Cracked aluminum on hardtop :(

[Doctordrew01]

Noticed some cracks on the Grady last week! Here getting them welded now.
make sure to check yours!
There’s some more on top but the pictures won’t load.

 

[Finest Kind]

I hope you had any wires removed from within those pipes before he started welding....

 

[glacierbaze]

That's one ugly weld in that last pic! Is it even tig welding?

 

[Fishtales]

never saw a crack like that before, usually a weld lets go.

 

[Doctordrew01]

Couldn’t weld the center ones. So we made this!

 

[Ky Grady]

Those kind of cracks look like the top has taken a hit at sometime or another. Maybe backed into a low door header?? Doesn't look like normal stress cracking.

 

[wspitler]

All the ones I see seem to originate at a weld. Argon or helium atmosphere may have been compromised or the weld cooled too fast or just poor quality welding Once it starts at a weld then it can grow unless stop drilled.

 

[Doctordrew01]

Yeah I’m not sure how this happened! I noticed the thin ones on the side first, and made the appointment to get those welded. Then realized the ones on top after I towed it there to be fixed a week later.

 

[Ling king]

Did you have to pull the wires to prevent them from melting? I want to install some rod holders (welded). I was warned about melting issues.

 

[Doctordrew01]

I have my led light run through the top tube. I didn’t move them. And they still work after the repair

 

[Bayhouse]

Check all the nuts/bolts holding the tubes, you may find some movement that caused those cracks.

 

[Crbomberger]

I have cracks like that on my 02 seafarer. I plan on welding and adding some reinforcement over the winter.

 

[Keitha]

I hate to be a downer, but That weld repair really does not look like it has penetration on the metal - especially on the bottom portion of the tube. Look at the bottom of the weld repair - you can still see a gap where the weld drooped over the tube, but does not look fused to the metal.
Either the metal was not cleaned enough or the weld was not hot enough.
Do you know if they used MIG or TIG to weld? It looks like a sloppy MIG weld.

 

[Doctordrew01]

I know very little about welding. I know he had some thin rods with him.