Great Lakes Welding Solutions

03/21/2026

This will be a new service I’ll be offering. I’m going to design and build a better linear grinder and keyway cutter first though.

"On The Tractor" Crankshaft Spline Repair

Before you replace a worn down crankshaft, consider reconditioning the splines. Glen Delisle did just that on a John Deere Model A two-cylinder tractor. Best of all, he did it without removing the crankshaft from the tractor.

"I needed to recondition a shaft to fit the clutch hub," recalls Delisle. "I used a welder to build it up and then used a compound machinist vice to grind it down."

Read the full story: https://www.farmshow.com/a_article.php?aid=24443

09/06/2025

I have a couple jobs to do tonight, and the boss is here. At least I assume she’s the boss because she showed up, got all cozy and comfortable and then started barking out orders about things of which she has no clue 🤣

07/21/2025

Didn’t get any before and after pics or finished weld pics on this job because I was kinda rushing it once I finally got it in the barn. But my wife got some pretty cool in process pics with her new phone.

07/14/2025

Washer is complete and will be delivered in the morning.

My normal photographer, my 9yo son, was at a sleepover Friday night and catching up on his sleep Saturday, so my 4yo daughter took action pics. I’ve posted probably less than 1% of what she snapped 🤣

07/12/2025

Made a lot of progress reskinning this industrial parts washer. I’ve got less than half the welding to finish yet, but there’s a few spots I already welded that will have to be cut out and rewelded due to pulling impurities into the molten puddle causing porosity. Basically the gunk is melting and seeping into the weld joints. But either way, this will be done a delivered Monday morning.

07/11/2025

How it started vs. how it’s going….

Working in an industrial parts washer for a transmission shop that had turned into the shop sprinkler system.

It first appeared there were just some pinholes that needed patching, but once I got it into the shop and started digging into it it became clear that the paint and gunk on the inside were doing the heavy lifting so to speak, and that an entire re-skinning needed to take place. My customer had siliconed over the most egregious holes, but I found every little pain bubble was a hole.

I’m limping through with my 110V Lincoln SP-100 since the board in my 220V ESAB fried this morning. Hopefully I can get it replaced tomorrow, but even if I can’t I’ll get this washer done this weekend.

07/05/2025

My son wanted to drive his tractor in the parade this year, and he wanted Grampa to ride with him. There’s not much room for a rider on a John Deere H, so I quick scabbed together this platform out of drops I had laying around, and I gotta say, it turned out really nice.

It’s gonna stay on til after the SteamShow at the end of this month, then I’m gonna take it off to add a rail and kick plates and paint it.

07/02/2025

Mostly cosmetic repairs I did on a trailer earlier this week. Customer was getting annoyed at the sound of the fenders rattling against the frame going down to road. All fixed and set for another 20 years now.

06/25/2025

I’ve repaired several mower decks this spring/summer, and now one lawn tractor.

Frame broke in two places due to poor design. I excavated the cracks and welded the root with E6010, then I filled the balance with my MIG welder. Ground them flush and added small fish plates, welded the back side of the crack, and finished welding the joint the way it should’ve been done at the factory.

I’ve got a bigger project coming up late next week.

06/12/2025

Stop in and get some food and/or ice cream. Everything is delicious there!

Shout out to Brian Ribby with Great Lakes Welding Solutions (517-388-0460). Brian fixed our 2nd shake/malt mixer on short notice. We are now 100% ready for the car show this Friday. Thanks Brian!!!

251 S Bridge Dimondale Mi 517-408-0141

06/11/2025

Got a call yesterday from a friend of the owner of Village Ice Cream, their soft serve mixer was down and needed to be fixed before the car show this weekend.

So if you’re in Dimondale for the car show or stop through on your way to or from Oldsmobile homecoming and get a soft serve mixed treat, you’re welcome 😉.