spectrum 375 torch clogged

[jimenez onsite]

Started over holiday, something is clogging torch head air flow. Have to completely disassemble to restore and stops again after 5 minutes cutting. Feels like thin plastic material that is coming out. Any ideas would be appreciated.

[kize]

If your torch is plugging up- I would stop and evaluate the quailty of your air supply. Poor quality air will surely take out your cutter and/or torch. Clean, dry air is a must.

[jimenez onsite]

Spectrum clogged torch air quality

Unfortunately I have had same set up for last 2 years with 3 different machines, just the miller inline filter at machine input. Tried both 60 gallon North Star shop compressor and Bel Aire 30 gallon truck mounted gas compressor, different supply hoses on each. I think either regulator or air control valve are coming apart internally. Sometimes I forget to use regulator when I use on service truck so maybe 140 psi has hurt something. Unfortunately the internal regulator and control valve are tiny compared to 375 cutmaster/400 airforce I had before.
Jimenez

[jimenez onsite]

spectrum xtreme guts

Taking unit apart to find source of contamination. Cleaning internal filter separator unit. More and more looking like dirty air supply finally over loaded internal moisture separator and let all the built up crud come spilling out. I guess time for motor guard filter.

[cruizer]

Simply get a oversize manual drain "hurricane" filter assembly , and step it down to the size you need for the machine. Then just leave the manual drain open slightly. The hurricane is simular to the automatic one one your machine. The automatic seems to plug up and never work. Both the motor guard and the toilet systems are pretty much useless.

[jimenez onsite]

xtreme air flow stop

Installed water seperator on plasma after Miller filter, did not see any moisture at all in clear bowl. Internal filter and external miller filter elements off white, still usable. Cut great for 4 minutes and suddenly air flow stops. No way clogged with no moisture in filter bowl. Waited 20 minutes and tried again and sure enough cut great again then stops after couple minutes. Time to get voltmeter and do some testing before and after shutdown.

[snowbird]

mine act like that when pressure is too high or work clamp is loose.

[jimenez onsite]

pressure valve test

I figure read voltage while working and when it stops working. That will let me know if valve is turning itself off or being told by controller to turn off. Verify valve bad before spending $118 on new valve. Since 12vdc I can duplicate signal with some rc batteries once I know voltage range. Gotta fix soon, my boys using for school welding class projects.

[plasmaman]

The Miller inline air filter is a very good filter.The only problem is it does not have a drain. You have to remove the element and let it air drt. When moisture builds up in it if you do not let it air dry it will start to deteriorate and pieces of the element will work their way through the system to the torch head.

[jimenez onsite]

XT30 vs ICE27

Thanks for information, make sure I have extra element for external filter to let dry fully. Thinking about buy new style torch after repairing air valve since supposed to be direct swap. Any insite on New XT30 torch versus ICE27 on value and performance?

[jimenez onsite]

high pressure

I did notice that when I upgraded to xtreme 375 from airforce 400 I had to use a regulator off compressor to bring down to 120psi or torch would flame out, not cut continuously. Regulator inside xtreme preset and tiny, old machines you set manually.