my sidekick makes no current

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my miller sidekick 110 feeds wire trigger works actuates everything inside,gas flow.but no arc,i was running alot of beads,then overnight next day immediatly started making less current,machine would shudder inside while trying to weld.then no arc.i had a good ground clamp .and all connections are good inside.now this is a 1984 machine.what went out?is it one of the transformers?or the capacator,or the board?is it worth buying parts for?getting around to finding a tech to diagnose this.if its worth it.
Reply:Hey c-n-g,I have a Sidekick & it still works flawlessly & I use it daily. They are a pretty simple unit that should be able to be repaired, unless it is a major issue such as the main transformer. I suggest to simply call Miller & talk to one of their techs to determine the sequence of checks that will lead to the problem. Let us know what you find. Good luck....DennyComplete Welding/Machine/Fab. ShopMobile UnitFinally retired*Moderator*"A man's word is his honor...without honor there is nothing.""Words are like bullets.... Once they leave your muzzle, you cannot get them back."
Reply:Usually a welder that shudders has a short.A diode or 2 may have gone short, and then burnt open.
Reply:yeah,thanks.it was welding the day before it broke down next day started losing heat/penetration plus suddered shook inside the machine as it would arc,then finally no arc at all. i thought diodes  just would quit outright abruptly not gradually?i'm curious.hope to find someone sometime to check this.using my backup pawn special century flux welder for now.
Reply:while im waiting for the chance to take this to a tech.i opened it again and looked for the diodes not like i pictured.it is a small rectifier about 2x3" mounted flat on the heat sink plate..i guess with diodes sealed inside.it has a label called six pak.powertherm.by gentron corp.if am lucky just replacing this would be great. like changing a module on a car hei distributor,could i get that lucky and it works again. any one hear of this?i am extremely snake bit about the pos/neg leads from that capacator connected to it.is it like the deathcap on old vintage tvs and highwatt amplifiers?would it have to be discharged?another thing i googled everything for a replacement of that rect.there was none but a retro fit replacement type.
Reply:The capacitor on a Miller of that age should have had a maximum of about 30volts on it.So it would just spark like a car battery it it was bumped with a conductor,but not enough volts to shock you.Did you download the miller manual?What was the actual part number ?
Reply:downloaded manual.for sidekick jg138561. the part number rectifier sr2 part no108411. 125 amps 200 volts.probable they dont have the original thats why the retrofit type.replacement.
Reply:thanks for the help for the info on the capacator voltage but anyone see this rect diode bridge part available anywhere?
Reply:I don't see that part number listed anywhere.It looks like a simple bridge module.One of these should work,if it would fit the spot.You would just be using it as a single phase bridge.http://cgi.ebay.com/SanRex-DF200AA16...item2c5ae10cdd