I've brought a lemon help

[Splinters]

Hello all,

I am not a welder but have used a mig on occasion, I have in the last few years got into Hobby blacksmithing and have got to the stage where I want to weld some of my work. I came to the conclusion that I would not be able to afford a good enough Mig to weld some of the gauge steel that I will be fabricating stuff out of.

So after reading a bit I decided that an old Oxford or bantam would be the way forward so I picked up an old Oxford RT 180 I couldn't test it as it came without leads. What a twit!!!!

I have wired it up it was configured for 415 I switched it to 230 looked straight forward all it does is quietly hum I cant pull an ark on 50 or 80 volts any suggestions as I fear a repair will out strip the value of the machine

Thanks in anticipation

Chris

 

[oilcooled :)]

well if its humming its working, i suposse undo the ring of bolts lift her out and check from the terminals working back, follow the earth terminal, check for breaks,check your welding cables on the joints first, machine is okay, them machines are either on and humming or if there frigged they will trip switches galore, in my experience

one way i do know of and ill be ate of the forum for saying it, is to touch the 50v terminal stud off the the body of the machine, using 2 fingers, and you should get a nice tinge of a shock in your finger, to check it, also make sure the 2 amp selectors are dropped down

 

[Country Joe]

and ill be ate of the forum for saying it

I wouldn't eat a person, unless I was really starving!
But I'm not as brave as you, so I'd use a multimeter instead.
All the Best,
CJ

 

[decepticon]

ideally you should get yourself some pancake mixture and sugar

 

[mike os]

probably best to start with a pic of the terminal box... someone will know how it is supposed to look

 

[oilcooled :)]

probably best to start with a pic of the terminal box... someone will know how it is supposed to look

if its humming the input terminal box will be fine,

 

[Hitch]

They can be a bit tricky to get going initially, sure your not just having trouble striking up?

You say you cant get an arc, is that a welding arc, or even a tiny little spark.....?

 

[Splinters]

They can be a bit tricky to get going initially, sure your not just having trouble striking up?

You say you cant get an arc, is that a welding arc, or even a tiny little spark.....?

Not a thing I was expecting it to be awkward but Not this hard that's what made me think it's broken I will have a go again and also post the way I've wired it. Thank you all for your guidance so far.

 

[julieanncharters]

Hello all,

I am not a welder but have used a mig on occasion, I have in the last few years got into Hobby blacksmithing and have got to the stage where I want to weld some of my work. I came to the conclusion that I would not be able to afford a good enough Mig to weld some of the gauge steel that I will be fabricating stuff out of.

So after reading a bit I decided that an old Oxford or bantam would be the way forward so I picked up an old Oxford RT 180 I couldn't test it as it came without leads. What a twit!!!!

I have wired it up it was configured for 415 I switched it to 230 looked straight forward all it does is quietly hum I cant pull an ark on 50 or 80 volts any suggestions as I fear a repair will out strip the value of the machine

Thanks in anticipation

Chris

i surpose it has the oxford pull up and turn locator knob.
when i had issues with mine removing the top lid showed it had been low on oil and the copper forks had got a bit fried so not making contact on some settings.
seem to recal the repair was pretty straight forward built like a tank.
elfyn

 

[brightspark]

the transformer

the if there isnt a problem with the knife switch or conections and its humming its probably the secondary transformer chuffed. lift it out and do some simple testing with a cheap multimeter for output voltage a hoist is recomended unless u are feeling fit

 

[Drains]

Splinters - what rods are you using?

 

[Splinters]

Splinters - what rods are you using?

Hi Drains E6013 2.5mm using is wishful thinking at the moment more like tapping and scratching scrap metal at the mo

As for the wiring the live is to the 230 volt post earth to the centre post that continues out through the terminal box lid and Neutral to 0

My earth clamp terminal lead is on the work post and the electrode is currently
On the 80amp post.

I am going to loan a hoist and a multi meter and lift the top of during the week to see if there is any obvious faults. The oil is pretty dirty would that matter?

 

[brightspark]

Hi Drains E6013 2.5mm using is wishful thinking at the moment more like tapping and scratching scrap metal at the mo

As for the wiring the live is to the 230 volt post earth to the centre post that continues out through the terminal box lid and Neutral to 0

My earth clamp terminal lead is on the work post and the electrode is currently
On the 80amp post.

I am going to loan a hoist and a multi meter and lift the top of during the week to see if there is any obvious faults. The oil is pretty dirty would that matter?

the oil is coolant and an insulator as long as its not too contaminated

 

[Drains]

Splinters, are you getting nothing at all, not even a spark? Have you checked the open circuit voltage with a voltmeter?

 

[Splinters]

Splinters, are you getting nothing at all, not even a spark? Have you checked the open circuit voltage with a voltmeter?

Not a dickie mate.

I will loan a meter I've got a two bob one basically just shows that a current is present in an ac circuit I do get an indication albeit uncalibrated. I need a better one.

 

[Splinters]

Its Alive



Got the top off and lifted it off the oil is dreadfull and smells suspiciously of engine oil a few fried contacts That are salvigable but I will make some new ones from 3mm sheet copper when I get around to it. loads of lose contacts that I have simply sqeezed up a wee bit and a blob of I dont now what causing a short across the fine Amps contacts,

just repaired a part on my Lathe with it its not pritty but nor am I

Now the fun part learning a new skill

 

[mike os]

result

 

[julieanncharters]

Got the top off and lifted it off the oil is dreadfull and smells suspiciously of engine oil a few fried contacts That are salvigable but I will make some new ones from 3mm sheet copper when I get around to it. loads of lose contacts that I have simply sqeezed up a wee bit and a blob of I dont now what causing a short across the fine Amps contacts,

just repaired a part on my Lathe with it its not pritty but nor am I

Now the fun part learning a new skill

me diagnosis was on the money then

 

[Dogbreath23]

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=26000&stc=1&d=1329040597 Phwoaar!

 

[Dogbreath23]

I fancy that. Does that make me wierd?