Help with a MIG welder problem

[jayoldschool]

A while back, I picked up an old Canadian Tire 120V MIG setup. The seller had no gas, but it did strike an arc when testing it. The wire was sticking to the tip, and causing the wire inside the machine to bunch up after the roller.

I have since picked up a gas cylinder, put everything on a cart, added new tip, and tried it out today. Managed to stick some metal together, and the gas is working so the wire doesn't stick to the tip anymore. However, the wire is still kinking and bunching up after the rollers inside the machine. I can only weld a little dab before this happens. I have tried changing the pressure on the idler wheel, but that just causes the drive wheel to slip.

The wire is .023, but the two grooves on the drive wheel are .024 and .035. I am using .024. I would think that would be fine. While messing around with it, I have found that by tightening the idler screw the drive wheel will actually stall as I increase pressure.

Any and all advice would be appreciated. I've got well under 100 bucks in this, so I am not expecting miracles. However, it would be nice to weld stuff occasionally without spending ten minutes straightening out welding wire...

Here's the beast. It wouldn't have been made by Canadian Tire, so perhaps it would be recognizable as one of the major manufacturers. Going by the colour scheme, it would date to late 80s to mid 1990s.

And, there is the problem:

 

[DonkDonk]

It may need a new liner.

 

[Outlawmws]

Part of your problem may be the kink in the feed hose just after it comes out of the strain relief. have someone hold it straight and see if it gets better.

Another possibility is a burr in the feed tip closest to the drive wheels.

Birds nesting happens when there is too much drag anywhere in the hose assembly.

You also try adjusting the feed tip so it is closer to the feed rolls, and you might get some wire through the thig, cut is so you have enough to pull a length back and forth through the feed hose to attempt to burnish any rough spots. do this with the business end tip off.

lastly. .023 is really fine and therefor more easily birds nested. try a heavier wire.

 

[jayoldschool]

Thanks. Looking around the web, I found a set up tutorial, and this pic shows the feed tip MUCH closer to the rollers than on mine. I would guess that would make a lot of difference. How do I bring that part closer?

I will hazard a guess that the adjustment has something to do with that thumb screw I have the arrow pointing to?

 

[welder4956]

Thanks. Looking around the web, I found a set up tutorial, and this pic shows the feed tip MUCH closer to the rollers than on mine. I would guess that would make a lot of difference. How do I bring that part closer?

I will hazard a guess that the adjustment has something to do with that thumb screw I have the arrow pointing to?

I would say this is certainly part of the problem. Loosen the thumb screw that holds the gun adapter and slide the gun adapter toward the drive rolls, then retighten. There could be a part missing here also, as I'm not familiar with this model. To adjust the drive roll tension, loosen the tensioner until you can hold the wire still at the tip and the drive rolls spin. Then tighten the tension until the wire starts to push out of your hand and stop. You may also need to check the end of the tip to be sure there is not a burr or bit of melted metal on the opening that is rubbing on the wire. If so, file the tip until clean and deburr the hole, or get a new tip.

 

[welder4956]

Also, the wire spool looks a little low compared to the wire guide where it goes into the drive rolls. There may have been a spacer there that is now missing. Raising it up will help the wire feed more smoothly. You may be able to make a spacer out of PVC pipe.

 

[jayoldschool]

Yes, there is definitely something missing there. There is no hold down. I'll fab something up.

Thanks for the advice. I'll see if I can adjust it tomorrow...

Jason.

 

[jayoldschool]

Back with a quick update. Adjusted the gun adapter closer to the drive rolls, but it still wouldn't feed. So, I cut the wire, and pulled all the wire out of the gun. No turning back! Some of the wire was pretty kinked up inside the gun. So, I hand fed new wire, put it all back together, made sure the the gun part was close to the roller, gave the idler a little tension, and tried it out. Happy to report it is working fine! Thanks for the help.

BTW, it is a Century 117-047. I'm on the hunt for the owner's manual. I found a parts diagram.

This is a great site for wire setup:

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/wire-feed.htm

 

[welder4956]

BTW, it is a Century 117-047. I'm on the hunt for the owner's manual. I found a parts diagram.

http://www.lincolnelectric.com/assets/ServiceNavigator/Century/Century/811_335_000.pdf

 

[welder4956]

I notice on page 8 of the owner's manual, it says the liner should extend to within 1/16" to 1/8" of the drive roller. You also mentioned wire was kinking inside the liner. Sounds like the liner may be worn or not the right size. You might want to try a new liner.

 

[jayoldschool]

Thanks for the manual link! I looked everywhere on Lincoln's site with no luck.

I think the liner is ok. I believe the kinking wire inside that I found was simply from birdnesting that had been forced through before I moved the liner closer to the drive wheels.

 

[dodge610]

Gun liner is dirty or bad from your pics looks like you have everything adjusted right. Does not take much to mess up the liner after bird nesting inside it or the liner was kinked before you bought it only way to know for sure is replace it. Liner dont run that much give it a try you got nothing to loose.

 

[lilredex]

I have the same Century welder and my set up looks like this:



Have never had a problem with .023 wire bunching up like that, however I did have to make a new drive wheel. The only wheel that came with it had .035 and .045 grooves which would not drive the smaller wire. Initially I used .035 flux core and I assume there is a liner in there, and it does work OK. Don't really use it much as I have a MM 135 to do all that work.

EDIT: Updated pictures.

 

[maxx123]

i picked up this unit a few years ago from a garage sale (divorce) the wife selling it for 40 i thought why not .. its been sitting in a corner of my work shop for 4 years .. tired of using chinese junk
looking to bring it back to life

 

[lilredex]

Let us know how you make out. I did not buy the conversion kit when it was available, so I had to put one together from parts available, as shown in the above picture.

 

[jayoldschool]

Wow, my old thread comes back.

My welder continues to work when needed. I used it on the rebuild of my bed on my 1965 C10 truck project.

 

[lilredex]

Did you resolve the "birdnesting" problem?

Still lots of them out there. Here is one on Kijiji.

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-tool-other/w...er/1171211260?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

 

[maxx123]

looking for a manual for this unit

 

[maxx123]

Jayoldschool where did you find the manual

 

[jayoldschool]

Birdnesting was solved by moving the liner right next to the roller.

I got the manual from the link on the first page (which doesn't seem to work anymore).

maxx, pm your email address, I'll send it to you.