Oxford RT 140

[daleyd]

Yes it did, looks like the original stinger and earth clamp (old fashioned Bakelite type stinger) . I took them off to clean around the terminals. I'll give them a scrub and post pics tomorrow.

The only thing I may struggle with is lifting the top as I don't have a hoist or chain block but I'm sure I can cobble something together. From what I have read they can sometimes suffer with the contacts in the switch so this will be the first port of call.

Actually thinking about it I may just stick a rod in it and try it when everything is cleaned and tightened as a first go, rather than dismantling the whole thing - I've been caught out before trying to find faults that don't actually exist!

 

[eSCHEn]

Actually thinking about it I may just stick a rod in it and try it when everything is cleaned and tightened as a first go, rather than dismantling the whole thing - I've been caught out before trying to find faults that don't actually exist!

Very good idea

 

[daleyd]

I may still take it apart after just for curiosity sake though, even if it works!!

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Let me make sure I've got this clear, you've paid for a tranny and now your going to bangor????
All with your wife's approval, she must be very understanding!

 

[daleyd]

Let me make sure I've got this clear, you've paid for a tranny and now your going to bangor????
All with your wife's approval, she must be very understanding!

I hope she doesn't look at the browsing history and find the pictures of norm in his mankini. That might just push her over the edge

 

[MattF]

That might just push her over the edge

It did with most of us. Why should the women escape that mental torture?

Plug that unit in and check for approx. 50V and 80V on the respective terminals, whilst going through the range of positions on the switch. If any positions are duff, you should see straight away.

 

[daleyd]

Cheers Matt, yes that's a good idea as a first check. I'll just need to stick a 3 pin plug on it as it came with a red commando type plug on.

 

[MattF]

Don't forget to wire it for 240V instead of the current 440V connection.

 

[daleyd]

That could be embarrassing!

 

[daleyd]

It lives!!

Treated it to a new length of flex I had in the garage, along with proper ring end crimps for the terminals.

Took the top off and tightened the 230 v lug which was loose inside. The live connection in the existing commando plug was loose as well, perhaps this was the only issue? Oil looked reasonably clean and no sign of much debris or water in there.

Plugged it and it hummed away quite pleasantly, put in a rod and away we went!

It seems a bit trickier to start the arc than my inverter but I suppose that's to be expected, especially as the rods I have are older than methusala. Overall I'm well chuffed for a tenner!

First thing I'm gonna do is make a trolley for the bleeder cos it's bloody heavy!

 

[roofman]

It lives!!

Treated it to a new length of flex I had in the garage, along with proper ring end crimps for the terminals.

Took the top off and tightened the 230 v lug which was loose inside. The live connection in the existing commando plug was loose as well, perhaps this was the only issue? Oil looked reasonably clean and no sign of much debris or water in there.

Plugged it and it hummed away quite pleasantly, put in a rod and away we went!

It seems a bit trickier to start the arc than my inverter but I suppose that's to be expected, especially as the rods I have are older than methusala. Overall I'm well chuffed for a tenner!

First thing I'm gonna do is make a trolley for the bleeder cos it's bloody heavy!

wow...this is the post i wanted to read well done mate.

 

[eSCHEn]

Excellent news! Well done for keeping her going and really chuffed for ya that it was so easy

 

[daleyd]

Thanks chaps! I think with a bit (lot!) more practice and some decent rods I could manage some decent welds with this. I only did a couple of rods on some scabby old scrap I had lying around but the arc seems nice and smooth, not as nice as the inverter but way better than I remember from a buzz box.

I've been mainly using mig the last year or so - I forgot how smoky arc welding is, especially as this is so heavy I ended up doing it in the garage rather than outside. Some long leads may be an investment at some point as well.

 

[MattF]

Good to hear it's working. It's amazing how quite the transformer units are too, isn't it. Plugged mine in a couple of weeks ago just to see if the fuse would cope with it, and it seemed weird not hearing the usual start-up kick else some notable buzzing as with air cooled transformers.

 

[daleyd]

Good to hear it's working. It's amazing how quite the transformer units are too, isn't it. Plugged mine in a couple of weeks ago just to see if the fuse would cope with it, and it seemed weird not hearing the usual start-up kick else some notable buzzing as with air cooled transformers.

Yes, I'm used to the fan whirring away on the inverter all the time but this just sits there buzzing away quietly.

It made me jump a little when I first struck the arc because it sounded so loud (I'm sure it wasn't any louder at all just that there was no other noise to mask it!)