Help with wire feed problem

[Laura]

Still Trying

Thanks so much for the help everyone I really appreciate it!

I have tried the larger tip and it is a bit better but still stopping (and on the last attempt even stopped with the tip off). However I did notice as I moved the wire through the gun with the tip off that there are very slight curves in the wire. I then loosly held the wire as it came off the spool before going to the rollers and realized that the curves exist before it even gets into the rollers or liner. In the morning I am going to pull the spool and install a new one. If that doesn't help I will pull the liner out. Can you tell me if there are certain brands of wire known to be bad so I can avoid buying them? The one I have on now is Forney.

Laura

[jwsrep]

Laura,
Are you having to use the pliers to pull out the wire when the tip is installed or out? If out, chances are your liner is either kinked or pluged. Often times, especially when a welder is rarely used, dust builds up on the top of the wire. It is then pulled thru the monocoil liner and clogs where the gun tube bends. Sometimes you can remove the liner, straighten it out and blow it out with an air nozzle. Or you can replace the liner for around $18. This is a very common problem. Once you have remedied the problem you can help it from happening again by installing a wire pad cleaner on your mig wire just before it enters the drive rolls. These can be purchased at any weld supply shop. Weld Aid makes a product called Lubematic wire pads and are sold in a pkg of 6 for around $7 or $8.

[dabar39]

Laura, Follow sundown III's advice and if that doesn't help check your gun liner for a kink or bent spot, that can effect the wire feed. How old are your drive rollers they may be worn or out of alignment. Oh, and by the way welcome to the board. Dave

[TopRet]

Great advice from Sundown. You may have gotten a mis-marked roll of wire.

[SundownIII]

Laura,

Try swapping out the .030 contact tip with a .035 tip.

Sometimes you'll get a spool of wire that your tips just don't like.

Might try checking your drive roll tension. If it's too tight, it may be slightly deforming the wire (even though I assume it's solid).

Try those two things and get back if it doesn't solve the problem.

[Laura]

Hi,

I have a Miller 175 mig and am having problems with the wire feed. I am using .030 wire and a .030 contact tip. When the tip has been removed the wire feeds easily for as long as I have the trigger pressed. However when I put the tip back on I can weld only about a 1/4" - 1/2" bead before it stops feeding. Then I have to pull the wire out with pliers while holding the trigger to get it moving again. I am using Miller consumables and have tried 3 different tips but the same thing keeps happening. I have also tried removing the tip and using a metal tip cleaner and then putting it back. Nothing works. Any ideas how I can fix this problem?

Thanks,
Laura