top drive

top drive

Well-Known Member
My welder doesnt seem to be getting gas to the shroud recently.

its definantly got gas - its got a hobbyweld cylinder showing just under 100 on the regulator and i can hear lots of hissing when i turn it on - but even at full chat i cant feel it coming out the shroud , even with the wire feed off and the trigger pressed i cant get anything out.

Its a clarke 151TE - other than chucking it and buying a portamig(as much as id love to) - any ideas. it was definantly working on last week - but this week im getting pourous welds ahoy.

im right in thinking that i should be able to stick down my torch and stop losing gas at a silly rate ? - sounds like i have a leak somewhere or is a mega hiss normal.

will strip it down and investigate tonight , just wondered if anyone else had experianced this.
 
You should only get gas coming out when you have the trigger squeezed. Some give you more at the start of the weld, so it might start off with a louder hiss then tail off slightly.
 
top drive said:
https://www.weldequip.com/clarke-gas-valve.htm

sounds like i might be needing one of these - will try and find out tonight - less time spent on my rebuild though

not really well versed in taking my welder to bits - its just a tool , how ever i need it working.
Click to expand...

I took my hand control ?? apart the other week to fit a new swan neck..
was a doddle really - should have done it ages ago too, but there you go.
did read in the link that the control valve does wear after a while..
maybe that will be my next buy for my welder too....
 
So i takes my swan neck apart.

No wonder i wasnt getting much flow at the head ....and lots of hissing,

The gas pipe wasnt attached to the valve no more..... I was pumping air into the handle - then through the gas valve - only when it was open. I did wonder why i got absolutely **** at welding over night :)

Shes all working again for zero pounds and zero pence. I am how ever. Going to get a new 300amp earth cable and propper clamp. Its almost unanimous that on the 151 the new earth cable is the best thing you can do with it other than replace it .....
 
something thats improved my welder by chance really, is the mains cable i now use.
it was a very heavy duty caravan orange cable i no longer use, so i changed the plugs at each end and now use that..its rated at 16 amps i believe, so its better at controlling voltage drop, although fused at 13amps but via our cooker 13 amp supply socket (50 or 60amp cooker supply)
 
easye1 said:
something thats improved my welder by chance really, is the mains cable i now use.
it was a very heavy duty caravan orange cable i no longer use, so i changed the plugs at each end and now use that..its rated at 16 amps i believe, so its better at controlling voltage drop, although fused at 13amps but via our cooker 13 amp supply socket (50 or 60amp cooker supply)
Click to expand...

line loss effects welding, just like a cheap grounding clamp and cable
 
Its already running off a 16 amp 3 pin plug and extension in my garage.The garage was rewired with a big dirty feed for this purpose. Lights inside house no longer dim when welding..... Previous owner had wired the whole garage into a 6 amp celing rose in the back bedroom.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

L
Learning to fix Land Rovers like a pro - career advice wanted
Replies
10
Views
2K
kevstar
kevstar
S
Discovery ownership life woes: keep or sell?
Replies
8
Views
445
tyregeezer
tyregeezer
Spanky-spangler
Redex DPF additive
Replies
18
Views
1K
Arctic2
Arctic2
M
Whistling noise from engine?
Replies
6
Views
706
dag019
dag019
jimllshiftit
Any advice for novice welder about to stitch new rear cross member to 90 chassis?
Replies
3
Views
746
tottot
tottot