Airco welder

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Heres a little more info on this old airco welder that i just cant seem to figure out.Has gas flow, has water flow, but can't get it to arc. The model number is 3A/DDR 24 HPA. It lookes to have a RFC 23A Foot pedal. Looked up diagram to make sure we wired it right. It was wired wrong so we wired it to the diagram and it didn't make a difference.Any more help would be great. Thanks.Here are some pics.
Reply:I have an Airco as well.I noticed you are set for AC welding (aluminum), but your high freq is set to "start" instead of "continuous."DC set to "start"AC set to "continuous"Dave J.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Are you able to stick weld with it? (no remote)Airco Ac/Dc 300 HeliwelderMillerMatic 200 (stolen)Miller Maxstar 150STLMiller AEAD200LE (welding and generating power) Hobart MIG
Reply:Along the same line as SquirmyPug, can you tig with the foot control unhooked, switches to standard, and high freq on?Dave J.EDIT:  This is wrong, you will see SquirmyPug corrects me below.Last edited by MinnesotaDave; 03-11-2013 at 11:09 PM.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveAlong the same line as SquirmyPug, can you tig with the foot control unhooked, switches to standard, and high freq on?Dave J.
Reply:Excellent point - I was basically thinking along the lines of scratch start like my old rig.  You are likely right and it would not work.Dave J.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Your Airco was made by Miller and it is a 320 or 330 ABP. You can go to miller's web site and get an owner's manual. Post the serial number and a clear picture of the relay panel on the right side.I might have the diagram If you need it. To get HF and weld current the main contactor must pull in.The main weld contactor is controlled by the panel switch or the foot control. On a lot of these units the HF will come on with the panel switch. Gas should only come on with the foot control. although it may run with the post flow timer when you turn the welder on or switch to panel on.With HF turned off, What voltage to you get at the weld terminals in panel on and in remote on foot control on. If no voltage, did main weld contactor pull in? Are all levers in the correct places?
Reply:I checked all the fuses and they are good. In the pics o sent the welder was on the wrong setting. the reason was i tried it in all different settings to see if it would make a difference. i checked the volts going to the 3 prong plug and they all read 50 volts. No matter what possision they were in remote or standard. Even when I push down on the pedal it doesn't change. I checked the bottom 2 prong plug and it pulls 10 volts on either one.one thing I did notice is if I set the start circuit in instead of out I get a very small arc every once in a while. This machine is very complicated for a guy not experienced at all with a tig welder. I appreciate all the help fellas.
Reply:Also I checked the to see if I was getting power were the torch hooks up and it doesn't show anything
Reply:If you need one, I have a miller manual PDF that is likely the one you need.PM me an email and I'll send it.Dave J.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:My email is [email protected] thanks
Reply:I should have looked at the first pic a little closer. The knife switch on the left sideframe behind the HF component door has to be closed for tig (inert) and open (metallic) for stick welding. IT will NOT tig with it open. I know because I forgot to change mine back once. Attached ImagesLast edited by millrat; 03-13-2013 at 09:40 AM.Reason: forgot pic
Reply:Originally Posted by millratI should have looked at the first pic a little closer. The knife switch on the left sideframe behind the HF component door has to be closed for tig (inert) and open (metallic) for stick welding. IT will NOT tig with it open. I know because I forgot to change mine back once.
Reply:Thanks. Good to know. I thought the 320 and 330's all had the same setup.
Reply:One of my manuals at home showed when the change happened.  I will see if I can locate the info when I get home.  Could help someone Dave J.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Yeah, my bad. I should've looked at the schematic before opening yap. Inert opens the circuit.
Reply:Here is the manual listing for the change on the balancing resistor switch.Got my #1 son to load it on the computer instead of typing Dave J. Attached ImagesDave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:That's why I should've looked at the schematic. Mine is slightly younger than I. It has a flat bar positioner. Nut/bolt affair both ways, ergo my confusion. Learn a lot here.My apologies for any confusion I may have causedBTW, how do you get a PDF into a pic????? Attached ImagesLast edited by millrat; 03-13-2013 at 09:45 PM.Reason: forgot to ask.
Reply:Originally Posted by millratThat's why I should've looked at the schematic. Mine is slightly younger than I. It has a flat bar positioner. Nut/bolt affair both ways, ergo my confusion. Learn a lot here.BTW, how do you get a PDF into a pic?????
Reply:I'm a late '53 vintage. The machine is (CRS) '56 or '58.I agree, new ones hickup or burp, it's like one of the latest commercials "customer, how much you got" ?I do understand why some of the technology needed to change, but we built tanks and battleships with the "old" tech. Several of which are still around today. Go figure.Ahhhh. I need to change some settings on the scanner. The site won't accept PDF files.Sooooo. Tell an "old guy" what a snip tool is. Better yet, PM me so I don't feel like I'm hijacking the thread.