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Question on MIG wire feed

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TomMull

TomMull

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I'm just setting up my new Eastwood 250MP welder and am having trouble with the wire feed. When not triggered I can move the end of the wire at the tip a half inch ore more. There is that much slack in the core. I sent a video to Eastwood and was told that this is normal. It doesn't seem right to me. I don't have a way to post the video but if anyone is interested, send me a pm and I'll email it to you.
Here's what seems to be happening. To start I need to trim the wire and then push it back into the gun tip. Then as long as I don't release the trigger it welds nicely, see bottom weld on bracket. But as soon as I start and stop it messes up (of course could be me messing up and the problem has nothing to do with the slack wire), see the weld at the top.
Any advice?

Tom
 

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Both my machines have play as you describe and work fine. If you hold the gun in the air and pull the trigger, do you get a steady movement of the wire or lurching? Wire speed and heat have to be in synch or you will "woodpecker" (wire too fast or heat too low) or burn the wire back to the tip inside the shield (wire too slow or heat too high).
Bob
 
Looks like you are losing sight of the work while the arc is going and getting off line or unsteady about where you put the wire. Try striking the arc, going 1/4 inch and stopping so you can see where to orient the wire for the next arc.
Bob
 
bobhustead said:
Looks like you are losing sight of the work while the arc is going and getting off line or unsteady about where you put the wire. Try striking the arc, going 1/4 inch and stopping so you can see where to orient the wire for the next arc.
Bob
Click to expand...
The start-stop is what the machine doesn't seem to like. As for the drift, he hand is not as steady as it once was but I can live with that (or have to). Thanks Bob for confirming that the wire slack is not necessarily unusual. My old welder had no slack but a much shorter torch line. The new one is 15 ft. I guess I'll be looking for another cause for the issue.
 
None of the MIGs I've owned have done that. My current MIG is a Lincoln 250 and it's wire doesn't move unless I press the button. Is your wire feed clamp pressure correct?
 
Hillbillybarr said:
None of the MIGs I've owned have done that. My current MIG is a Lincoln 250 and it's wire doesn't move unless I press the button. Is your wire feed clamp pressure correct?
Click to expand...

Good timing as I have been away for the winter and just getting she shop sorted. Welder is at the top of my list now. I think the slack in the core is due to the long 20 ft hose so that may be normal. The slack is beyond the feed rollers which I am confident are adjusted properly. My next project will be getting into the drag mechanism on the spool.
Thanks for the reply.
Tom
 
I think you are on the right track with the drag mechanism. If the spool can continue to move after the trigger is released, it can produce slack between each re-start of the weld.
 
JimLaney said:
I think you are on the right track with the drag mechanism. If the spool can continue to move after the trigger is released, it can produce slack between each re-start of the weld.
Click to expand...
Good you agree, but it seems to be just the opposite, I can't get it to go slack, even if I take the spring right out. Not much tension with it all loose but not "freewheeling" either. I'm sorry to say I've been busy with other issues and this has been on the back burner. I'll try to get a look tomorrow and get back to you. Thanks for the reply.
Tom
 
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