Clarke Tip Replace

[ScottinColorado]

Hi , new and like the site, lotta info!
I have a CLarke 150 EN and wanna change the tip as I am repairing the frame tails on my 1980 CJ5 Jeep and my welds were getting better but now the welder is sticking and the wire feed is groaning and I suspect the tip. I have had the welder for some time , bought it from a buddy but only played with it till now. I am using flux wire and building 10 inch long "shoes" out of some leftover elevator mounting steel angles that I think are 3/16 inch thick . Have cut the steel to make a horseshoe of sorts to insert into the chopped away section of the lower frame that was so rotted that the spring hanger was punching its way upward into the rust. The good part of the upper frame tail serves as my benchmark and the shoe fits inside perfectly . Big project for my welding ability but as I said , my welds were getting better but now the feed is acting up . I can unsrew the whole torch tip sheild bit it won't pull off over the tip. What am I missing here for this maintenance issue ?
Thanks !
Scott

 

[shenion]

Sounds like you really have the tip clogged up. The tip laso unscres, you may have to take both of at once.

 

[ScottinColorado]

Clogged

Scott ,
Thanks for the reply ! I found my replacement tips and will keep cleaning the shield out until it pulls off over the tip .
Scott

 

[ma77y]

Hey Scott, once you get your new tips and so on i suggest using an anti spatter spray, it keeps your work clean and your tips are far easyer to clean! recommended buy another member is Clean-Weld, but im sure there is lots in the states

M

 

[ScottinColorado]

Thanks , I got the tip off , cleaned the swan neck liner and all the parts . It was a mess!A small section at the bottom of the liner broke off , maybe 1/8th of an inch but there is still a flare on it. Gun seems to work fine and the wire feeds and will know later today if it welds again. I have a tub of " tip dip " , a blue gel for anti spatter. Do you just dip the whole tip in ?
Thanks ,
Scott

 

[shenion]

Yes, when the tip is hot, dip it in the gel.

 

[ScottinColorado]

Thanks ! Used the welder today to begin rebuilding the box that holds the nut to mount the rear body mount . Rusted mess and cut away all the worst and made the rplacement plate that holds the nut which I spot welded to the upper side . all this simply holds the polyurethane body mount back there and all this needs done before I can put the new rear crossmember on which holds the trailer hitch , etc. Down to one cut-off wheel for my Dewalt cordless and am double thinking my moves. The frame tails inserts are spot welded in and the shackle hangers fit and bolt in and I drove it today with the old gas can in the back with a hose to the fuel line. Ran out of smokes! Damn Marlies!
I'll send some pics when I get to a point where I can show it off. Not a very good welder yet but I can run a Makita grinder like a pro. Love this website and was inspired by the pics of the Land Rover repair to cut patches to fit instead of welding a patch over.
Thanks all !
Any vendors with parts for Clarke that ship to USA? Ebay did not have a swan neck liner.
Scott

 

[shenion]

Check weldingdepot.com, they used to carry all the parts. I see they don't have them listed. They sold me my 130EN and were great on service. I'd call or email them on availability of the neck liner. I know my 130EN could have used one.

Seems Clarke US went chapter 11 early this year (not Clarke Europe.) So, things seem to be in flux as to availability.

BTW, the tips are available at Northern Tools, Home Depot and Lowes. The Clarkes, small Lincolns and Hobart machines all use torches that are clones of Tweco guns (MiniMIG) so they use the same consumables.

I use the Lincoln Electric electrodes from HomerD.

Post some picts, don't be shy

 

[ScottinColorado]

Check weldingdepot.com, they used to carry all the parts. I see they don't have them listed. They sold me my 130EN and were great on service. I'd call or email them on availability of the neck liner. I know my 130EN could have used one.

Seems Clarke US went chapter 11 early this year (not Clarke Europe.) So, things seem to be in flux as to availability.

BTW, the tips are available at Northern Tools, Home Depot and Lowes. The Clarkes, small Lincolns and Hobart machines all use torches that are clones of Tweco guns (MiniMIG) so they use the same consumables.

I use the Lincoln Electric electrodes from HomerD.

Post some picts, don't be shy

Scott ,
Yes , been looking at what fits what and saw Clarke USA was out , one of the reasons I checked into this website. I have plenty of tips for .030 , and a roll of .035 flux wire and tips for that even but need to factor in that I am changing from frame gauge steel to body sheet thickness and will look at the tutorials you have posted for different gauge metals and the like. BTW , Torch tip would not come off due to a spatter on the nozzle. Had to put on a headlamp and hold the shield asida a bit and tap it off with a screwdriver. Pulled right off for the cleanup.
Scott