Smoking windings - Murex Autolynx

[jo1010]

This is up for sale and I'm wondering if it's worth a punt....or not. Info from seller is sketchy..
....." It got hot and smoked....the windings had got hot"....
....and that's all I know! If it is main windings then worst case is needing another transformer from another machine for a cost effective repair?
But it could be a problem in the circuit somewhere needing identification.
Would you? Should I?

 

[Beanwood]

I wouldn’t.
It would end up on the project list and disposed of (scrapped ) in 10 years still not working properly after I ran out of space again.
Unless it’s free of course.
Exactly the same would happen but cost me a little less.

 

[jo1010]

Hmmmm, I do have a few other projects ....and it could be a simple problem.....but might not be....

 

[arther dailey]

don t waste your time, plenty of good bargains to be had

 

[zzr1200]

A barge pole or boat anchor, waste of space, time and money.

 

[eddie49]

worst case is needing another transformer from another machine

Depending on which model of Autolynx this is ( e.g. the one with a sloped front panel ), the main transformer may be unique and cannot be substituted with a typical generic one, e.g. from a Clarke or Sealey or Telwin etc.

 

[charliecambs]

I think this is the guy I visited earlier today to collect the eland mig 200.
Very nice guy restores MGs as in MGB cars but I think more hobby now
Thought I'd take risk on eland yet to investigate. It was his favourite mainly used on low power then stopped working so hoping fuse contactor or simple.( I am retired electronics engineer) Needs good clean I found about 10p in coins as I unloaded at home
The Murex is straight front 161. He said little used . But overheated and " smoke" from fan outlet and windings look hot apparently.
Probably diode fail and saturated core overheating?? Case etc very clean.

 

[jo1010]

Yes, it's a flat front 161, so with the desirable 20amp minimum - that in itself may mean the components are different to the Tradesmigs....
@charliecambs... Ahaa.....you beat me to the Eland ...I would have preferred to have a go at that one. Let us know how you get on with it. They seem like versatile machines...
I've decided to leave the autolynx for now. It's on evilbay , just finished first 7 day auction with 0 bids, starting price £35.its now relisted but there aren't even any leads with the machine - says he wants to keep those

 

[GRW]

A mate has an old tatty 161, and I got to use it for a while one day while helping him.
I'm a rubbish, occasional welder with a maybe now 2yo Oxford MigMaker 180-1.... but I instantly got on with his Murex & found it welded beautifully on thin stuff, better if I'm honest than my Oxford (at least in my ham-fisted mitts).
A cracking machine if the one I used is a benchmark.

 

[charliecambs]

@jo1010 it was fair way away from me but sister in law on way so managed to suggest popping in for visit to "the boss" and popped out to pick up " something". Did panic as saw " 85kg" on picture of dataplate but not too heavy. He had engine crane to help

I like the old machines already have a very old sip 130 with heavy drive motor and pwm mod and a " special car" taken over by cebora so strictly didnt need eland but 200a mig easier than stick for me.
I'll update when I have some shed time

 

[jo1010]

I like the old machines already have a very old sip 130 with heavy drive motor and pwm mod and a " special car" taken over by cebora so strictly didnt need eland but 200a mig easier than stick for me.
I'll update when I have some shed time

Haha nicely done! I thought it looked like a hefty bit of kit .... relatives / friends in different parts of the country can come in very handy

 

[jo1010]

A mate has an old tatty 161, and I got to use it for a while one day while helping him.
I'm a rubbish, occasional welder with a maybe now 2yo Oxford MigMaker 180-1.... but I instantly got on with his Murex & found it welded beautifully on thin stuff, better if I'm honest than my Oxford (at least in my ham-fisted mitts).
A cracking machine if the one I used is a benchmark.

Hmmm...Interesting that the 161 out performs the Oxford...the Oxfords aren't cheap either....

 

[jo1010]

@charliecambs your SIP came from a time when they actually made machines. Sadly the name is so tarnished now (like Lucas, Mercedes, land rover, MG ...insert your own favourite fallen industrial behemoth here...).....but some machines live on!

 

[charliecambs]

Managed to find 10 minutes to take electrics side cover off the eland. Lot of dust! Quick hoover and nothing looks burnt or hot.
As on some of the posts on similar machines the bleed resistor ,for the capacitors has a broken wire but need a bit more hoover/ air blowing to see better.
As its got a tatty 13 amp plug doubt it's been used on high settings.
All control switches click nicely. I like the idea of plastic bags on range switches as seen on others.
Screws on contactor look bit crusty.
Think more cleaning and basic point to point continuity.
Ive got a hefty variac somewhere ( I think) so may wind it up slowly with main transformer disabled depending what I find.
It'll keep me amused!

 

[charliecambs]

The " boss" is out tomorrow so after few " chores" think I might try disconnecting all wires from auxilliary transformer and feeding it from 3a fused mains to check outputs.
One circuit drawing I found in an old thread for a 175 board looks very close.
That has 9v ac in to rectifier for 12 volts for the timers and relay drive and 27vac rectified for approximately 40 volt motor drive.
Several circuit drawings show a 3amp fuse in addition to the 1 amp pcb fuse ( as yet unchecked)
It's tight round contactor so might need bit more dismantling

 

[charliecambs]

Actually as I have an electricians low ohm loop tester I guess connecting it to live and neutral on plug pressing contactor button should see steps in resistance with selector settings as that will override control pcb relays with no risk of " magic smoke"
The meter can zero out leads etc so that might work.

 

[eddie49]

connecting it to live and neutral on plug pressing contactor button should see steps in resistance with selector settings

Post #7 of this thread has primary resistance values for an Eland 175 MIG:

Sealey 180 supermig v3

My uncle has asked me to look at his Sealey 180 V3 but it looks like someone has been in there playing as some of the wiring looks (from the supplied schematic from sealey) to have been messed around with. One quick question, there is a sort of ferrite ring bolted through the base with red and...

www.mig-welding.co.uk

 

[charliecambs]

@eddie49 Thought I'd check main transformer first as if dead machine is scrap.
Measured from mains plug, power switch in on position have about 40 ohms which is probably ball park ok for the aux transformer.
Pressing contactor button gave no change.
So checked from line/ neutral contactor outputs which go to power switches.

BINGO nice progressive values on all 24 positions quite similar to those in that post.
Contactor coil measures ok at 400 ohm so clearly the dust and crusty " stuff" has taken its toll! So think contactor coming out for quick check but amazon has them for £12 so may not be worth dismantling.

 

[charliecambs]

@eddie49 Thought I'd check main transformer first as if dead machine is scrap.
Measured from mains plug, power switch in on position have about 40 ohms which is probably ball park ok for the aux transformer.
Pressing contactor button gave no change.
So checked from line/ neutral contactor outputs which go to power switches.

BINGO nice progressive values on all 24 positions quite similar to those in that post.
Contactor coil measures ok at 400 ohm so clearly the dust and crusty " stuff" has taken its toll! So think contactor coming out for quick check but amazon has them for £12 so may not be worth dismantling.

Actually if I swap to 5amp plug fuse. Jump contactor contacts and wind up volts on variac I should see bridge ac volts in relatively low risk mode.
Slow volt increase hooefully will give no "core magnetising" surge too.
chores next then back to it.
once you get bit along the " it'll work" path it's tricky to leave it alone isn't it

 

[charliecambs]

Had to try. Power straight into switches. Ramped up to 40 volts ac gentle hum increasing with power switches . Capacitor bank holds voltage so left to reform caps.
Increased to 240 in and gave 31 vdc on caps and torch connector to return.
Think I'll order contactor ( after checking it's 240v coil) then look at control/ motor.