Will welding to the top of a shackle pin damage its temper?

[Valence]

The front shackle pins have a thin plate tack welded to their head. From that plate a short chain runs to the clip. This keeps the shackle pin and its clip together and certainly helps reduce the chances of losing either, but mostly from losing the pin's safety clip.



I would like to do the same with the rear shackle pins on my M35A2 (and my pioneer tool trailer too actually). As the thread title indicates, do you think welding a small plate/tab to the head of the pin will have noticeable affects on the temper of the shackle pin? I wouldn't want early failure or reduced strength due to one end having lost its temper.

Yes, one would have to be careful on the rear to not make the pin head, with the addition of the tab, too big as the pin access hole on the side of the bumperett is only so big.



Alternatively, I was also considering just drilling a hole on the inside of the bumperett and attaching one chain end of the clip to a bolt through the added hole.

 

[Recovry4x4]

I can't say for sure but on several vehicles I've owned, I drilled them like a towbar pin and added a keeper that way.

 

[Scar59]

Zane, Go ahead and tack weld them on. That pin will not get hot enough to affect it strength. It's just a tack weld.

 

[Hard Head]

I agree with Scar59! Just drill a small hole about and 1/8 to 1/4 in the middle of the keeper and tack it on, grind it smooth and its a keeper

 

[Valence]

Thanks for all the input folks! Also, another good option mentioned by Recovry4x4.

 

[brianp454]

I agree. The head on that pin is quite thick and the heat of the weld for that little chain or a small rod loop to hold it will not go deep enough to matter (fits the definition of a tack weld).

 

[dmetalmiki]

I agree. The head on that pin is quite thick and the heat of the weld for that little chain or a small rod loop to hold it will not go deep enough to matter (fits the definition of a tack weld).

I have done that with several 'pins', no problem.

 

[73m819]

When I got the 819 in 04, I drilled 1/8 holes in the head and used short STEEL pop rivets, unless you beat the head with a hammer to drive the pins home, the retaining chain will stay there for ever.

 

[m-35tom]

by tempered, you mean hardened? hit it with a file, if it cuts it is not hard plus if you can drill it with an ordinary drill it is not hard. when you weld it just let it cool down on it's own.

 

[rchalmers3]

by tempered, you mean hardened? hit it with a file, if it cuts it is not hard plus if you can drill it with an ordinary drill it is not hard. when you weld it just let it cool down on it's own.

What Tom said. If you tack weld it, you should be able to maintain a grip on the pin after welding. It should not be too hot to hold. In that case, you have not heated it sufficiently to affect the metallurgy.

Rick