C02 leak on my Clarke mig welder?

[Afterimage]

I've been using my Clarke 100EN Gas/No Gas welder with no-gas welding wire for a few years now with fair results,but yesterday I bought a pub type CO2 bottle and regulator etc to convert to gas mig welding.

I set it all up this afternoon along with a spool of 0.6mm wire,new tip etc and couldn't believe how much easier it was to get a nice weld on the 1mm thick steel I was practicing on.

The only problem was that I could hear a very faint hissing from the gun when I wasn't welding,when I removed the shroud and applied some spit to the gas orifices near the tip I could see that gas was escaping.

Is it normal for some gas to escape even when the trigger isn't depressed,or do I need a replacement brass valve block thingy for my gun?

I don't really like the idea of my lovely new C02 escaping into the atmosphere when I'm not welding.

 

[rtbcomp]

Mine did that, I exercised the trigger vigorously a few times and it stopped.

 

[Rich.C]

There should not be any gas coming out unless the trigger is depressed. As you say it sounds like the gas valve needs looking at/replacing.

 

[malcolm]

I think it's a common problem. I used to tap my torch against something solid after welding to stop the leak and be very careful to turn the bottle off after welding. Forgot once and half a bottle worth of gas escaped overnight.

Ended up buying a new torch (pricy) though even the gas valves are about £20.

 

[Afterimage]

Mine did that, I exercised the trigger vigorously a few times and it stopped.

I'll give that a go and hope for the best then.
How much is a replacement likely to cost?and where would be the best place to get one?

 

[shenion]

I'll give that a go and hope for the best then.
How much is a replacement likely to cost?and where would be the best place to get one?

User weldequip has parts, PM him on a new torch valve body.

 

[weldequip]

Yeah I've got the fella's in stock.
Just curious Shenion... the Clarke machines in the US use Tweco front-end torch consumables to make them interchangeable with your most common spares, do they also have a gas-valve within the torch handle, or is it a seperate solenoid in the machine?
weldequip

 

[shenion]

Yes, AFAIK, the US version are only different in the transformer is wound for 110.

Mine had a true Tweco torch as I made an adapter and added a solenoid. My other machines had Tweco connections and made it the same. My only complaint about the 130EN was the 6' torch;should have been 8-12. I used a Tweco #1 with a 12' lead. It worked great and the Clarke feeder had no problem feeding it (seemed better than the stock.)

Was nice when i redid the lights on my trailer. Did one side, then other and did not have to move unit.

Even plugged in one of my 400A Tweco #4 torches. Worked fine although was way overkill.

Still miss the portability of the Clarke. Was a real nice unit. The Miller 250A (300A/60% by todays standards) now works great, so sold Clarke for what I bought the 3 school-bus size welders for