Broken torch - Clarke 165te

[inchpincher]

My mig has suddenly started producing very sooty welds, upping the gas made no difference. Taken the torch apart and found the probable culprit... Can anyone confirm please?

The metal is cracked just below that metal coil and also the black plastic at the bottom is split, drawing in air i think.

If this does need replacing, does the whole torch need binning, and also a good place to purchase said item.

Thanks all! (and a happy new year )

 

[malcolm]

That's really weird - I've not seen a swan neck crack before. It is most likely possible to replace the swan neck, a good thing as a new torch would probably be £60 ish. The 165 parts aren't in the shop on the site yet, but I'll bet weldequip can sort you out with one. He's having a holiday at the moment and might be a bit busy on Monday with the orders in the shop.

Otherwise Machine Mart ought to be able to supply a new swan neck.

A bit of exhaust paste would probably seal the gap.

 

[pedrobedro]

It's more likely to be pushing gas out than sucking air in if you have gas pressure. Upping the gas will give you turbulence and draw air into the weld area. Is there a liner in the swan neck and have you tried blowing it out with an air line.

 

[inchpincher]

thanks for your thoughts guys. I clumsily broke the already split black plastic collar when i was giving the neck further autopsy so a new neck is a given.

I'll see if there's any crap in the liner but my instincts are it was air ingress, whatever it was the torch is getting an overhaul!

Bring on monday 4th, i'm bored of everything being shut, i've had to work the whole of crimbo

 

[inchpincher]

Well had a chance to play today but still a bit stumped...

Replacement parts from Weldequip came promptly, turns out the gas tip is detachable from the swan neck.

Also dismantled the torch, blew through the liner and neck, replaced the gas tip, shroud, copper 0.6 tip (only had a spare 0.8 but shouldn't be a problem), so was hoping for better results than this

Haven't used mig for a while but i wasn't this bad before left to right, 1st - gas @ 10 lpm, 2nd - gas @ 14 lpm and trying a dodgy overlapping technique, 3rd - gas @ 7 lpm, 4th - gas back @ 10 lpm.

Torch was at roughly 80º and was pulled towards the body... welds aren't smooth at all, any ideas please chaps

 

[inchpincher]

Mig fault finding

Still having problems with my clarke mig and i desperately need to finish a project... Any of the wise offer a possible cause of the welds ceasing to be smooth?
My shortlist includes - Gas bottle is contaminated (it's an x-sized boc argonshield) but i'm 99% sure the problem hasn't been present since i got it refilled, it's about half empty now.
Air ingress - should i be take the welder apart and check all the hose connections?
Wire - same reel as i've been using for yonks, certainly isn't rusty?

Would you say the sooty residue on the welds points to a problem or am i imagining it

Thanks for any help,

ben

I have merged this theread with the old one. It will back to the top now its active again Hitch

 

[malcolm]

What type of shielding gas are you using? Pure CO2 doesn't flow quite so well as Argon/CO2 mixes.

Has the soot problem been sorted - ie have those welds been cleaned for the camera or are they as welded?

 

[Hitch]

To be honest Ben, i wouldn't be all that concerned with the soot, the actual weld itself appears to be fine...?

 

[Wozzaaah]

Agree with Hitch on that, they look fine though it looks as though you may be canting the torch over a little too far.
That can produce sooty welds and also the elongated ripple effect you can see.

Have a look at this pic for the correct lead angle.

 

[inchpincher]

Thanks guys, especially hitch for consolidating the threads

Malcolm - it's argonsheild and the welds are uncleaned. Maybe this is all in my head and i've been practicing my tig welding so much in the last couple of months i've lost my reference point with mig...

It's just not 'acting' as i remember and that's what has thrown me...

Cheers for the tip wozzah, i'll try a bit of pushing instead of pulling (in my defense i was doing quite a pronounced crescent stitch in those pics )

Now i can deseam my friends scooter asap

Ta,

ben

 

[Wozzaaah]

I hadn't spotted that you'd said you were pulling, most mig welding is done by pushing the torch, it will result in a flatter bead profile.

 

[malcolm]

Is it BOC Argoshield Light? Or some other mix?

There's certainly no problem with shielding if the welds are as welded. All the welds are clean.

I normally pull for thin metal (apart from fillets). I find it a lot easier and insufficient penetration is not a problem with thin metal.