lincoln 185 compact mis-behaving

[mike 109444]

What you are looking to check (see new attached diagram) is the thick brown and blue wires (not the correct colours!! but indicates mains voltage so makes it easier to understand). So far you have checked and found there is voltage along the thin brown and blue (again not necessarily the correct colours) and that when trigger is pulled it goes through the contactor and comes out on the THICK brown and blue, this then goes to the selector switch to allow it to feed into the transformer windings. Check the THICK pair of wires going from the contactor to the selector switch. Without these connections there is no power to the switch and then no power to transformer. If the wires are ok could be the selector switch. DON'T rush to take the selector switch apart unless you like Chinese puzzles.
Will pm you my number. Working from home tomorrow (Tuesday) but then away to Barnstaple for rest of week so working out of hotel for internet access

 

[beelzedub]

thanks Mike , your a Gent

 

[mike 109444]

An update to this thread for any one following it or finding this thread... I have been speaking to Mike ref his machine fault and he confirmed that he has 240 coming OUT of the contactor K2 (when gun triggered) which then goes to the main transformer VIA the rotary power selector switch. So as there is 240 at the selector then with no output to the diode pack (from the secondary) the switch or the main transformer are suspect. As the switch is a pain to work with to get readings from I suggested mike find the "ends" of the transformer primary windings, these will have just one enameled wire rather than the two that the "taps" have. So once identified, if a meter set on ohms is put on each end there should be next to no resistance (meter reading say 0.00) IF the transformer is NOT open circuit. Mike found that is is showing OPEN circuit so looks to be faulty transformer. I have suggested he take the transformer out and look to see if there is an obvious break. Then take a look at the linked post below.
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/lincoln-180c.34057/
ps he also has a possible unrelated "no wire feed issue"