Hi 
I have a very aged, yet little used Handymig ( from back when the case was silver with red writing and a red front plate, and a bronze smoked acrylic wire reel/feeder cover bought new circa 1985-90 )
it's a 35a-80a unit.
Last night I was welding some 3mm plate parts for a mate and as the machine got hotter it began to sputter ( bird pooping ), going on much longer resulted in the welders thermal cutout tripping. Good excuse for a cuppa. Later on once cooled, it was fine again until it began to heat up, then it was back to sputtering. Altering the wire feed speed on the dial didn't cure it, but did of course alter the wire feed rate.
It's never done this before, so I'm wondering what it could be?
From cold, it welded fine, then as it warmed up it gradually got worse until it was unusable.
It has just had ( literally JUST HAD ) a new wire liner to replace the plastic one, the swan neck liner is new, as is the tip. The plastic tube from wire reel to feeder rollers is also new and of course I was using a new mini-reel of .8mm wire and a fresh bottle of Co2. Wire feed is smooth, and I've set the wire tension to just above being able to stop the feed with a tight finger grip at the tip end.
It does feel like it's down on power ( running at positions 2-2 on the white switches ) but I only discovered that after switching to using a gasless Clarke 90EN to finish the job after the handymig got so bad.
Is there a definitive *upgrade* parts list for this wee terror? ( I've read a few feeder power supply threads etc)
It'd be nice to have a fan to cool things ( like the turbo versions ) if this is all just down to getting too hot internally.
I'm not sure I'd need the seperate power supply for feed motor, but in the switch 2 - 2 setting, and using .8mm mild wire the feed turn dial is rather sensitive, as going above no.2 on the dial speed calibration just results in poops and splutter.
ARE there any suppliers of OEM internal fans that would retrofit directly into and connect up to the internals of the Original Handymig? I say OEM parts, but I really just mean to avoid anyone saying yeah fit a 120mm 12v pc fan that blows as hard as an asthmatic pensioner on 40 a day.
I can supply photo's if required.
( not of an Asthmatic Pensioner though.. you'll have to use google for that )
so glad i found this forum 
I have a very aged, yet little used Handymig ( from back when the case was silver with red writing and a red front plate, and a bronze smoked acrylic wire reel/feeder cover bought new circa 1985-90 )
it's a 35a-80a unit.
Last night I was welding some 3mm plate parts for a mate and as the machine got hotter it began to sputter ( bird pooping ), going on much longer resulted in the welders thermal cutout tripping. Good excuse for a cuppa. Later on once cooled, it was fine again until it began to heat up, then it was back to sputtering. Altering the wire feed speed on the dial didn't cure it, but did of course alter the wire feed rate.
It's never done this before, so I'm wondering what it could be?
From cold, it welded fine, then as it warmed up it gradually got worse until it was unusable.
It has just had ( literally JUST HAD ) a new wire liner to replace the plastic one, the swan neck liner is new, as is the tip. The plastic tube from wire reel to feeder rollers is also new and of course I was using a new mini-reel of .8mm wire and a fresh bottle of Co2. Wire feed is smooth, and I've set the wire tension to just above being able to stop the feed with a tight finger grip at the tip end.
It does feel like it's down on power ( running at positions 2-2 on the white switches ) but I only discovered that after switching to using a gasless Clarke 90EN to finish the job after the handymig got so bad.
Is there a definitive *upgrade* parts list for this wee terror? ( I've read a few feeder power supply threads etc)
It'd be nice to have a fan to cool things ( like the turbo versions ) if this is all just down to getting too hot internally.
I'm not sure I'd need the seperate power supply for feed motor, but in the switch 2 - 2 setting, and using .8mm mild wire the feed turn dial is rather sensitive, as going above no.2 on the dial speed calibration just results in poops and splutter.
ARE there any suppliers of OEM internal fans that would retrofit directly into and connect up to the internals of the Original Handymig? I say OEM parts, but I really just mean to avoid anyone saying yeah fit a 120mm 12v pc fan that blows as hard as an asthmatic pensioner on 40 a day.
I can supply photo's if required.
( not of an Asthmatic Pensioner though.. you'll have to use google for that )
so glad i found this forum
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