Lincoln 180C wirefeed issue

[dopplershift]

Hi everyone! I've been lurking here for a while, but this is my first post!

I've got a Lincoln PowerMIG 180C... maybe an Australian model name?

And I'm working on a mk1 ('70 or '71) Ford Capri... slowly!

Anyway, I tried searching for this, but couldnt find anything about my welder.

I've had the welder for nearly a year now. Although I haven't used it much at all (Uni ), for the most part I have been very happy with it.

finished the 1kg roll of 0.6mm solid core that came with it with no problems at all. But... I tried a 5kg reel of Lincoln's 'liquidarc' 0.6mm solid wire, and there were big wirefeed problems. Now its only feeding for maybe a quarter of each revolution of the drive-wheel. So it goes "nothing, nothing, nothing, feed, nothing...."

I tried a few different things. Wire speed and roller pressure dont seem to make ANY difference. Eventually I gave up and tried the 1kg 0.8mm flux core, with the proper roller.... works flawlessly!

The place I bought the wire from said that because pressure roller settings didnt do anything, it was probably a manufacturing issue with the wire being somewhat thinner than 0.6mm. They replaced it with another 5kg roll, but that didnt solve anything.

Any ideas? Anyone had issues with this model welder, or liquidarc wire?

Should I just try a different company's wire? Flux core and stick are useful, but are so annoying compared to the beautiful, clean MIG welds I had before!

Wow... sorry for the long post guys!

 

[Archie]

Have you changed the roller round so the wire is running in the 0.6mm groove (if there is one)?

 

[dopplershift]

Hi archie, thanks, but... It has seperate rollers for the different wire diameters. (only one groove in each).

I did try using the knurled roller for 0.8mm wire because I though maybe, just *maybe* it would provide more friction, but no. Surprise, surprise huh!

 

[Archie]

Hmmm. I suppose if something was wrong in the manufacture of the wire then a whole batch would be wrong so getting another roll off the same supplier probably just got you another roll from the same batch. That said, I really wouldn't have thought Lincoln would be sending out dodgy wire.....

 

[rtbcomp]

Have tried adjusting the pressure on the spool holder? There should be a knob in the centre of the spool carrier so you can adjust the friction.

The bigger spool should give less resistance, but there is more inertia.

 

[malcolm]

A few other ideas about wire set up on the wire feed page in case there's anything you've missed.

Are the rollers slipping when they are not feeding? If the wire feed was over-tensioned it could cause the rollers to sit at an angle and mean there's not much pressure on the wire. A good clean of any oil from the rollers might help improve grip.

You ought to be able to release the rollers and pull the wire out by hand. See the 3rd picture in this page. That ought to rule out everything apart from the wire and the rollers.

 

[dopplershift]

rtbcomp; I had the spool holder as loose as possible while stopping the wire unravelling... but i've tried pretty much everything. Unrolling from the top, the bottom, tight, loose. Doesnt seem to make much difference.

Malcom, thats an interesting idea about the rollers being on an angle. And I dont think they're slipping.

Will have to swap back to the 0.6mm and check that stuff on the weekend, since the welder is at my dad's place.

About that photo... wouldn't it only be hard to pull the wire through if the liner was damaged? The 0.8mm flux core is running fine at the moment, so I'd thought the liner was probably ok (even though its been trodden on lightly a couple of times).

 

[TechnicAl]

Try phoning Lincoln
They are in Padstow which apparently is near Sydney

(02) 9772 7261 and ask for Alan