alanjonesbath
New Member
- Messages
- 9
Hi,
I've just acquired a Clarke 160TM from a friend who bought and never used it. I've previously owned a Portamig, so know how to get a welder setup and working (in theory anyway!), but I'm having an issue with the gas flow on this one. It's got a Sealey disposable gas bottle regulator with pressure gauge, with quick-fit connector for the gas hose. All seems fine there, pressure comes up when you open the tap.
The problem (I'm hoping) is at the torch end. When I pull the trigger (machine on, wire feeding fine, etc.), it lets out a brief burst of gas (I've put a flow-meter on the end, and it send the little ball to the top of the tube), but then no flow at all (and the pressure gauge on the regulator drops to zero). Pressure then builds again once the trigger is released, but every time I pull the trigger, I get the same results - burst of gas out of the torch, then nothing.
So, I'm assuming that as gas is getting to the torch and coming out (albeit briefly), that the regulator is OK? Which makes me think it's a faulty gas valve in the torch ... could leaving it sit around in a detached garage for over a year cause the valve to go faulty? Faulty from the factory maybe? Any other suggestions of what to try? Other than the gas, it seems to weld 'OK' (as ok as it'll get with no gas flowing anyway!)
Any help much appreciated!
I've just acquired a Clarke 160TM from a friend who bought and never used it. I've previously owned a Portamig, so know how to get a welder setup and working (in theory anyway!), but I'm having an issue with the gas flow on this one. It's got a Sealey disposable gas bottle regulator with pressure gauge, with quick-fit connector for the gas hose. All seems fine there, pressure comes up when you open the tap.
The problem (I'm hoping) is at the torch end. When I pull the trigger (machine on, wire feeding fine, etc.), it lets out a brief burst of gas (I've put a flow-meter on the end, and it send the little ball to the top of the tube), but then no flow at all (and the pressure gauge on the regulator drops to zero). Pressure then builds again once the trigger is released, but every time I pull the trigger, I get the same results - burst of gas out of the torch, then nothing.
So, I'm assuming that as gas is getting to the torch and coming out (albeit briefly), that the regulator is OK? Which makes me think it's a faulty gas valve in the torch ... could leaving it sit around in a detached garage for over a year cause the valve to go faulty? Faulty from the factory maybe? Any other suggestions of what to try? Other than the gas, it seems to weld 'OK' (as ok as it'll get with no gas flowing anyway!)
Any help much appreciated!