Titanium Mig 170 Wire Feed Problems

[jdangle]

Hey Guys, first post here. I have a Harbor Freight Titanium 170 welder that I purchased new in January 2025. I also purchased the titanium spool gun for welding aluminum. I used the rig on and off for about a month when I first purchased it. It has set idle in my shop until mid November, when i started another project. The welder was working fine, I ran out of wire on the spool gun, changed the wire spool, and when I went to weld again my wire speed was out of control. It would start very slow for about 5 seconds, then go to full speed. i messed with the wire speed control dial and the gun would not change speeds, however the digital readout would change as a turned the dial. I took my spool gun to a buddy with the same set up and my gun worked great on his welder, ruling out a spool gun issue. I am assuming something in the control board has gone bad, but I am no electrician, and the circuit board is pretty intimidating. Has anyone ever had a similar issue and can help me narrow down the Issie in the control board? I would just exchange the welder, but my warranty period is up. Any help or guidance is appreciated!

 

[Erie Fred]

Hey Guys, first post here. I have a Harbor Freight Titanium 170 welder that I purchased new in January 2025. I also purchased the titanium spool gun for welding aluminum. I used the rig on and off for about a month when I first purchased it. It has set idle in my shop until mid November, when i started another project. The welder was working fine, I ran out of wire on the spool gun, changed the wire spool, and when I went to weld again my wire speed was out of control. It would start very slow for about 5 seconds, then go to full speed. i messed with the wire speed control dial and the gun would not change speeds, however the digital readout would change as a turned the dial. I took my spool gun to a buddy with the same set up and my gun worked great on his welder, ruling out a spool gun issue. I am assuming something in the control board has gone bad, but I am no electrician, and the circuit board is pretty intimidating. Has anyone ever had a similar issue and can help me narrow down the Issie in the control board? I would just exchange the welder, but my warranty period is up. Any help or guidance is appreciated!

I have the same, but have not used the spool gun yet.
How about the connector where the spool gun plugs into the main power supply ?

 

[eddie49]

Hi and welcome to the Forum.

I assume that the spool gun is powered by the same supply that runs the wirefeed motor, and via the same speed control circuit. Have you tried using the normal MIG torch with a spool of solid or flux-core wire?

Wow $550! HFT aren't cheap any more. Glad I got all my shopping there done in 1990....

 

[Mart63]

Less than a year old. Can you get the whole lot exchanged under warranty? That's what I'd be looking for.

 

[Erie Fred]

Hi and welcome to the Forum.

I assume that the spool gun is powered by the same supply that runs the wirefeed motor, and via the same speed control circuit. Have you tried using the normal MIG torch with a spool of solid or flux-core wire?

Wow $550! HFT aren't cheap any more. Glad I got all my shopping there done in 1990....

I got mine on sale last year for $439.....