m38a1 machine gun crossmember change

Saberr · Post by **Saberr** » Sun Feb 28, 2016 1:25 pm

My machine gun crossmember got badly bent in an air drop. It even bent the rails. I hade to cut about 3/4 inch out of it so i could re-bend the rails. It still needs a frame shop to put the finish touches on. Original i though it was only the rivet holding it to the frame. Saw the potential weld marks on outside but hoped for better. Well i'm wrong, its welded in. I have another frame that i was going to use its crossmember from and do a straight swap. Now i'm stuck. Is there a way to remove those welds inside the rails ? Should i just cut everything, but leave and inch sticking out and do rever on other mount and weld them together ? Or just try to weld the two pieces back together ? I'm starting to lean on the welding together. Once frame straight, should be a lot less of gap. What do you guys suggest ? Love to just swap the whole crossmember.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Sun Feb 28, 2016 1:55 pm

Ideally replacement would be best.

However, if you can straighten the two pieces proper welding
assuming you have good steel, will be a suitable fix.

You could even fishplate inside the pieces and bolt or spot weld
through the existing pieces to the fishplates inside.

As I said, with good metal and proper welding technique
it should be sufficient.

Just my opinion.

mastertek2000 · Post by **mastertek2000** » Mon Feb 29, 2016 6:41 pm

i have one if you nee one in good shape

Saberr · Post by **Saberr** » Tue Mar 01, 2016 1:23 am

My issue is if i do try to replace it, how do i do it ? Its welded on the inside, and i don't have a grinder small enough for that, with out doing dmg to frame. And that goes double, have to to the replacement out.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Tue Mar 01, 2016 8:01 am

Is it spot welded or continuous bead ?

Saberr · Post by **Saberr** » Tue Mar 01, 2016 10:00 pm

continuous in spots

. one side of each angle piece and about inch long.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Tue Mar 01, 2016 10:09 pm

Well Roy says he has one. I am reading it's already out,
but that may not be right.

I guess it boils down to whether you want or can fix what
you have, or figure out how to get it off.

Have you fixed the frame rails? If so, can you make the
needed repairs to the crossmember pieces then weld
them back together? If you can, I'd try that first.

You can always go to plan B and be thinking about how
to get the old pieces off in the meantime.

That's just my opinion.