O/T what wrong with my welder? any ideas?

[ratrod40428]

i got this little chicago electric 110 mig welder last year and it used to work really nice... used to.... Now, when i actully need to to start building my truck, it wont weld. i squeeze the trigger and the wheels just spin, they dont send any wire out... the adjustment is all the way tight but they just spin and spin... it is a flux core wire welder, someone told me somthing about how flux core welders need to have wheels with teeth on them to be able to feed the wire? if this is true my welder came with the wrong wheel, because the wheels on mine are totally smooth. any help would be great, thanks.

[burndup]

I think I have the same welder...

You need a new tip... you wore your old one out, and it welded itself to the wire. Unscrew it, then advance the wire, should work, just cut it all off... Get new tweco tips at hope depot, etc for your wire size.

Get ready for a flood of posts telling you your welder sucks.... but its helping you learn, right? Thats all that matters till your needs dictate getting a bigger one.

Good luck,
J

[Paul]

your welder sucks http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

ya got the right wire/wheel combo?

ie: .035 drive wheels with .025 wire etc.

is the nut that holds the spool too tight?

Paul

[Slide]

Good comments so far. I'll add more:

Make sure the axle for the wire spool has proper tension (and not seized up, for that matter!). (Edit: I just realized 60s already mentioned this, so yeah, chek that!)

If your wire guide rollers have grooves in them (most do), make sure the wire is actually IN the grooves. Voice of experience talking here.

What burndup said is the case 90% of the time, though. Especially when you do much welding on dirty and/or rusty metal. (But we NEVER do THAT!!!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif)

[Slag Kustom]

start from square 1

cut the wire off
change tip
refeed the machine and test out.

you may have put a dimple in the wire and the wheels are stuck in it.

could be a bur in the tip not letting the wire pass.



you should set the wheels tight enough to beable to just stop the wire. If they are to tight you end up with a mess of wire when it kicks back.

[overspray]

Also the drive wheels should be wiped clean with thinner periodically to or they can slip. overspray

[oldchevyseller]

also the liner can be worn out after miles of wire and bending and just plain abuse over the years, the liner is a sleeve just like a speeo cable the wire can get stuck and rub and not let the wheels push the wire through

[jalopy43]

Sounds like a liner problem.If you are bux down,short of buying a new liner,try cleaning it. Pull the feed liner,and coil it up in an oil changing pan. Soak in solvent,with a little laquer thinner added for good measure. Swish it around(the liner).remove and blow dry with compressed air. I usaully get about 3 cleanings before I have to buy a new liner. Save up to buy a miller,or lincoln.The Hobart mig's are quite good also.BTW I use flux core for everything. Once you get used to it,it is just as good,and you never run out of gas(right in the middle of a project on a sunday) Glenn