Wire feed snagging problems

[stevekendal]

Trying to teach myself to weld with an old but reconditioned Eland 130. Spending more time rethreading the wire than welding because the wire keeps kinking and looping just ahead of the pinch roller before it goes into the liner. The torch assembly is pretty new and I've lined up the feed so that its in a straight line with the liner, but still , at the least resistance it buckles up. Maybe I'm missing something here, but surely, if the wire is being pushed over several feet, it will inevitably back up as soon as it hits the work? I thought it must just be me, but a mate who welds all the time tried it and it kinked straight away on him. Any advice please? Steve.

 

[the snooper]

you need the liner as close to the rollers as possible without touching also make sure the tip is ok and not grabbing the wire you can also try taking off some tension on the rollers so they slip if the wire gets stuck

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

try replacing your tip as onmce its bin used a bit they get some steel stuck to them and once it starts burnin back its time for a new tip

 

[mike 109444]

There was a recent (past 3-4 weeks) post with same problem. The recomendation was to back the feed rollers right off and hang a weight (bag of sugar 2lbs / 1kg) on to the wire at the tip. the wire should then pull from the spool IF there is no problem with your liner, tip, spool tension. It should be possible with even less weight to get the spool to turn (bout 1/2 kg maybe. If you do a befor and after (new liner or tip?) it should be noticable the improvement. Or get your welder mate to borrow a mig tourch complete just to try for the day?

 

[stevekendal]

Borrowed a good torch tonight and backed off the pinch tension to minimum, also aligned the wire so that it has a straight run from the rollers to the liner. Result? with no tip fitted, the wire kinked before it even reached the torch Helpppp!!!!!

 

[wyn]

also aligned the wire so that it has a straight run from the rollers to the liner.

As the snooper said the liner should go as close to the rollers as you can get it...nearly touching.

 

[stevekendal]

This could be the problem then. The short liner that goes from the rollers to the torch is made of rubbishy soft plastic and doesnt even reach the rollers. Should I try to get a length of the metal stuff and trim to size? Where can you buy that stuff in a small size?

 

[Ducati]

Borrowed a good torch tonight and backed off the pinch tension to minimum, also aligned the wire so that it has a straight run from the rollers to the liner. Result? with no tip fitted, the wire kinked before it even reached the torch Helpppp!!!!!

with no tip fitted, the wire kinked before it even reached the torch


If you snip the wire at the kink, draw it back out, lay it alongside the hose, (may need another pair of hands) the end of the wire will determine where in the liner the restriction is

Try it a couple of times, if it is always at the same spot it looks like you have a kinked liner, easy done if the hose gets bent, something heavy is dropped on it or rarely from heat damage when the wire gets stuck on the job and the trigger isn't released quick enough, that's presuming it's a nylon liner.

What dia. wire are you using ?

Have you tried passing a length of wire through the liner from the torch end by hand to see if you can feel any restrictions ?

 

[stevekendal]

My wire is .6, the torch is a good quality one that was working well om my mate's welder.

 

[Paul.]

I'm assuming you have a euro connector, it should have a steel guide tube from the roller through the connector and up to the liner in the torch connector, this is my Eland 160, but all euro connectors are much the same.

 

[stevekendal]

Yes its a euro connector. The connecting tube is soft plastic and is too short. Where can I get steel tube please?

 

[stevekendal]

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u153/stevekendal/PA290102.jpg

 

[shenion]

Looks like you are missing the guide tube from the connector.

I don't see any plastic tube in the picture.

 

[Paul.]

You could try a local welding supplies company, they often have an odds and sods bin to help out folk with missing parts, they may even sell them new,
you also need a guide on the spool side, this helps to straighten and control the wire as it come off the reel. dragging the wire through that bracket at that angle will cause you problems,

 

[stevekendal]

Someone suggested curtain wire and I have a bit spare.