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02-12-2010, 08:36 AM
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#1
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4 Rivet Member 
1989 25' Excella
1989 34.5' Airstream 345
Hobe Sound
, Florida
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 294
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Welding repairs
Does anyone have any info as to the possiblity of damage to the electronics and or batteries if you have any heliarc welding done to external parts of tne coach? I need to have a repair done to the screen door hinge, and the welder cautioned me to disconnect batteries before proceeding. Even with batteries disconnected, what are the possibilites of damage to chargers/univolt or other equipment? I had my old 66 tradewind worked on many years ago without any problem, even without disconnecting, but there are many more things to get destroyed on my 345. To get the door off is a real pain and I would prefere not to unbolt the door hinges as I have been there fixing the bolts ( annother real pain)! Again thanks in advance for any info!
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02-12-2010, 08:39 AM
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#2
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Rivet Master 
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Quote:
Originally Posted by raveson
Does anyone have any info as to the possiblity of damage to the electronics and or batteries if you have any heliarc welding done to external parts of tne coach? I need to have a repair done to the screen door hinge, and the welder cautioned me to disconnect batteries before proceeding. Even with batteries disconnected, what are the possibilites of damage to chargers/univolt or other equipment? I had my old 66 tradewind worked on many years ago without any problem, even without disconnecting, but there are many more things to get destroyed on my 345. To get the door off is a real pain and I would prefere not to unbolt the door hinges as I have been there fixing the bolts ( annother real pain)! Again thanks in advance for any info!
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Disconnecting the batteries, is a safety margin, just in case.
As long as the coach is not plugged into a source of electricity, the univolt will be fine, along with everything else.
ANDY
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02-12-2010, 08:46 AM
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#3
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Vintage Alum. Enthusiast

1959 24' Tradewind
Phoenix
, Arizona
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: I currently do not own a 2nd Airstream
Posts: 4,360
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Also, turn off the the propane at the bottles and drain the lines of stored propane by turning on a stovetop burner after turning off the propane at the valve(s). Let the flame go completely out and then turn it off.
Brad
FF
__________________
4CU 2699 / AIR 10 / TAC AZ-1
I'm haunted by aluminum.
Charter Member of the 4 Corners Unit.
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02-12-2010, 09:19 AM
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#4
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More than one rivet loose

Currently Looking...
Los Alamos
, New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,756
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Quote:
Originally Posted by raveson
Does anyone have any info as to the possiblity of damage to the electronics and or batteries if you have any heliarc welding done to external parts of tne coach? I need to have a repair done to the screen door hinge, and the welder cautioned me to disconnect batteries before proceeding. Even with batteries disconnected, what are the possibilites of damage to chargers/univolt or other equipment? I had my old 66 tradewind worked on many years ago without any problem, even without disconnecting, but there are many more things to get destroyed on my 345. To get the door off is a real pain and I would prefere not to unbolt the door hinges as I have been there fixing the bolts ( annother real pain)! Again thanks in advance for any info!
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All depends on where he places the ground cable. The path of the current will be from the "torch" to the ground cable. If it's close, it should not be a problem. If it is far there will be a bigger antenna for the magnetic field.
__________________
Michelle TAC MT-0
Sarah, Snowball 
Looking for a 1962 Flying Cloud
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02-12-2010, 09:28 AM
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#5
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Moderator

Vintage Kin Owner
...
, ...
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 11,696
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To minimize any gap arcing across a hinge I would suggest having him/her attach the ground lead to the part being welded.
Does anyone know the material alloy?
Best of luck,
Kevin
__________________
"One of the best lessons I've learned is that you don't worry about criticism from people you wouldn't seek advice from."
William C. Swinney
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02-12-2010, 09:32 AM
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#6
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More than one rivet loose

Currently Looking...
Los Alamos
, New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,756
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin245
To minimize any gap arcing across a hinge I would suggest having him/her attach the ground lead to the part being welded.
Does anyone know the material alloy?
Best of luck,
Kevin
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It may be 2024, which is not weldable. Too many alloys. Didn't think of that the first time.
__________________
Michelle TAC MT-0
Sarah, Snowball 
Looking for a 1962 Flying Cloud
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02-12-2010, 09:35 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master 
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thecatsandi
It may be 2024, which is not weldable. Too many alloys. Didn't think of that the first time.
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Michelle.
I do not know what the alloy of the hinge is, but I do know that it's not 2024.
Andy
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02-12-2010, 10:07 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master 
1968 28' Ambassador
Cedaredge
, Colorado
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,542
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I have done some welding on my door frame with my neighbors heliarc and had no problems.
__________________
Jason
May you have at least one sunny day, and a soft chair to sit in..
2008 5.7 L V8 Sequoia
AIR # 31243
WBCCI # 6987
FOUR CORNERS UNIT
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