Oxford boat anchor...

[BigWeld]

Foolish me bought a 225 amp Oxford stick box off fleabay for £35, looks like its not had any oil in it for a long time judging from the rust on the ironwork inside, seller did eventually say he had been using it with no oil in it as it was too heavy to lift into his van with the oil in ... is that game over for one of these things? or will they take this kind of abuse? or do I have a potential boat anchor

Is there any simple electrical tests to do to see if it is still functional ?

Cheers

Paul

 

[ronan]

I was told by an older welder that the oxfords were a great welder, but don't like being moved around too much, tipped over, and if they are leaking oil its bad news too. If the previous owner was only tacking up work or doing light welds, then the windings might not have gotten hot.

For £35 if it is knackered, you will get most of your money back weighing in the copper

 

[octo0072000]

just try it as is if it works then think about oil if not weigh it in as ronan says

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

As they say, try it. If it works buy some oil.
If not I have a retirement home for old welding sets.

 

[BigWeld]

Thanks for the sound advice gents, tested for continuity and earth faults as best as I can with my old AVO but cant find any obvious electrical faults other than a wonky on off switch (bent contacts).

here are some pics of the interior not a pretty sight:

 

[ronan]

You might have struck lucky and there is no damage.

 

[sardine]

Have they got overheat cut offs in the tranny's ?

 

[brightspark]

Have they got overheat cut offs in the tranny's ?

nupe but If it welds on all settings check before buying the oil though just in case part of tranny don't work and its ok
it will be ok

 

[Arash]

where do you get oil for them, last time I looked it was double what I paid for my bantam. Mine luckily was in good working order and came with lots of rods. I love the thing, like me its built for comfort!

 

[Bill Edwards]

seller did eventually say he had been using it with no oil in it as it was too heavy to lift into his van with the oil in

There are some idiots around...

 

[BigWeld]

After following the advice of the good people here I tried it dry and ill be blowed it works fine, tested on all ranges and seems to weld good on them all.

I did also email Youngs and Mr Young replied saying pretty much the same thing as you guys just try it as an air cooled unit and if it works than worry about the missing oil.

I did have to do some work before trying it with a stick, the 50v terminal was melted/burned it looks like it might have been used with the cable loose and the terminal post had been badly butchered in a crude repair attempt so I did have to make a new 7/16" whitworth stud for it, not too bad though about half an hour on the lathe with a bit of scrap brass rod.

Also stripped and remade all the HV and LV connections and cleaned up all the internal contacts.

Now comes the big problem trying to find 10 gallons of Mineral Transformer Oil for a sensible price, cheapest I have come across so far is recycled stuff from Eden Oils for a whopping £126 delivered

Does anyone have a cheaper source for Transformer oil? or perhaps someone has a 10 gallon drum of it at the back of their shed taking up space....

Paul

 

[brightspark]

any leccy board guys hanging round the substations u could ask

 

[brightspark]

it only needs half filling as when u dunk the tranny back in the oil rises and only needs cover the windings

 

[BigWeld]

Thanks brightspark didn't think about tapping the SWALEC guys, there are sometimes engineers at the transformer at the end of the road I will have to keep an eye out.

Flaming tank on this thing is enormous, Youngs did say it takes 10 gallons and looking at it I can well believe it, trust me if I thought I could get away with less I would with the price of this stuff

Paul

 

[brightspark]

Thanks brightspark didn't think about tapping the SWALEC guys, there are sometimes engineers at the transformer at the end of the road I will have to keep an eye out.

Flaming tank on this thing is enormous, Youngs did say it takes 10 gallons and looking at it I can well believe it, trust me if I thought I could get away with less I would with the price of this stuff

Paul

right mine looks to take 5 gallons at a guess may be more

 

[octo0072000]

might be an idea to fill the tank with water or diesel first no use putting oil in if it leaks

 

[BigWeld]

brightspark you have set me thinking about the tank size and oil capacity, how many types and sizes of 225 amp machines did Oxford do? the reason I ask is I have just measured my tank and it's L410mm x H430mm x W345mm yet the WT225 is (which I thought mine was) should be W510mm x D470mm x H605mm? Youngs reckoned it should take 10 gallons which seems about rightish for a WT225 (57 litres) yet my tank is a good bit smaller... confused I am

Friday good point never gave it a thought the tank could be leaky.

 

[ms08]

10 gallons might be why it was too heavy to lift into a van.........?

 

[HughF]

Let me see if I have any mineral transformer oil... I can probably spare some, just logistics might be an issue

 

[BigWeld]

Let me see if I have any mineral transformer oil... I can probably spare some, just logistics might be an issue

Hugh that would be marvellous, you in Frome? thats about an hours drive over the Severn bridge from me in Newport.

Thanks

Paul