The Motor On My Lincoln Electric 140 Mig Welder

[Jim Oaks]

UGH!!!

I've only had this a year, and this is only the second project I've done with it.

I ran out of wire, so as I was loading the new spool of wire and letting it feed through the hose, the motor quit turning. WTF.

I pulled the wire back out and the motor will not turn at all when I pull the trigger. It clicks like its getting power but doesn't turn. This thing has 2-years of a 3-year warranty left if I can actually find a service center.

 

[bobbywalter]

might possibly just have to take it apart and clean the grinding particles out of it ..


mine loads up and misbehaves. i just clean it and lube it with dielectric

 

[Jim Oaks]

​

Figured it out. See that little black switch? That switches between a gun with a spool, and using the spool in the machine. Somehow I must have bumped it into spool mode. I'm so glad I didn't take this thing to a repair center. That would have been embarrassing. LOL.

 

[Shran]

Can't tell you how many times I've done that... I have an old style Miller 211 and the spool gun switch is right on the front of the machine and real easy to bump.

Seems like I always do it right after I forget that it exists and I spend an hour going WTF before I figure it out (again.)

 

[Curious Hound]

It was so nice of them to put that right there where you have to fumble around with the wire feed stuff. Perfect place for it to get bumped by accident.

 

[Jim Oaks]

What the hell!!

I replaced this wire with the exact same wire, and not it's sticking when I weld and won't feed. If I pull the trigger it will feed all day long. As soon as I start welding it feeds for 2 or 3 seconds and then quits. I can feel it pop loose when I stop welding and give it a few seconds. Is this a liner issue??

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Any difference if the lead is straight?

In light of the switch thing you are not standing on the lead are you?

 

[Jim Oaks]

Angle Doesn't seem to make any difference. I already changed out the tip not knowing if maybe that was the problem.

No, I'm not standing on the lead.

 

[Jim Oaks]

This new spool of wire seems dirtier than the wire I pulled out of the lead when I changed it. There's a black residue on it when I rub my fingers or a paper towel over it. I wonder if that could be the problem, but it was sealed in plastic, so I really don't see how.

 

[Curious Hound]

Wire could make a difference. I know it doesn't make sense. But I've heard others talk about not being able to use certain brands of wire. It would cost a few bucks. But trying a different brand of wire is an easy test.

Is your gas turned up high enough? Are all the settings on the machine correct? Do you have the proper groove selected on the druve roller? Have you tried slightly increasing tension on the drive roller?

 

[Jim Oaks]

I'm using .035 flux core. No gas.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Same brand of wire?

I bought some off brand and had issues. Bought Hobart wire and it worked fine.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Exact same wire down to the part number.

In this installment of 'As The Welder Burns', we find that Jimmy has removed the lead, sprayed Work Damnit! 40 (WD40) in each end of the liner, blew it out with compressed air, and the wire now seems to be feeding properly.

Tune in next time as we hear Jimmy say "Why does it smell like something is on fire??"

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Exact same wire down to the part number.

In this installment of 'As The Welder Burns', we find that Jimmy has removed the lead, sprayed Work Damnit! 40 (WD40) in each end of the liner, blew it out with compressed air, and the wire now seems to be feeding properly.

Tune in next time as we hear Jimmy say "Why does it smell like something is on fire??"

 

[Shran]

I've had a bad roll of wire or two. Usually I know when it feeds erratically and I have to keep cleaning the feed wheels. If it's oily or rusty then there will be guaranteed problems. US Forge solid wire from Menards is usually my go-to, their flux core is pretty good too. KT Industries wire is OK. I think the last really bad roll I had was from Lincoln but it was 0.025 thin stuff and had a little light rust on it.