Beginner questions. Leaking relief valve.

admin

I'm attempting to learn how to weld but I've got a few questions about the welding equipment.  It's a MIG welder which has been sitting in a corner for 10 years and it's time to learn how to use it.  Go easy on me, my questions may be SUPER noob questions.  Any help will be greatly appreciated.1) It appears as though I've got a leak which is stopping the gas from going through to the welder.  The leak is coming out of what I would imagine is a relief valve due to too much pressure?  The regulator gauge also appears to be toast as it never moves.  Is this leak something that can be fixed or should I just replace the whole assembly?Video for further explanation:2) I was reading the manual and it was saying there is a plastic or metal piece which surrounds the wire at the feeding motor depending on what you're welding.  How important is that piece?  Can it be removed?3) Lastly, the tip of the gun seems incredibly loose.  I saw some others that the tip was threaded which secured it down.  Mine on the other hand doesn't have a thread, there is what looks like a wire that wraps around.  How is the tip supposed to be sturdy on the torch if it doesn't thread on?
Reply:By the looks & sounds  of that video showing the regulated pressure gauge on the left, I would guess the diaphragm is broken. I would start by replacing that gauge. As for the other questions, I'm sure others will eventually chime in here.Miller Bobcat 250Syncrowave  200Millermatic 252Spoolmatic 30ASpectrum 625 X-TremeMaxstar 150SVictor O/A torchesDewalt angle grindersWelded on/off for over 40 years.
Reply:Your gas regulator is broken and allowing bottle pressure to act on what should be lower pressure side where relief valve is located.....Mig gas regulators are super cheap and sold as an assembly...buy new, not off eBay....to check performance of regulator, attach it to bottle, then loosen the t handle all the way out till it falls out in your hand, then crack open gas bottle valve........If you hear gas hissing out relief valve, then toss regulator in trash.Your MIG gun gas nozzel in the pic is a slide on affair and looks fine....you attach it with a twisting motion all the way till it stops...However that little copper thang that actually screws into your MIG torch inside the gas nozzle is rather important and is considered a 'consumable' because it will burn out eventually.....It is called the torch electrode tip.....It should be sized in accordance with whatever wire diameter you are welding with because it and the MIG gun lead/hose liner conduct electricity to the wire, where the inner diameter and condition of the hose liner and that tip are expected to conduct the full amps of the welder to the wire....screw the electrode tip in fully and then tighten it snug using your MIG pliers...If you ain't got MIG pliers, get a pair and keep them in your hip pocket.For general welding, make certain that the large gas shield nozzle is slid all the way on your torch head, then clip your wire stickout to about 3/8"...there will be times you will need to not slide it on all the way, and in that fashion it will allow you to generate a bigger gas pocket over the electrode tip when required.....Make sure to keep the inner diameter of that large gas nozzle clean of splatter-just slip it off every few minutes of weld time and scrape it clean of splatter on it's inside with your MIG pliers, especially if you are burning fluxcore wire, or just remove it when running fluxcore.Last edited by pigeonpoop; 01-11-2014 at 03:25 PM.
Reply:Thanks for the reply Gobysky and pigeonpoop.  hah, great name.I turned the t handle all the way out (counter clockwise) and opened the bottle.  No hissing.  The hissing would only start when I turned the t handle back in.  If the diaphragm is wrecked, just buy a new regulator or is that fixable?I think the problem with the MIG gun gas nozzle being loose is that the wire that wraps around the nozzle is practically bent off.  That wire must be what holds the nozzle securely.  Maybe I can find a spare wire to use.Had no idea that there were different sizes of those copper wire guides at the tip of the nozzle.  I'll go pick up the correct ones as I have no idea what size is on there now.  Already got MIG pliers the other day.