lincoln power mig 216 help

[sweetk30]

i have a lincoln power mig 216 and currently run 045 wire from esab and c-25 mix gas .

problem is welding has gotten weird . can be warm machine or fresh turn on from cold and it will just stop like someone stopped pulling the trigger . i have wiggled the mig gun lead and keep pulling the switch and nothing . once it calms down / cools down / plays nice it starts welding again with the trigger . all original lincoln parts on this unit .

to me its acting like a time out or thermal safety .

i weld with this machine mostly on power level D and 200-225 wire speed . sometimes jump to power level E and 250 ish wire feed .

purchased brand new in 2016 or 2017 and just for me in my shop no one else uses the unit .

i also blow out the dust every now and then that builds up inside the machine .

anyone got any idea's ?

 

[BigMike782]

First thing I would try is bypass the mig gun. Remove the control wire and identify which two of the four wires are used and put a jumper from one to the other. If the wire feeds the gas flows you have a bad wire in the gun. If not then you’ll either have to go inside the wrapper or take it to a service center.

 

[sweetk30]

I did change the tip out . Been a long time since I had . Thinking maybe worn out hole and to much slop and to much amperage to burn it. . . I use nozzle dip and dont eat as many tips or diffuser shields .

Got some welding to do so will try and report back .

 

[sberry]

It's really a 030 or 035 machine. Not that it won't run larger wire but the parameters are tuned for smaller wire.

 

[sweetk30]

So this BIG machine is not for big welding ?

And your info dont help with my question at all . . .

 

[sberry]

I fixed something in ne of those Lincoln guns rather early on and it's been fine since. The machine should run fine in a welding shop 3 years. I can go along with an old tip long time or ruin one too in a minute. While I was at it take the gun apart first, getting it back together correct is good. I fix mine 25 years ago and it worked ever since. Meter it, check it out but if it ain't working the rest of it aint.and if it is not the problem you looked under the hood so to speak.

 

[sberry]

I wish i wouldn't have posted that first thought, the second is to the problem. Forgive me i do this fast and was going backwards and read the question again, it was a reflex.

 

[sberry]

The 216 is a little unusual. As to the problem gun first, it wouldnt be the first to do this and as i recall i fix it without parts, was mechanical. It had a burr maybe, it was north of 20 years and a factory gun they use forever.
Now as to the wire size, I meant to wait,, jumped the gun to say that machine may perform a bit better with a smaller wire. Maybe you know this, i cant remember themall, maybe you dont or someone has a similar machine and trying to **** the golf ball thru the hose. I dont recall tbe settings, how fast is 225 up the dial on the machine.

 

[sberry]

Next roll in my 255 is going to be 030 to see if that sputtering sucker runs any better.

 

[sweetk30]

I wish i wouldn't have posted that first thought, the second is to the problem. Forgive me i do this fast and was going backwards and read the question again, it was a reflex.

 

[sweetk30]

i use to run 035 wire in it and it was fine . but swapped to 045 aspr a member on a site told me to after posting pics . . . WOW what a improvement on the weld penetration and overall weld job . also it lets me run higher amps for thick stuff .

i recently ran out my 045 and needed to finish a job so i swapped in my spare 035 spool and yes it finished and its good but i sure did miss that 045 wire and went and got a new roll the next day .

 

[sweetk30]

so i got tech support at lincoln this morning . he said yep its timing out for sure with the problem i described to him .

he said 1 of 2 things and option one is cheeper to fix and more likely the problem .

option #1 - worn out / dirty liner in the gun lead . under 15.00 bucks at the local supply store for a new tweeko brand . cheep easy test and after 4 rolls of 44lbs each wire its prob due for its first liner since i purchased it new .

option #2 - wire drive motor is going south and overheating . this many rolls of wire he said prob not this . but did say the liner going bad will make the motor work harder and pop to save its self and other parts .

then i called the local supply store and talked with a good old timer guy who has been welding for YEARS and he is 1 of the techs there . he confirmed both options as the lincoln tech guy said and also do the liner and it should solve the problem .

so i grabbed one and 2 14" chop saw disks and a 330cf bottle of c-25 mix and out the door i went . got home tonight and swapped in the liner then it was time for dinner and relax . so i will give her a try in the AM and see how it goes .

and as a note to anyone who has NOT changed a liner before lay it out long and flat as much as possible . they go in a lot better this way . i kind of forgot and figured it out half way threw removing the old one . . . last one i changed way 4-5 years ago on the little 140c lincoln mig i have also .

 

[sberry]

Cheap test, I would think it would run more than 4 rolls. That's neat it will run 045 well.

 

[sweetk30]

Cheap test, I would think it would run more than 4 rolls. That's neat it will run 045 well.

and the parts list asks 035 or 045 wire as the primary size wire for the liner .

 

[Ign]

I'm curious if the new liner resolves your issue. Hope so!

I've run way more than 4 spools of .035 at 44# ea but I'm assuming the default liner is intended for .035 and you may have been pushing it at .045; edit: my machine is 256 with 15' lead

 

[sweetk30]

Same machine just digital dials over my knobs only .

 

[sweetk30]

burnning 045 wire all day like there was never a problem with the unit .

guess the liner was junk ......... new tweeko installed and good