head scratching w/ millermatic 175

[72cruiser]

sup fellas,

i've had my millermatic 175 for 2 or 3 years now and i've run into my first problem...


i'm getting really porous welds like my shield gas isn't turned on or something. but it is, the regulators read out just like they normally do...

everything checks out as far as i know...good ground, clean metal, nothing wrong w/ the tip or nozzle that i can see, the wire is feeding fine.

i'm really at a loss.


can anybody point me in a direction for troubleshooting outside of these completely normal/regular things?

thanks,
malphrus

[Wile E Coyote]

1st thing would be to see if the gas was reaching the cup, not just the regulator.
2nd would be to check all connections for leaks, letting gas out, or air in.
3rd, check what you're welding, as surface contaminants can be included in the puddle, burn off, and the bubbling from the combustion is seen as porosity.
4th would be to ensure you were given the proper gas (c25 or CO2, and not straight argon) if you've just gotten a refill.
5th would be check for proper polarity. Did you just recently weld w/ some FCAW, and have switched back w/o switching polarity?

[Junk]

malphrus, do you use it frequently or are you still on the same roll of wire? If on the original roll, pull of a layer or two then try. Check for Wile's points above too.

When is malphrus2.0 due out? You know, the next batch of creative writing, like when a ball sleeps at night

[72cruiser]

hey guys,

thanks for the quick responses.

this happened in the middle of a job. i had been welding all morning and had started on a new joint; just tacked the pieces together and then all of a sudden, lots of nasty porous weld...

Originally Posted by Wile E Coyote

1st thing would be to see if the gas was reaching the cup, not just the regulator.
2nd would be to check all connections for leaks, letting gas out, or air in.
3rd, check what you're welding, as surface contaminants can be included in the puddle, burn off, and the bubbling from the combustion is seen as porosity.
4th would be to ensure you were given the proper gas (c25 or CO2, and not straight argon) if you've just gotten a refill.
5th would be check for proper polarity. Did you just recently weld w/ some FCAW, and have switched back w/o switching polarity?

1 - i can't feel the gas flowing at the cup...but i never checked before i had this problem so i don't know what 'normal' would be.
any suggestions on how to check this? i guess i could put a balloon over the gun or something.

2 - did this first thing b/c i just figured something got loose...i will do it again with a bit more attention when i get back in the garage.
how "internal" should i be checking for this? the regulator and all connections from the co2/argon tank to the back of the welder are good and teflon taped, is there some connection inside that could have come loose?

3 - no contaminants, all the stuff i've been workin on is new steel, cleaned and prepped

4 - i'm about 1/2 thru this tank and hadn't had any problems prior

5 - pretty much same story as above...it was working fine 30 seconds before

Originally Posted by Junk

malphrus, do you use it frequently or are you still on the same roll of wire? If on the original roll, pull of a layer or two then try. Check for Wile's points above too.

When is malphrus2.0 due out? You know, the next batch of creative writing, like when a ball sleeps at night

yeah, i go thru a good bit of wire (1/2 done w/ the 11lb spool i got in february), so i don't think it's anything there.


haha, thanks for bringin that up junk, it's been a while... don't really play (or write) much any more. i did rupture a guy's spleen and lacerate his liver in april playin ultimate though. that was crazy.




malphrus

[Cruiserdrew]

It sounds like the gas solenoid gave up. Then there is no gas flow when you pull the trigger. Time to figure out if the cas is flowing. If not, track it backwards.

[spressomon]

I have the same welder. Occasionally the mig hose (the hose that the wire and gas moves through) gets pulled out of its socket. Be sure to check this as there is only an o-ring holding/connecting it to the welder body. If this happens the gas won't flow...but the wire will. IMO Miller could have done a better job with attaching the hose to the welder body!

[72cruiser]

Originally Posted by spressomon

I have the same welder. Occasionally the mig hose (the hose that the wire and gas moves through) gets pulled out of its socket. Be sure to check this as there is only an o-ring holding/connecting it to the welder body. If this happens the gas won't flow...but the wire will. IMO Miller could have done a better job with attaching the hose to the welder body!

the 'correct answer' award goes to spressomon

the 'durrr, i'm an idiot' award goes to me



thanks for the suggestions guys, ha ha.

malphrus