ALL STAR Wire Feed Welder 117-002 HELP!

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I got this old mig for free, supposedly it just quit working.  I haven't even hooked it up yet, cuz it was filled with spider webs and dirt daubers from sitting up in a garage.When I pulled the sides off I can see that everything looks fine except the Heat Selector switch looks/feels like it's not making contact.  It goes from Shrink then Fill, then 3 - 9.  It's some kind of spring loaded open contact switch.  I will get it hooked up tommorow and see if some of the contacts are broken or what and get some contact cleaner on it.Even if I get it to work I would like to try to find a switch to replace it.  Problem is I don't know who made it.  A quick search showed that Century made ALL Star welders.  It's a big red machine with stitch/spot timers and continous mode, and a BurnBack control labeled Argon (top postition) CO2 (bottom). Not sure what burnback control is for (I am not a pro welder, kinda new to it, I work on electronics.)It's 220 volt primary, 20 volt secondary, 100amps.  I figure they probably called it a "140" or something but the only model # on it is 117-002.Looks like an older industrial type mig.   It's rather large in physical size.  Looks like was well taken care of till it was stored.  Says on the front Made in USA, looks like good quality industrial type less than 150 amp output mig welder.Where should I go to get parts?  Century?  Lincoln?  I'd really like to fix it and use it.Please help, thanks!
Reply:I guess noone knows much about these welders.I got it all working, but the gun is raggedy, and I think I'd like to replace it.  Pretty sure it's a Century welder, it's got a 10lb spool of .035 straight mig wire (no flux core) and I didn't have a shielding gas bottle to test it with so I just ran a few beads on some old 3/16" lawn mower blades and it didn't seem to have enough power, but a freind of mine says it'll penetrate better once I get gas on it.   It makes the other side of the 3/16" glow red so I guess it's at least kinda hot.  Remember the specs said 20 volts @ 100amps on the secondary of the transformer, so what does that translate into when you go to rating a mig welder?  My Campbell Hausfeld 135 mig says it's only 90 amps, don't know what the secondary voltage is though.  I know power is measured in watts (voltage x current = power in watts).  So 20 volts @ 100amps = 2000 watts.My friend recommended that I go down to .030" mig wire and get a sheilding gas bottle (I already have the regulator, just no bottle).What do you guys think?And where can I get a new gun or at least parts to rebuild the one it's got? Pretty sure it's an old Century product, just doesn't say century on it.
Reply:Make sure your roller will accept 0.03 wire.  It may be stamped on the roller. We have an authorized repair shop in Nashville.  The number is 615-242-0248, Dave's Drive Shaft.
Reply:well, you are in luck i suppose, because i happen to have an all star mig that i have been using for 3 years. sounds like from your description that we likely have the same model.  all of the features on the upper left side of the machine are mostly designed for auto body repair. i suggest setting to continous unless you plan to stitch quarter panels onto an old chevelle.   i never use them. the most important are the amperage control and the wire feed speed.   the mig gun that came with my machine (i assume it was original) was a worn out piece of junk. wire always jammed up and caused many headaches.  i replaced it with a tweco that i purchased from my local welding shop and have had smooth sailing all the way.  i chose the tweco (or a tweco knock off would suffice) because you can get consumables anywhere and they are very inexpensive.  just price miller consumables for a similar machine.  you will also have many options availible for accessories.  teflon liner for aluminum....etc.  the gun connection on your machine is likely the euro style twist lock.  some times referred to as a bernard style connection.  you should be able to find something on ebay.  i bought a 250 amp gun so i can run heavy guage wire through it.  i have used up to .045 but the gun is capable of considerably larger. the machine's feed system will handle larger wire as well.   just turn the amperage up to 9 and the wire speed to about 1 to 1.5.  used this way, the machine is easily capable of welding 3/8" even though it is rated at only 100 amps.another thing to look out for is the feed rollers on my model are neoprene.  mine had nasty grooves worn in them.  to this day i have not replaced them because i just loosened the set screws and slid the worn area over so it doesn't affect the wire feed.  metal rollers would be a good idea.  one draw back of this unit is that the duty cycle is only 20%(maybe 25-i can't remember)  i would suggest that you heed that because i don't know if there are parts availible if you overheat something.  my all star has been trouble free for over three years and i use it at least a couple times a month (sometimes for 6 or 8 hours at a time) which is likely more than a standard home hobbiest.  i would recomend that you take the side panels off the machine and blow all the crap(spider webs, dust, metal particles, etc) before you use it. this will lessen the chance that you will short something out during use.  on a further note, i am planning to sell mine, due to the fact that i just purchased a used miller 250 dial arc hf-p.  since the tig is a little more versatile, i probably wont have a lot of use for the mig.
Reply:I just bought one of the All Star #117-002 machines.  I hope it will work out okay.  However, would anyone know where I can find an original owner parts manual?Thank you.Mike.
Reply:Did you find out where to get a new gun for your #117-002 welder.I just bought a used All Star Wire Feed Welder and need a new gun for it.Fred
Reply:I have a Allstar model 117-002 welder I just took out of service today that I would like to sell. I worked until this morning, but the wire feed board failed.  this part is still avalible.  It is part# 860 504 666 This has been a good welder and the stinger was just relpaced last year. I'll cut a good deal on this. You can use it for parts or repair it for use.  The board costs $280.00  Steve
Reply:Where are you located? I may be interested. I am in Texas.ThanksTed
Reply:Originally Posted by blfisheron a further note, i am planning to sell mine, due to the fact that i just purchased a used miller 250 dial arc hf-p.  since the tig is a little more versatile, i probably wont have a lot of use for the mig.
Reply:i need help with my all star welder also it wont feed wire i think some one cut 2 wires in it going to the wire feed control a white with red stripe and out of the main harness a brown with yellow stripe if some one can tell me where they go i would greatly appreciate it  pics would be even better