wire-matic 250

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I'm talking to someone who is selling a 1991 wire-matic 250. I haven't seen it in person yet. He tells me the welder will shut off at just any time while welding and he can't figure out why. I'm afraid that it could be the wire feed motor or something similar, the price of which may be worth more than the machine.  I don't mind making reasonable repairs though. Anybody have any experience with a similar problem?
Reply:I have a wirematic 250.  It was always big enough for what I had to do.  I stopped using it when I bought a V350.  Never had a problem with it.It will not run off generated power.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Well that one uses a plastic drive gear, tends to strip over time, and it lists for hmmm, over $500 bucks.Not worth the price of admission now ehhhhhhh
Reply:Thanks David. The Wirematic 250 is a little bigger than what I need but I'm "financially embarassed" right now so I'm looking at everything. The guy is looking for a little better than $300.00 which will be fine if there isn't some major component out. I'm certain he's had it checked out but if he has he ain't telling me what the problem is.
Reply:Thanks Cruizer, what you posted is the kind of thing  I'm worried about. I don't mind buying something that needs repaired but with welders in particular it's best to know what the problem is. A $500.00 part would clearly make it not worthwhile to me.
Reply:If you had 800 in it and it works fine, it would still be worth it.  I paid 1200 for mine with a spool gun a loong time ago. 1993?Ask him if you can take it to a repair shop for a quote.  DavidLast edited by David R; 08-27-2008 at 08:09 PM.Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:We had a Wire Matic 250, I believe, in the shop about two months ago. Did what you said. Thought I had seen everything, but the problem was in the protection circuitry. The machine has two fans, one moving air over a resistor connected to a thermostat. Someone had reversed the blade on the motor which results in much less air flow. Most of us intuitively think that reversing a fan blade causes air to flow in the opposite direction. Not so. Moves the same way, just not much of it. Anytime unit welds, current flows through resistor. Low air flow made machine thermal with very little welding. We would probably pay 300 even if the drive motor might be a problem. weldersales