Is my welder broken?

[oniessen]

Complete and utter newbie here. Just picked up my first welder today (bought used) and have started to fiddle with it a bit. The first thing I noticed is that coming out of the mig gun is a bent coil of wire (see picture). I have no idea what it is as have never seen it in any pictures or videos. When I pressed the trigger to see what would happen (haven't got gas, tips or shrouds yet) the wire feed drive wheel is just slipping and no wire is coming out of the gun. I presume the two are linked and am not even sure if it's a problem, or just something I don't know about yet.
Thanks for your help.

 

[Cobbler]

Looks to me if the coiled wire guide that is in the swan neck has got caught up in the wire somehow & been pushed out, jamming the wire. You don't say what make & model it is, but it isn't terminal. Look at Weldequip's page via the button on the top under hobby torched & spares, there is a Clarke one shown under swan neck liner so you can see what it is. Easy to change, but you have to dismantle the torch. On most of them there's a grub screw holding the swanneck in & the liner pushes in from below. If the wire was old & rusty that may have been the problem, never use rusty wire as it screws up the torch liners & wont feed properly

 

[oniessen]

Ok thanks, it is a clarke 151te if that is any more help. Shame that I bought this as a fully working welder...

 

[oniessen]

Would this be the one? http://www.clarketools.net/clarke-h...D48fGMlEFFR0TtiwB2DSb4WdDYSkXxOUaAtNQEALw_wcB

 

[Cobbler]

Those bits really have to be treated as consumables, don't need changing often but can get damaged feeding the wire through, especially if the first couple of inches isn't straight. All Clarke parts are readily available from Machine Mart if there is one near you. You may find a liner would be a good plan as well, then you know it's all good. Go for the metal one, not the plastic one like windscreen washer tubing as they feed much better.

 

[Cobbler]

Would this be the one? http://www.clarketools.net/clarke-h...D48fGMlEFFR0TtiwB2DSb4WdDYSkXxOUaAtNQEALw_wcB

You don't need a complete swanneck just the liner.

 

[oniessen]

Ok good to know. The nearest machinemart is about 35 miles away so it will be an online job. Would it be a pain to ask you for a link to the metal ones? Im not quite sure what you mean by them yet.

Cheers

 

[Cobbler]

Ok good to know. The nearest machinemart is about 35 miles away so it will be an online job. Would it be a pain to ask you for a link to the metal ones? Im not quite sure what you mean by them yet.

Cheers

See the lower part of above, it's the tubing that the wire runs up inside lead from the machine to the torch, it's very similar to spring curtain rail, in fact several have tried it & say it works just as well. Costs nothing if you use it, but your curtains will fall down . If it's been used with rusty wire, the chances are the liner is knackered. You can test it by removing the tip, taking off the tension of the drive roller & pulling the wire from the torch end. The resistance should be minimal, if there is much, change it. Some (most) of the hobby welders were supplied with a plastic liner & the wire binds up inside & doesn't feed nicely. Puts additional strain on the feed motor as well, although they don't give a lot of problems

 

[Wozzaaah]

The damaged part poking out looks like it's the swan neck liner so you'll definitely need that but you might as well fit a new torch liner too while you're at it.
You'll also need contact tips and a shroud but......before you do anything you'll need to check that the thread in the end of the swan neck isn't wrecked, if it is then you'll need a new swan neck too.

 

[oniessen]

If I need to replace the swan neck liner I presume it would probably be easier to just get a new swan neck as they seem to cost less than a tenner anyway...

Why would I need to replace the torch liner?

Thanks

 

[Wozzaaah]

I'm not sure if the sawn neck comes with the liner, best to check first.
The torch liner is quite possibly the original one and if it's just the plastic type then fitting a metal one is a good idea.
It's one of those situations where you might as well do it all and minimise the chances of still having problems with the wire feed.

 

[gt6s]

Why would I need to replace the torch liner?

Because your liner is knackered.

Laurence