Community Forums

USMCRET · 12-14-2014, 02:07 PM

I know exactly squat about metalworking or welding...

I was prepping the MH for our Christmas trip and discovered this broken support bracket/brace. It secures the coolant tank to the body of the MH above it under the closet. From the looks of things, it's not a fresh break.

The metal is about 1/8" thick.

I expect the bracket is not critical, but I'd like to repair it nonetheless. Can this be welded, or will I have to have another bracket fabricated?

YC1 · 12-14-2014, 02:09 PM

Take it to any Home Depot or Lowes and find a match to the material in their metal section. Cut to length with a hack saw. Drill your own holes. Paint it with a rattle can.

Sure it could be welded but should be a cinch to build a new one.

vsheetz · 12-14-2014, 02:10 PM

Difficult to tell from the picture. No scale to judge the size. Suggest to take it to a welding shop and ask them. Same shop can likely also fab up another if that is deemed better way to go.

palehorse89 · 12-14-2014, 02:11 PM

Yes , it can be repaired Ed, I take it you do not have a welder by your post.......take it to a weld shop, or someone you know with a welder, or someone that can braze and they can repair it for you.
Or like post #2 suggests, make new one, easy enough, local hardware store should have the stock.

lymanlouis · 12-14-2014, 02:19 PM

If welded it might be worth putting in a couple of doublers to prevent another break. Surprised it broke if it's really just to mount your coolant tank. Shouldn't be any significant stress there.

spinn · 12-14-2014, 02:21 PM

I understand that there are some potential problems when welding to the chassis. Disconnect batteries, other electronic devices.
I have no experience with this but do remember a warning

USMCRET · 12-14-2014, 04:06 PM

Ok, so I took the suggestion to go to the local home center and pick up some matching flat metal. That was a great suggestion and I have crafted one already. Tomorrow I will see if it fits, or more likely, make it fit.

Thanks all for your inputs!

palehorse89 · 12-14-2014, 04:19 PM

Happy Holiday's Ed! Sound like you fixed it! Super.........

YC1 · 12-14-2014, 05:21 PM

Measure it with a micrometer, mark it with chalk, cut it with an ax, paint it to hide.

So be sure to shoot any can of rattle can paint you have hanging around to protect from rust. Very easy to bend this stuff in a vice. If you need sharp angles then grab a torch or put it in a bed of coals to heat red hot. Will bend really easy then.

DDQ · 12-30-2014, 08:24 AM

From the looks it, this a fairly simple part. I would have your local tool or weld shop fab one up for you. If you weld, the head of the bolt would come in contact with the weld bead and cause other problems. Good luck and keep us posted.

MartinP · 01-03-2015, 08:54 AM

Just a point on welding to the chassis. I did coming across a warning from Allison to disconnect the TCM and battery cables when welding to the chassis. I have used a MIG welder and always removed the ground lead from the coach and chassis batteries but never gave much thought to the Allison TCM, not sure if there is a warning for the Cummins ECU.

Martin