The first rule is vibrating screen manufacturers recommend generally DO NOT WELD. But, alas......sideplates crack and go bad during mid season operations and welding sometimes is just plain necessary.

Most people.......just FILET weld the whole crack only to come back the next day and find it cracked beside the weld again.

The procedure if you must weld repair............

1) Drill hole at end of crack if there is one, stops cracking from continuing onward

2) gouge out and clean cracked area

3) pull both sides in a parallel even flat plane if possible

4) skip weld or stitch weld, basically weld an 1" skip and 1", etc etc to end of crack, then go inside and weld where you skippped

5) if need be, apply fishplating across skip welded area, but also skip weld the patch on, NOT FULL FILET WELD

6) Consider tac welding some key stock at 12, 3, 6, 9 o'clock positions around the bearing housings to STOP any minuet movement from re-cracking the fix.

Key to remember: If you full weld, you actually create a "heat Check" which the accelerating forces in the machines pick up as a "weak spot" and crack out. HEAT must always be keenly controlled if welding on a vibrating screen sideplate. Key stocking the hsg keeps this large bore area and weak spot in the sideplate tight and non-moving.

Lastly, ORDER NEW SIDEPLATES AND INSTALL ASAP

Moderator: George Baker ■