New Dynasty 280DX, bad argon gas solenoid?

[CODE4]

Hello,

Name is Dave, and have purchased a new Dynasty 280DX in the past month. I have it setup with the bottle flowmeter piped into the back of the machine with a standard green argon hose, and a 17FV torch on the machine currently.

I have noticed that after the post flow times out, I can hear the audible decrease in argon flow from the torch, yet the ball with be slightly floating on the flowmeter still. Listening to the torch end, I can hear a small amount of argon escaping. Shutting the valve on the torch kills the flow yet, waiting a few seconds and releasing the valve provides the familiar "wooosh" of argon pressure escaping.

Is there something I should look into? Is this an identified problem with a certain batch of machines?

Spending $5k on a new machine to have an issue like this is a little disconcerting.

Thanks.

[CODE4]

To narrow it down (mechanical failure vs electrical/solenoid signal), I have opened the argon cylinder with the machine powered off, and the flow meter registers flow and gas can be felt escaping the torch.

Seems to be a bad solenoid then?

I am not really happy about having to take time out to take the machine to a local service center with it being brand new.

Any suggestions?

[H80N]

Did you by any chance use teflon tape on the fittings when you hooked up the regulator and hose??

if you did... then likely you have a shred of tape in the solenoid valve...

tef tape is a no no... those fittings are always assembled bare..

[CODE4]

Negative on tape. Just the standard inert gas fitting.

[H80N]

Negative on tape. Just the standard inert gas fitting.

Then maybe a piece of lint or crud got into the valve.. and lodged in the works..
I would blow it out backwards with compressed air while energized in the open position...
and then test it again..
would blow out the hose too..

[CODE4]

Excellent suggestion, thank you! Will report back tomorrow with results.

[H80N]

Excellent suggestion, thank you! Will report back tomorrow with results.

I have several times run in to the same situation...

hoses and gas equip seem to be crud magnets...

[CODE4]

Sir, thank you for the suggestion - I feel silly as it is a common sense solution that escaped me.

Blew the hose out as well as the machine in reverse flow.

Fixed the issue.

[H80N]

Sir, thank you for the suggestion - I feel silly as it is a common sense solution that escaped me.

Blew the hose out as well as the machine in reverse flow.

Fixed the issue.

Pretty common problem...

glad we could help...

BTW... Welcome Aboard..!!!

[maxstar300LX]

"reverse flow"??? HuH?

Wait a minute, 'reverse flow'?
Is that when you hookup the tank hose to the front unit fitting and the torch hose to the rear of machine fitting?
Will Robinson, this does not compute!

[H80N]

Wait a minute, 'reverse flow'?
Is that when you hookup the tank hose to the front unit fitting and the torch hose to the rear of machine fitting?
Will Robinson, this does not compute!

Compressed air with a blowgun...

Then maybe a piece of lint or crud got into the valve.. and lodged in the works..
I would blow it out backwards with compressed air while energized in the open position...
and then test it again..
would blow out the hose too..

[CODE4]

I sent compressed air from the front of the machine to the back while depressing the Pre/post flow button, manually opening the valve.

[gnforge]

New Dynasty 280DX, bad argon gas solenoid?

Don't feel bad. I ran my 350-p for 2-years and was in middle of a cyl when lost 75% of gas flow. Was almost 1/2 day till found small piece crud where hose goes into rear of Michine.
In hind sight sounds simple but sure took me awhile to find it.

[maxstar300LX]

Compressed air blowgun…

Yeah i got that part when you suggested it.
but it was this that threw me…

""Sir, thank you for the suggestion - I feel silly as it is a common sense solution that escaped me. ""

Thought the inlet /outlet lettering was missing…

Oh well,
been a LONG day!

also don't forget about the mud wasps nests, spider egg sacks, brass thead shavings from cross- threaded fittings on the tanks…
yeah CRUD is a good description.

[tommy2069]

get that problem every so often it's always a tiny piece of dust in the gas solenoid. i take out the solenoid and clean it out with electonic cleaner or brake cleaner and that takes care of it