well! for the record, the leads are on order but not arrived yet, so still on am ancient earth lead..
I went back to the transarc this evening, made sure the leads were well in, and gave it a blast..
"CAPTAIN-WE HAVE A FULL HEAD OF STEAM"
tons of power, and that fairly well solved the filleting issue I was having, it throws heat at the job just like the petrol one does,. and sounds nice and healthy.
This is a hi-tech forum and we prefer to say, "Captain, full warp speed is now available".
This it seems to be a problem with the dinse plugs and sockets. They're an inclined plane/screw type action and they can arc if you don't screw them in well and they can wear out.
now we (well me) are all nice and happy about one of them being working, it does stall, like instant stall rather than dying over a second or so, which is odd, and it stall even before you get to a really tight arc, which is annoying when im trying to precisely position the root weld. I am assuming this is a component of some sort deteriorating inside or there is a certain cut out resistance that is set too low..
this also means the kempii is broken... so thats annoying, I hav already had the fan replaced in it, and the cost of whatever has broken this time is going to be prohibitive.
This has to be down to the dinse plug and socket connection if after being screwed in really well it works well then then stops then works again. It sounds like a hit and miss connection. I bet those plugs are scarred with arcing.
I don't think the Kemppi is broken so much as having a minor fault. I do think that as well as ordering new leads (which will have new dinse plugs on) you ought to order new dinse sockets and fit them to both machines. Probably £5 a socket and it's not a difficult job. The cost of the leads plus £20? Something over £60 all told, but this is nice old style kit and you can probably forget this particular problem for another 35 years.
onto rods, they are SWP, olerikon fincord, and weldmaster? blue/red packet, and I have some toolstation 3.2's not tested on this machine, the best ones seem to be the 4&5mm ones, as they make a nice slag cover that comes off in one knock and no inclusions, but I guess that could be attributed to the larger diameter aswell?
whats a good brand to try for these 2mm?
Generally the budget ranges of the big names are the best to go for, but they are usually only do 2.5, 3.2 and 4mm.
I'd say Elga P45S or Fincord M. I haven't tried Elga 2mm but their 2.5mm are superb and not dear. 2mm Fincords are good. Those small diameter arc rods aren't so easy to find these days and the prices will either make your eyes water or you have to buy more than you can possibly use.
I think the market for 1.6mm and 2mm arc rods has been gobbled up by MIG.
thanks again guys, great forum, and I hope I can repay what you have taught me one day, I know its infuriating when a newbie comes along with the same old questions.
You can repay and I'm sure you don't think you get owt for nowt. I'll be round your place for a bag of taters some time soon.