, June 13, 2010 3:40 PM
ATHS Member

ATHS Member - (20,918 reputation)ATHS Member - (20,918 reputation)ATHS Member - (20,918 reputation)ATHS Member - (20,918 reputation)ATHS Member - (20,918 reputation)ATHS Member - (20,918 reputation)ATHS Member - (20,918 reputation)ATHS Member - (20,918 reputation)ATHS Member - (20,918 reputation)

Group: Forum User
Last Active: Monday, October 03, 2016 6:08 AM
Posts: 191, Visits: 1,707
Let's suppose there is a 3/8" hole in the top flange about 18" behind the cab. What would you do?

Yes I have this issue

John
Post Information
Bodacious
Posted Sunday, June 13, 2010 5:31 PM
.

. - (2,308 reputation). - (2,308 reputation). - (2,308 reputation). - (2,308 reputation). - (2,308 reputation). - (2,308 reputation). - (2,308 reputation). - (2,308 reputation). - (2,308 reputation)

Group: Forum User
Last Active: Friday, August 06, 2010 1:47 AM
Posts: 44, Visits: 1,874
JEllingwood (6/13/2010)
Let's suppose there is a 3/8" hole in the top flange about 18" behind the cab. What would you do?

Yes I have this issue

John


Thankfully it's a small one. I'd put a nut & bolt in it with hardened washers and just keep an eye on it.
Post Information
RobBalfour
Posted Sunday, June 13, 2010 5:37 PM
ATHS Member

ATHS Member - (19,695 reputation)ATHS Member - (19,695 reputation)ATHS Member - (19,695 reputation)ATHS Member - (19,695 reputation)ATHS Member - (19,695 reputation)ATHS Member - (19,695 reputation)ATHS Member - (19,695 reputation)ATHS Member - (19,695 reputation)ATHS Member - (19,695 reputation)

Group: Forum User
Last Active: Sunday, February 05, 2017 11:58 AM
Posts: 595, Visits: 1,906
JEllingwood (6/13/2010)
Let's suppose there is a 3/8" hole in the top flange about 18" behind the cab. What would you do?

Yes I have this issue

John


You mount a big winch there.:P

Rob Balfour
Post Information

Similar Topics

Expand / Collapse

Reading This Topic

Expand / Collapse

Back To Top

Powered By InstantForum.NET 2012 © 2019
Execution: 0.108. 15 queries. Compression Enabled.