Help welder needs a new gun

[mdog892001]

Trying to do some light welding and my mig gun and wire hose isn’t the best. I believe I need a new gun and maybe wire to as it keeps bird nesting in the feed roller. Any idea on where to get a new gun for a welder like this?
Thanks


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[f150skidoo]

These guys carry replacement guns/ parts for for almost everything, I bought a replacement for my old hobart and like the gun better then the original.
https://www.usaweld.com/

 

[BigMike782]

90% of gun issues is solved with a new liner.

 

[kerrynzl]

You can clean the liner by running Methylated spirits through it.
And Give the rollers a "wheel alignment"

BUT the best advise is......

Buy a whole new torch /gun / lead as a unit.
But before you do, check the availability of nozzles and tips [and price]

I did that on my 26 year old MIG because the liners were getting crazy expensive.
Then I sold the old unit on the internet for 1/2 price of the new one.

I was out of pocket less than the cost of a liner and now the tips are dirt cheap.

 

[Bondo]

90% of gun issues is solved with a new liner.

Ayuh,.... Agreed,..... A new liner, 'n new tip will probably fix what ya got to brand new condition,.....

 

[mdog892001]

Thank you. Guess I’ll have to do some internet searching.


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[joe_padavano]

90% of gun issues is solved with a new liner.

^^^THIS. There really is nothing to the gun except the liner and an electric switch. The switch obviously has nothing to do with birdnesting of the wire. Change the liner. Replace the gas diffuser and tip. Now you have a "new" gun.

Also, are you sure the problem is in the gun and not in the feed area before the gun? There is often a short section of liner between the feed rollers and the gun fitting. Be sure that's aligned properly and internally clean. Be sure your wire isn't rust covered either.

 

[Flail]

I give a thumbs up to USAweld. My 30 year old gun on my 250 amp Lincoln was used up! Cracked housing, intermittent switches. Got a new gun with a 15’ lead which is 3’ longer, has better switches and an easier to change liner. Make sure your wire has no surface rust. If it does, dumpster it.

 

[mdog892001]

Yea I’m pretty sure the wire I have is the original wire that came with the welder when it was bought off the truck. Which has rust on it until you get down to the underlying wire. Would hate to toss almost full 5 pound spool in the trash. I agree the wire is probably half the problem.


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[gofastwclass]

Rusty wire is no bueno. That will cause you more feeding drama than you can imagine. Plus rusty wire isn't good for a solid weld but that is another topic.

The three parts of a MIG welder that control wire feeding are the gun liner, tip and wire. These are consumables, replace them. Depending on the age of the welder, use and how much rusty wire you've run, the tip and wire should be first with the gun liner being last. If you've run a lot of rusty wire the liner may have been damaged.

 

[Farrier]

90% of gun issues is solved with a new liner.

amen

 

[3 Gun Shooter]

One problem you may run into is you can not get liners for older guns. I needed a liner for my old Miller 35, 2 welding supply stores could not help me. Even called Miller and they recommended a new gun and told me what would fit. I got a genuine Miller online for under $170.

 

[bdbecker]

Looking at a manual for your welder, it looks like you have a "MWG-160M" weld gun. USA Weld shows some info on a gun that has that same name used on a HTP welder. The crappy schematic in the manual kind of looks similar, but you'll need to see it matches what you have. The bad part is that its an archived page and the part numbers can't be added to the cart. Searching for Mac part numbers from the manual didn't come up with much either, so you you might be out of luck.

Manual:
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/583840/Mac-Tools-Mw-145.html?page=21#manual

USA Welds Archived Page:
http://800usaweld.com/products/mig_gun_parts/autoarc.html#MWG

You'll probably have to call Mac and/or USA Weld to see if they can either get you the parts, or find a whole gun that replaces what you have. Hopefully having that HTP number helps and USA Weld can recommend a replacement - I see that the HTP replacement gun number goes to currently available unit. Once you have that new gun, buy replacement parts right away. I just spent ~$100 on a consumables order (liners, trigger, nozzles, etc) from USA Weld for my Millermatic 135 M10 gun. Parts are still easy to find right now, so I bought enough to hopefully last me the life of the welder.

 

[Ign]

I'd never recommend an OEM Miller gun. I've never understood why Miller can't build a decent gun....but they can't. Try Tweco or Bernard. Most pro shops ditch the Miller guns, too.....or at least all the ones I worked at.

I'm a Miller fan boy but it baffles the mind how they're somehow in denial...at least on M10 and M25. Maybe there's newer stuff that's better now

 

[Tinner]

Bernard and Miller are both part of ITW welding.

 

[BD1]

Maybe consider selling that machine as is and upgrading to a 220 volt welder.
Depending on what you do and your needs are. Big difference in the machines today. Miller had current rebates, not sure about Lincoln.

 

[mdog892001]

I can’t sell it. Kind of a family heirloom. But idk if I could run a 220 unit because the wires from my house to the garage are direct bury 12ga 220v. On a 25amp breaker


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[metaleltr]

I can’t sell it. Kind of a family heirloom. But idk if I could run a 220 unit because the wires from my house to the garage are direct bury 12ga 220v. On a 25amp breaker


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You would definitely need a service upgrade to use a 240v machine.

 

[Bretny]

You run rusty wire through any mig gun and you will need a new gun liner. I would start withba new liner and 1lb spool of wire. Dosnt seam like you use it much.

 

[mdog892001]

Figured it out. Bad wire. Shame though someone paid good money for that 10lb spool


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[trackwelder]

I run a wire luber on all my welders. Have not changed a liner since using them.
https://weldaid.com/lube-matic/

 

[BajaScout]

I run a wire luber on all my welders. Have not changed a liner since using them.
https://weldaid.com/lube-matic/

Just bought it. Never tried it. Sound like a good idea though.

 

[welder4956]

You can also blow the liner out with compressed air. Not as good as a new liner, but will help get all the rust out.

 

[why worry]

As trackwelder says a luber makes a big difference on liner life