Tweet
OK this will get a little long but I'm pulling my hair out and would like some guidance. The machine in question is a MillerMatic 251 that I purchased used about 2 years ago. The reason I bought this welder was because in 2005 my dad bought a brand new 251 and so I am very familiar with the machine and layed down a lot of beads with it over the 10 years I used it at his shop. When I went to buy my machine the 251 was no longer available so I found one used that appeared to be in excellent shape. I layed down a couple test beads and everything seemed fine.
Well I tried to use the machine over the last several years and something is just not right with it. my machine is a 2001 build and my dads is a 2005. identical machines, same size wire, same 75/25 gas, however these two machines weld nothing the same. my machine has to be turned up much hotter to achieve the same welds on the same thickness. also mine seems to chatter or loose an arc mid way through welding. its hard to explain but it is just much more touchy then my dads and much harder to lay a nice bead and also harder to start a clean arc.
I have replaced the liner, the rollers, the tip, rebuilt the gun, installed wire cleaners and lubers. changed wire, both in size and brand nothing helps. I also changed the gas regulator. I used all genuine miller parts.
I called miller tech support yesterday and they were very helpful! Thank you Josh. We tested welder output which he said was ok. checked resistance on the pairs of red and white wires. also apparently ok. then checked the weld stabilizer resistance. he said these readings were not what he was expecting. he recommended checking this against my dad's which i will do this weekend but my question is from my description does a bad weld stabilizer make sense? are there other things to check? is there a trouble shooting guide to help me walk through testing it?
I am frustrated with my machine and confident its not my skills. My dad also has used my machine and says it is difficult to use. its not that it doesnt work its just not quite right when compared to his.
Thanks or you time
David
Well I tried to use the machine over the last several years and something is just not right with it. my machine is a 2001 build and my dads is a 2005. identical machines, same size wire, same 75/25 gas, however these two machines weld nothing the same. my machine has to be turned up much hotter to achieve the same welds on the same thickness. also mine seems to chatter or loose an arc mid way through welding. its hard to explain but it is just much more touchy then my dads and much harder to lay a nice bead and also harder to start a clean arc.
I have replaced the liner, the rollers, the tip, rebuilt the gun, installed wire cleaners and lubers. changed wire, both in size and brand nothing helps. I also changed the gas regulator. I used all genuine miller parts.
I called miller tech support yesterday and they were very helpful! Thank you Josh. We tested welder output which he said was ok. checked resistance on the pairs of red and white wires. also apparently ok. then checked the weld stabilizer resistance. he said these readings were not what he was expecting. he recommended checking this against my dad's which i will do this weekend but my question is from my description does a bad weld stabilizer make sense? are there other things to check? is there a trouble shooting guide to help me walk through testing it?
I am frustrated with my machine and confident its not my skills. My dad also has used my machine and says it is difficult to use. its not that it doesnt work its just not quite right when compared to his.
Thanks or you time
David
Comment