Have you looked at a lincoln bester 190c just about top end of your budget but you could do a bit of tig as well.
thanks not looked yet - where is the best place to buy?
I was hoping the recent money off eBay code could be used - alas not :-(R Tech 180 is a decent set
The power for the Clarke wirefeed motor ( probably ) is tapped off the main welding transformer. Even tho' it does not feed, can you get an arc at the tip of the MIG wire?
Hi Eddie49, not tried the arc test, the operation is machine on at any setting [same result], press trigger, big relay operates and the spool motor starts and stops - maybe does a 1/6 of a turn. Release trigger and try again- same thing - small movement stop.
I applied 12v to the motor and it span up fine for as long as the voltage was on
this does have a gas valve in the torch - its 'motherboard' related I think, as the roller does not operate without wire - if the fix is cheap then I will do so but I'm not wanting to spend £80+, I'd like to buy a new toy :-)Might be the swan neck liner if the trouble started after you put a new roll of wire in. Or the plastic liner, easily replaced for one pound.
Yes you could do a Euro torch conversion for around £60, if you intend keeping it. Could last another 27 years. There were some nice drive motors inc. Euro sockets on ebay real cheap recently, but they've gone now it seems.
BTW, the older 80's Clarke and SIPs often had Italian 'Trafimet' torches with no gas valve in the torch, so the liner went direct to the tip - much nicer in use.
thanks all for taking time to post