Faulty peashooter or low pressure?

[Gragson]

Doing a bit of mig next week so thought I would check the gas, bottle is reading about 200 bar.
Peashooter is reading 5LMP max on full adjustment of bottle and shooter, but a healthy hiss from the torch.
The shooter 5LPM indicated seems stable, not dropping but will not go higher.

If I disconnect the hose & peashooter and open up with the LPM on the bottle, again a healthy hiss and increases if I adjust the bottle LPM.

Can't detect any leaks.

Could the peashooter be faulty?, or getting low pressure 200ish bar not being enough?

 

[zzr1200]

Peashooter needs to be vertical to give correct reading , however I use two peashooters, one on the gauge and one to check the gauge if it doesn't seem right.

Flow rate should really be checked/confirmed at the nozzle.

Gauge mounted:- https://www.engweld.co.uk/product/a...BXUZ_-vY8zeMKRi4XJD3o8rOQfbwGC6hoCrZMQAvD_BwE

And the Checker:- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tanmo-Peas...hvtargid=pla-2281435176618&psc=1&gad_source=1

 

[Robotstar5]

I use this type that fits on the nozzle so it gives flow rate at the "business end"

 

[voipio]

The cylinder should be able to deliver the desired gas flow until the contents gauge is showing almost empty. The peashooter is a simple device. If the ball rolls freely inside the bore when the peashooter is tipped over, and you think that you're getting a healthy flow of gas at the torch, then the only thing that could really go wrong is a fault in the seals to the peashooter bore, allowing gas to bypass the pea.

 

[Gragson]

Peashooter needs to be vertical to give correct reading ,

Yes, I was just holding it like that, it is set vertical.

Gauge mounted:- https://www.engweld.co.uk/product/a...BXUZ_-vY8zeMKRi4XJD3o8rOQfbwGC6hoCrZMQAvD_BwE

And the Checker:- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tanmo-Peas...hvtargid=pla-2281435176618&psc=1&gad_source=1

I use this type that fits on the nozzle so it gives flow rate at the "business end"

Checker ordered. Good shout.

The cylinder should be able to deliver the desired gas flow until the contents gauge is showing almost empty. The peashooter is a simple device. If the ball rolls freely inside the bore when the peashooter is tipped over, and you think that you're getting a healthy flow of gas at the torch, then the only thing that could really go wrong is a fault in the seals to the peashooter bore, allowing gas to bypass the pea.

Thanks for this, it is all pointing to my old peashooter being at fault, I will test with the end nozzle checker and then likely get the replacement shooter that @zzr1200 has linked.

Thanks a lot

 

[hotponyshoes]

Peashooter needs to be vertical in all directions, not just upright so you can't directly connect it to the quickfit as the outlet on the albee bottle is at too much of an angle.

You'll either need to find an adaptor that has the right amount of bend or do something like add an elbow to get it upright.

Or you could use a bit of hose and mount the peashooter to the bottle.

Or, (what I do) mount the peashooter on the welder outlet so it's just as handy as the rest of the controls.

 

[hotponyshoes]

You could check your existing peashooter by tilting the bottle with the gas flowing and see if it works correctly when pointing stright up

 

[Gragson]

You could check your existing peashooter by tilting the bottle with the gas flowing and see if it works correctly when pointing stright up

Peashooter connection is vertical but can be swivelled via the quick connect, but reads the same no matter.

Or you could use a bit of hose and mount the peashooter to the bottle. - It already is

Or, (what I do) mount the peashooter on the welder outlet so it's just as handy as the rest of the controls. - the gun outlet?

 

[voipio]

Peashooter connection is vertical but can be swivelled via the quick connect, but reads the same no matter.

Hmm, that's odd. Is the pea stuck in the bore?

 

[Gragson]

Hmm, that's odd. Is the pea stuck in the bore?

It moves up from zero but will not go past 5lpm indicated

then the only thing that could really go wrong is a fault in the seals to the peashooter bore, allowing gas to bypass the pea.

I'm guessing your point above is likely the issue, I have a tester peashooter on order that will prove this (I hope)

 

[Robotstar5]

It moves up from zero but will not go past 5lpm indicated


I'm guessing your point above is likely the issue, I have a tester peashooter on order that will prove this (I hope)

If you invert it the pea should roll to the top/max setting, although some of our production welders had the flow rate that high that the pea would stick to the top of the gauge they worked on the principle that if everything was "turned up to 11" they could get the job done quicker so we fitted tamperproof flow restrictors.

 

[hotponyshoes]

Check the quick connector that attaches to the bottle as well.
They are available in restricted flow versions (the lpm is stamped on them)
Don't think I have seen one as low as 5 though.

Leak test on the pea shooter?
The plastic tube normally unscrews and there are 1 or 2 o-rings sealing the base of it.
With the tube off you could remove the inlet fitting and open the valve fully and blow through it from the tube side to check for blockages/dirt.

Also, put a paint/pen mark on the shaft behind the knob and make sure the shaft is turning when you are trying to increase the flow. Sometimes the knobs can crack and if the shaft/thread has some corrosion it might just be spinning rather than actually winding the shaft out.

 

[Gragson]

Checked the quick connect and there are no indications that it has an LPM range or limit.
Dismantled the shooter, the "pea" is moving very freely in any direction, possibly too loose, not sure.

Firmly reassembled the peashooter, nipped up all connections and the reading has improved to 8lpm from 5, everything on max.
The bottle reg adjuster has a max indicated at 15lpm.

I still can't detect any leaks with either smoke or soapy water from any of the joints.
But I think it is pointing to the bottle mounted peashooter. The tester should be here this week.

 

[voipio]

On some of the flow gauges that have a "pea" as shown in the image (is it called a bobbin?), the pea is designed to rotate in the gas flow, to show that it isn't stuck. Usually there is some sort of marking that makes it easier to see the rotation.