Problem with Cebora Pocket 130

[[JP]]

Hi there,
wonder if anyone can help me here please..
I purchased one of these little MIG welders, didn't pay much for it and was told was working.

well, to start with the wire speed just didnt change, but gave it a clean and now it speeds up and slows down, but the real problem I'm having is actually welding..

basically what's happening is once the wire touches the metal, it just pops... pop pop pop..
there's no consistent feed.

I thought this was a problem with the wire feed, thefore why I opened it up today, blew air in the line, etc and got the feed working right.

but it's still doing the same. any ideas? is this known problem?

thanks!
JP

 

[angellonewolf]

have you got gas

 

[[JP]]

Yep.. can hear the gas flowing.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Some suggestions:

Poor earth connection.
Poor gas coverage.
Could be something other than mild steel.
Could be mild steel with a protective coating.
Incorrect tension on the wire feed.
Wire feed too fast (usually loud pops and pushing away)

 

[[JP]]

Ok I thought about poor earth connection so I opened the welder up to check inside and it's all pretty clean in there with the earth wire bolted up properly to where the it should be.

Mild steel is clean and is the same plate I've TIG welded on

I've tried different wire speeds.
It seems to pop and the wire stops coming out.
So it's not like it will keep popping...
I think this is easier if I do a little video.. bear with me.
Thanks for the help so far.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Is the torch liner and contact tip good? Are you using new clean wire or rusty old stuff?

 

[[JP]]

right. just been in the garage and done a little video.
On this video it seemed to go a bit longer than usual. usually just pops.
I ran the old wire through till I got clean wire on it.

things to take in account - the spring on the end of the wire roll is too strong, that was making the roll to stick and the wire speed not to go any faster, but I figured this one out before and was still popping after I removed the spring.( need to get a weaker spring?)
The wire is 0.6... not sure if 0.8 would be more suitable for the wheels to bite into and feed it through? seems alright on the feed though, as I show on the video right at the start.

the settings are on maximum power and wire feed at the middle of the range, but no matter where I put the feed speed it always does this popping.

 

[dobbslc]

Looks like the wire speed is to fast to me.
Try welding with the torch and cable fully stretched out in a straight line, if it's better you need a new liner as when they are old and coiled up it can snag more easily.
Are the drive wheels marked as 0.6 or 0.8mm? Using. 0.8 wheel on 0.6 wire will cause wire feed problems.

 

[angellonewolf]

looks like the wire is sliping but will say im not good at this

 

[Wozzaaah]

The video won't even play properly for me, the time counts up but the video stops 3 times, always in the same places.

 

[pedrobedro]

Not enough wire speed, it's burning back to the tip. Turn the power down or the wire up till you get a fizz.

 

[rikrobson]

we can see that the wire is feeding, but is it slipping. Also have you got the correct tip in?

It looks like the wire is burning back, which means the wire is not feeding out quick enough, or its stopping.

turn the set to its lowest and the speed up. you should feel the wire striking the metal as you weld. then turn the wire speed down until you get a stable arc.

 

[[JP]]

Thank you for the tips gents.
I'm now away for new year but back on the 2nd and will check/try all your feedback and I'll then report back on findings.

Thank you and happy new year.

 

[RonA]

right. just been in the garage and done a little video.
On this video it seemed to go a bit longer than usual. usually just pops.
I ran the old wire through till I got clean wire on it.

things to take in account - the spring on the end of the wire roll is too strong, that was making the roll to stick and the wire speed not to go any faster, but I figured this one out before and was still popping after I removed the spring.( need to get a weaker spring?)
The wire is 0.6... not sure if 0.8 would be more suitable for the wheels to bite into and feed it through? seems alright on the feed though, as I show on the video right at the start.

the settings are on maximum power and wire feed at the middle of the range, but no matter where I put the feed speed it always does this popping.

I have exactly the same machine & almost from the word go had feed problems just like you're having. I changed the liner, spring at the gun with minimal improvement. I changed to 0.8 wire & the problem was cured. I dare say somebody will cry me down & say 0.6 is the only size to use for car body work but as I use short pulses of weld it works for me.
RonA

 

[Rig Pig]

I have exactly the same machine & almost from the word go had feed problems just like you're having. I changed the liner, spring at the gun with minimal improvement. I changed to 0.8 wire & the problem was cured. I dare say somebody will cry me down & say 0.6 is the only size to use for car body work but as I use short pulses of weld it works for me.
RonA

+1 for that, I had the Snapon version of the welder. It was useless on 0.6 but fine with 0.8.

 

[[JP]]

Hi all, quick update.
So I've bought a roll of 0.8 and yes it does seem to work much better....if I hold the roll with my finger.
the problem I have is that the spring offers too much resistance and then the wire slips... is it possible to get different size springs?
I guess I could turn a spacer on the lathe and cut this spring down, but if there's an option to buy a spring, then I'd do that.

 

[Rig Pig]

I changed the spring wire guide in the torch and the liner when I had feed issues, is the wirefeed clamp tight? The machine I had was fitted with a big plastic nut to adjust the tension on the spring clamping the spool. Unfortunately I sold it a while ago so I can't get you a picture.

 

[arther dailey]

There should be a large washer under that spring I think to help slip and stop "biting" ,if you look at top of page where headings are amongst them is Weldequip, if you look under mig then choose parts(I think) you will see a differant type assembly that should fit you machine, it has screw in adjustment for tension,much better system,same as some clarke use, its about £30. either way it might give you an idea how to make a better set up if you dont fancy buying one.Arther

 

[mattbearman]

Have you checked the wire feed clapper arm for cracks? I was having the exact same problem with my Snap On 130, tuned out the wire tensioner was cracked, so the wire was slipping.

 

[Steve Williamson]

On my Pocket 130, it has the spring against the wire spool and the washer on the other end of the spindle, yours looks a lot bigger spring