Is my steering box ruined?

[Lockcuff]

Hey, after some good caked on grease cleaning I realized someone welded my steering box together. Was this a normal thing that was done? Should I replace the whole thing? My axle tubes are welded as well so they won’t slide in or out.
I’m thinking of grinding the weld off and see if it will split. It doesn’t look like it was welded very well.
What’s your thoughts?
Thanks

[tst]

pics do not show up

[Lockcuff]

Sorry, My images are too large and I had to make them smaller. There is at least one photo showing now.

[staninlowerAL]

That might be freeze damage that has been welded. JMHO Stan

[ricky racer]

One thing you'll find out about a Cub is parts are readily available and rather inexpensive should you decide to replace them. If your steering box isn't leaking and you have no desire to lengthen your axle, you can probably leave things as they are. If you're wanting to do a nice restoration, you'll probably want to change out those parts.
My '53's steering box, had a weld repair on it from freeze damage when I purchased it. The weld was nicely done but I opted to replace it since I was planning on using the tractor for snowplowing and felt the lower bolster strength was possibly compromised and since the snow blade hung from the bolster, I decided to change it out.

[Gary Dotson]

That’s not real pretty! Does that tractor have or has it had a sickle mower? Sometimes, with the sickle mower, people had a lot of trouble keeping the bolts in the steering gear housing. The last ditch effort was to weld them. If it were mine, I’d probably go parts shopping, even if it were just for appearance reasons.

[Lockcuff]

It does have a sickle bar on it actually, may be the reason it’s welded. I guess the vibration is too much.

That’s not real pretty! Does that tractor have or has it had a sickle mower? Sometimes, with the sickle mower, people had a lot of trouble keeping the bolts in the steering gear housing. The last ditch effort was to weld them. If it were mine, I’d probably go parts shopping, even if it were just for appearance reasons.

[Don McCombs]

Or the cutter bar hit a stump.

[Eugene]

A second photo was posted on face book.

The parts where welded(?) is cast which is very hard for a farmer to weld. I think you can separate the parts by knocking off the weld.

My question, what are you planning on using the tractor for?