cebora pocket mig 880 wire tensioner upgrade?

[Torq]

Hi Guys,


I've finally got around to recomissioning an old cebora 880 I bought many years ago. I've fitted a new liner, tip and wire but anytime I try to weld, the feed roller slips even when on the tightest setting. I've degreased the feed roller and the tensioner above it, I've cleaned out the v groove on the roller with a fine file but it has made no difference. Once the roller starts to slip the wire burns back to the tip and that's that! The torch seems to work best when almost straight and the wire feeds fine until i start to weld then the issue occurs.

So the questions are, wouild it be worth my while upgrading the tensioner mechanism to one like this

or sourching the feed roller the welder is supposed to come with for aluminium welding and hope that it grips better.

OR, is it all my fault for not being able to weld properly!!

Thanks.
Torq

 

[rtbcomp]

You're not using the 0.8 groove with 0.6 wire are you? You should just be able to see daylight between the rollers when the wire is clamped. Also the rollers should be parallel, if one is tilted slightly one edge will run on the other roller before the wire is gripped.

 

[Torq]

Thanks for the reply,

The 880 is a fairly basic machine, it only has one groove and the feed roller is not removable or adjustable. It is possible that the top roller is out of true as the tensioner mechanism is so simple I thought it was a home made bodge job until I googled it and discovered it was factory. I'll post a pic of it later this eve.

T

 

[bill_gj]

Your picture looks like the wire feed/tension assembly from the Cebora/BOC 130. Will it fir into your machine OK?

I had to replace the same part in my BOC. The moulding in the area of the tension adjuster leaves a lot to be desired in terms of robustness.

 

[rtbcomp]

It would be as well to check that the wire spool holder isn't binding.

Is the wire slipping or is the motor stalling?

 

[Torq]

Your picture looks like the wire feed/tension assembly from the Cebora/BOC 130. Will it fir into your machine OK?

I had to replace the same part in my BOC. The moulding in the area of the tension adjuster leaves a lot to be desired in terms of robustness.

No idea, it'd be the "suck it and see approach" it can't be any worse than what's fitted as standard.

It would be as well to check that the wire spool holder isn't binding.

Is the wire slipping or is the motor stalling?

Spool holder is not binding, it's good and loose but tight enough to stop the spool unravelling.

The motor does occasionally slow down a little but not at the times when the wire feed slips.

 

[Torq]

As promised, the pathetic wire feed and tension system!

Could it be more basic? I've cut the wire to the left of the feed roller to put it away out of the damp conditions we are now having!

 

[Robotstar5]

Blimey, that is basic!

 

[wheresmejumper]

being that old and rusty could the liner be the problem

 

[Torq]

Blimey, that is basic!

It's shocking isn't it!

being that old and rusty could the liner be the problem

As per 1st post, liner was replaced

You're not using the 0.8 groove with 0.6 wire are you? You should just be able to see daylight between the rollers when the wire is clamped. Also the rollers should be parallel, if one is tilted slightly one edge will run on the other roller before the wire is gripped.

Only one groove and surprisingly the rollers are perfectly parallel.


The only conclusion left is that the problem is me!

 

[Wallace]

Does the large roller spin freely? The spring steel on the tensioner looks as though it has been bent at some stage too. I serviced the wirefeed unit on my old Einhell Mig before selling it on, the grease in the gearbox had become very sticky almost like glue and made a big difference to the feed once cleaned and greased. Mind you, looking at how basic the wirefeed unit is I wonder if it has a gearbox!

 

[wheresmejumper]

hamster wheel?

 

[Torq]

Surprisingly enough it does indeed have a gearbox. Just for a look I opened the case last night and took the motor apart. The brushes are in good order as is the commutator with very little sign of use. I've opened fuel pumps and wiper motors with far more wear that still function correctly.

The problem is just that the motor looses grip on the wire while welding. It must be my technique causing the problem, maybe my wire feed speed is not high enough and heat is traveling back up the wire causing it to expand and sticking in the tip? Could it be that the tips are slightly undersize. The more I think about this, the more possibilities I think of!
Maybe I'll just learn to TIG.