Calling all Clarke MIG Welder guru's!

[youngm]

Hi all,

I just received my new beaut MIG welder (165A, 8 power settings, GAS/GASLESS operation etc). Looks great and I've been told it's got the same wire feed mechanism as the Clarke units.

Anyway, I'm having trouble deciphering how the wire feed components fit together. Maybe if I had a 5kg wire spool I'd be able to figure it out quicker, but I don't, thus my post to you guru's

The MIG came with what seems like two springs, a small spacer (pictured between the two springs) and two large "collars" of some sort. I'm not sure how it's all meant to go together. I assume the large collar(s) are to be used for larger 5kg spools? What about when using smaller 700g - 1kg spools?

The bit on top of the shaft locks down onto the shaft to hold the wire spool assembly in place.

Here's a pic of what I'm talking about... any tips/suggestions?

 

[weldequip]

It's not actually the same as the Clarke wire feed, looks similar but not the same. Anyway, the plastic spacers are for using 5Kg.reels... put one on first, then the 5Kg. reel & then the second spacer & spring clip. The 5Kg.reels have a much bigger hole centre than the 0.5Kg.reels & those spacers fit in the middle of the reel.
The 0.5Kg.mini-reels just go straight onto the shaft without the spacers & you use the springs to keep tension on the reel & stop 'over-run'.
weldequip

 

[youngm]

Cool - thanks for confirming.

BTW, will the shaft only spin when wire is fed through the wire feed mechanism? Is there some sort of microswitch in there that tells the machine wire is loaded and enables the shaft to spin when I activate the trigger?

I plugged it into the power point just to check if the shaft spins OK without the 0.5kg reel installed and it won't spin at. Makes a loud clicking sound and I can hear the motor activating, but the shaft doesn't spin. Is this normal operation without a reel and wire installed?

BTW, I can see the top right corner rollers rotating when I activate the trigger. Is that what makes the centre shaft turn as well? I would have thought the centre shaft has it's own motor?

Sorry, I'm new to all of this

 

[weldequip]

It's the wire that spins on the shaft & not the shaft itself on that type
weldequip

 

[youngm]

It's the wire that spins on the shaft & not the shaft itself on that type
weldequip

AH RIGHT! Thanks again

BTW, when using a 0.5kg reel, it doesn't really align up too nicely with the top right corner rollers when the reel is just slid onto the shaft without any spacer behind it.

Is that what the second spring is for? To space the reel further out from the chassis?

Still unsure as to what the second spring is used for

I've figured out that one is used behind the clip to provide tension for the clip on the shaft, but what's the second spring used for?

This manual is absolutely crap

 

[peterd51]

Hi,

good fun, isn't it? :-)

I'd say that you'd put a spring on each side of whatever reel you're using.

That spiral thing where the wire feeds into the rollers will move around slightly and allow the wire to come in from various angles so it shouldn't be critical.

As long as the wire's in the feed rollers and the reel can turn relatively freely then it'll be pulled through OK.

Try it and see...poke'n'hope!

Regards
Peter

 

[zardoz]

Maybe the second spring is a spare. That in itself is a rare thing these days though, in companies counting every farthing.

 

[youngm]

Well, when I put one spring behind the 0.5kg reel and one spring in front, it actually positions the reel nicely centered in relation to the motorised rollers

 

[rusty69bus]

hi youngm, small tip the small wire reals are usless fit the biggest you can fit in the machine

 

[youngm]

hi youngm, small tip the small wire reals are usless fit the biggest you can fit in the machine

Thanks for the tip... yes, I plan to get a 5kg reel.