Broken Wheel Dish (Centers)

I've just broken the wheel dish (center) on my 7710. This has the older 8 bolt style flange wheels. This is actually the second one I've busted now. The other one broke about a year ago. These centers seem to have a few points of carbon to them, but they're not extremly hard. Certainly, to some degree a spring steel. With that said, I've had no luck welding them. I tried a 7018 on the first one, and now a Sodel 330 on the second center. The result was the same for both, with the center cracking again within 1 hour's service. These cracks were well beveled out, and welded from one side, but the new cracks seldom follow the old. New cracks seem to develop across the weld bead, at random. The original cracks radiate outwards from the wheel nuts.
I'm just curious if anyone out there has had experience with welding these centers, and if so, what kind of success you've had. I have a new wheel on order. I'm just tring to get a few more days from this, as it may be Friday or more likely Monday before I can get the parts, and I need the tractor. Curiously awaiting your ideas....

Rod

If your part is in cast iron, you should use Sodel Cu89 to repair the part (except if the part is oil contaminated, then you should use sodel 352 as buttering layer on the dirty iron and after use Sodel Cu89 to fill the groove).

If it is high carbon steel, usually cracking should occur in the hardened heat affected zone (beside and under the weld bead). When cracking occurs in the weld bead, it is generally related to surface contaminants (oil, grease...). Clean the surface (grinder) and preheat the part around 300F (using sodel 330). Slow cooling is also recommended.

If it is a free-machining steel (containing high sulfur or high Pb(lead)), it is sometimes impossible to weld...

FL (Sodel)

The wheel is on a Ford 7710. It's got about all the stress on it that any wheel can have. Snap on duals, 100+ PTO HP ahead of it, and enough ballast to keep them from spinning. That said, it's not something that will cause me any harm. It fails slowly, and I'm well aware of it when it happens. The wheels are the 2 piece variety. They have a center that is bolted to the rim. These centers have been cracking outwards from the lug nuts. I can't tell you for sure how much carbon is in the steel, but I would say it's closer a spring steel than mild plate. The centers can still be drilled without a press, but it's not like mild plate by any means. I think you may be right about the heating and cooling. It's probably the most important component in welding these things. It's probably a moot point now though, as FedEx says the new center will be here Friday morning. Thanks to everyone for their thoughts on this.

Rod

• Shoup