Clarke 160TM better wire feed motor assy

[perry3188]

hi all, ive just bought a clarke 160tm after owning an olympus mig/mag160 for a long time. i have ordered the bits i need to convert it to euro torch (as the factory torch lead is shockingly short!) ive ordered a 4m mb15 and i already have the socket etc off my olympus.

as i understand, the clarke wire feed motor is supposed to be a little poor? im wondering if its worth putting the wire feed motor off my olympus on to the clarke as it is a beast in size compared to the little plastic clarke thing, and im going to be pushing wire up a 4m pipe now!

has anyone done this (maybe not specifically...) i dont have any numbers on the olympus wire feed motor to check compatibility. are they all a standard voltage?

any help would be greatly appreciated.

regards chris

 

[shenion]

I had no problems with my 130EN driving a Tweco 5m torch. I'd not worry about it.

 

[perry3188]

cheers for the reply, do you know if they are the same spec motor in the 2 clarkes?

 

[shenion]

I think they are all the same. I have heard the ones above 180A have a different feeder.

If they are different, the 130EN I had no problems with would likely had the smaller motor.

It worked fine and I used it a lot with a 4m torch (12'). As it was a better torch, it fed easier than the stock.

 

[mike 109444]

There should be a data plate on the motor of your Olympus giving the voltage. Worth checking how many wires go to your Olympus motor as if the doner machine is a big chunky machine you might find that the motor is like one of the machines I have which has 2 PAIRS of wires as the field of the motor has a constant power feed to it and a switched by trigger (variable voltage) supply for the speed. If you do this mod don't forget pics and details for others to follow Will keep an eye out for the thread....

 

[mike 109444]

PS remember the motor(s) will be mounted to machine with insulators/bushes Worth a meter from motor to machine chassie BEFORE applying power

 

[perry3188]

the olympus motor just has 2 wires, same as the clarke. thanks for the advice. ill check out the plate when i next look at the 2 welders and compare them. i will indeed take pics and post if i go ahead.