Help with LN25

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I bought a used LN25, and took it for a spin yesterday.. (anybody ever put a new case on theirs? I would like to order one)Having some troubles, Tried researching on Google and couldn't find much.Ranger 250 GXT set on dc- stinger on cable lug  from the LN25, other lead (ground/work) clamped to welding table, and also another wire out of the LN25 to the welding table. .068 211 innersheild wire. Tried both switch positions in the LN25 for cv and ccWhen I try to get a bead rolling it stutters, arcs, maybe a second of welding, then just wire out and pushing the gun back, then it arcs and beads again, and then wire out and pushes the gun back. When it does arc, the beads look very cold.I just want to get comfortable with it for now before I decide whether I like cc or cv. The previous owner said he liked CV. I researched these on Google and understand that, but fail to realize the real world definitions and how the welder will perform or act in the different settings, from what I understand, long arc and short arc.Can you guys give me a baseline setup for what works for you. Ranger settings on coarse and fine dials, dc+ or - and cv or cc on the 250.This wire and welder are very new to me, but I have years of experience with Mig.Secondly. I like to have all my machines prepared to run as back up for other processes/machines, Especially running out of my home garage and my company shop. My tig is in my garage, and I have the stick attachment/fitting for tweco leads for it. Can I run the LN25 off of my precision tig? The settings and scenario should probably mimick the Ranger.As always, thanks for your time.14' PowerMig 210 MP13'Burntables 5x10 CNC Table14' SAE300 HE on a 12' Ram 4500 60 CA 4x4. Custom bed/bottles/reels.87' SA250d, 78 SA200,11' Ranger 250 GXT AC/DCThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 8112' Lincoln Precision Tig 22508' LN25
Reply:I remember when we didn't have CV engine drives. Then Lincoln came out with the CV box, then next thing was the SAM-400s, and the Miller Trailblazer 55s. But if I remember correctly this was all before the LN-25 came out, we just had LN-22s. A lot of Innershield wires don't require CV, but if you have it I suggest using it. I can't think of a T-8 wire that doesn't require CV. I've ran a 305G for about 10-minutes one time, but not with a wire feeder so I can't help you with settings.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Wire runs best in CV mode. In CC mode the feeder will constantly try to adjust wire speed to try and mimic CV as close as possible. It will not run short arc well, especially solid wire. With larger FC wire when you get the amps up into spray, it will work much better, but spray can be a PITA in out of position welds.Sounds to me like you need to crank up the output on the Ranger from what you are describing. I'll leave settings to others who run large FC wire with these machines.Your only option on the tig would be CC since it's not CV capable like the Ranger is. The real question will be if the tig has the amps and duty cycle to run the size wire you want well in CC mode in spray. Small tigs usually don't have the output and duty cycle to run large wire in spray many times..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I priced a new case and the local welder rebuilders said it would cost over a couple hundred bucks. So I guess I kinda like the "broken in" look!"Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Hello TheJackal, both CEP and DSW have given you some straight-up information on the LN. I might just add a bit and possibly reiterate some too. Your Lincoln gas drive is capable of CV output, use that for operating your LN-25 with the wire that you have. .068 is best served with quite a bit of "heat", don't be afraid to start out with quite a bit of voltage. Set the machine to CV output, connect the LN to the (-) output terminal on the machine;and the ground to the (+). Set the CV/CC switch inside and under the cover of the LN to "CV" and the front polarity switch on the face of the LN to (-). Connect the "pigtail clamp" to the part that you are welding on, this provides the circuit to provide power to the drive motor inside of the LN-25.Start out with a fair amount of wire speed as you begin to dial in the proper settings. If the wire speed is too fast or the voltage is too low the wire will stub-out as you described. If you have too little wire speed or too much voltage once the arc has initiated, it will burn up to the contact tip and "weld" itself to it. Once you have gotten a reasonably smooth arc you can increase or decrease the bead size by varying your travel speed and/or adjusting the voltage and wire speed to get it where you want it. There is also information from Lincoln on their website that will provide you with some rough settings for this particular wire, they are a good starting point. This information will also make you aware of the limitations and specifics for this particular wire's applications. Good luck and best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:Hi CEP, don't mean to question your statements yet I noticed that you mentioned T-8 wires requiring CV. There's a little bit more to it than that. The T-8 wires are the only wires that are able to be used on seismic structural applications when required under that code. NR-211 is a T-11 wire and isn't allowed for use where seismic codes(FEMA 354 I believe) are being applied. You can weld with T-8 wires using CC, yet it will require a qualification procedure to be run and the results to be available for any inspection purposes. Any welders using this wire with CC would be required to take welding qualification tests as well. Welding with T-8's and CC would also need to be done with adherence to the WPS's developed by this special qualification testing. Best regards, AllanLast edited by aevald; 01-06-2013 at 08:11 PM.aevald
Reply:I appreciate your time to post back Allan, I will try that tomorrow. My gas drive is an ac/dc machine and has both cv and cc background dials (will post a picture shortly). I know the LN25 is in good working order and asked the previous owner if I could possibly buy some of this time to hang out and learn more from him. Your reply brings up another thing, do you know of a good read up on t-X wire that I could read? I have spent hundreds of hours reading on this forum. It just gets super complicated sometimes even for different processes. Gotta start somewhere though.14' PowerMig 210 MP13'Burntables 5x10 CNC Table14' SAE300 HE on a 12' Ram 4500 60 CA 4x4. Custom bed/bottles/reels.87' SA250d, 78 SA200,11' Ranger 250 GXT AC/DCThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 8112' Lincoln Precision Tig 22508' LN25
Reply:Here is the face of my gas machine.The red is CVthe lowest and left most is 14-22v the next red is 18-28v cv Attached Images14' PowerMig 210 MP13'Burntables 5x10 CNC Table14' SAE300 HE on a 12' Ram 4500 60 CA 4x4. Custom bed/bottles/reels.87' SA250d, 78 SA200,11' Ranger 250 GXT AC/DCThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 8112' Lincoln Precision Tig 22508' LN25
Reply:Allan I can't ever remember reading in the specifications of seismic jobs that CC only machines were allowed after the Northridge earthquake.http://www.millerwelds.com/resources...caw-flux-coredLast edited by CEP; 01-06-2013 at 09:40 PM.Reason: forgot the linkDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Hello CEP, that information is in the AWS code books. Now, that is not to say that the contract, the engineer of record, and/or it's language can't disallow that as an option. I believe most owners, engineers, and others have been made aware of the benefits of CV operation over CC for self-shielded flux-cored wires and thus they are likely going to go with that as an option. Yet it can be used if it is qualified and the parties involved allow it. I guess that's where I was coming from. Best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:Hello again TheJackal, I am "hopefully" going to include some links with the information that you are asking about. These are specifically relative to Lincoln consumables, there are also other manufacturers who have similar information that can be gotten. Best regards, Allanhttp://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-us...-shielded.aspxhttp://www.generalair.com/pdf/Tech%2...ded%20Flux.pdfhttp://igor.chudov.com/manuals/Inner...core_wires.pdfaevald
Reply:If you are getting cold feed of wire while trying to weld. You will  need to look at the contactor and the weld circuit connections inside the LN25 case. You will most likely find the contactor is worn out and only making good contact some of the time.You have two choices for a new contactor. buy from Lincoln or from profax/lenco.The profax contactor comes with out shields and mounting brackets. Must get them from the old contactor. Both contactors have the same 250 amp rating and come from the same factory.
Reply:Allan you're talking paper work, and I was talking about actually doing it. Then I got to thinking, I've never tried a T-8 wire on CC. Only T-8 wires I have are Coreshield 8, and NR-233. So I went out to the shop this morning fired up the 1966 SA-200 Red Face, and turned on the V350-Pro. Loaded a roll of NR-233 in the LN-25. On CC the NR-233 is hit and miss, one pass will run OK, but the next pass will have worm tracks, and pin holes. So I got to thinking maybe this roll of NR-233 went bad. Plugged the lead from the V350-Pro to the LN-25, switched from VV to CV. Nope pretty good pass. Removed the NR-233 from the LN-25, and loaded a roll of Coreshield 8. Basically the same thing, one pass was OK the next pass worm tracks and pin holes. Now maybe the SA-200 isn't the best machine to try this with! Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Ln-25 is a great feeder. Set the Ranger on CV mode on the higher setting and polarity negative (pos for wire that uses gas and neg for wire that does not use gas). You will have to crank up on volt knob. .068 is a good size wire, your Ranger may not have enough juice to run it. if that is the the case go to smaller wire like .045 or.035Set Ln-25 CV mode, then the low/high switch start on low if it does not feed enough switch to high.Ground from feeder is real important. If you do not have good ground it will not work. Cables from ranger were correct. Good luck, once you get it set they work great.