help with unstable arc

admin

hello I was just wandering if some one could help me out with an old craftsman 30-230 amp welder. My neighbour had it sitting in his garage for years on a gravel floor used it a couple of times and then he gave it me if I would weld for him when he needed it can't beat that price. anyway when I first started using it I had no trouble made a dump bed for a pickup fixed snow plows for my brothers buisness and so on just the normal projects and it has always arced good and been very stable welding penetrating good even in 3/8 mild steel I usually use 6013 1/8 rods and have never had trouble until latley it is very hard to get an arc to strike and even then it will weld good for a few seconds and then my rod sticks and then sometimes it welds like a brand new machine it is very frustrating I have checked my power supply to the welder its all ok. I'm wandering if the transformer is breaking down when it gets warm or the iron core slider is not working right because sometimes if you adjust a litlle bit it will start welding good again. the slider has like hard plastic on the sides and I noticed one side has worn down and given it a little play. so if in one has an idea if the transformer shot or something I would apreciate it very much. also I had someone tell me you shouldn't adjust the amperage with the machine running is this true thanks alot.MOdell
Reply:I've got one of the same machines. The screw that holds the slider in place needs to be tight or it'll weld poorly. Also the nut on the inside that the screw turns in to can strip out... I think it was aluminum in mine. Anyway I replaced it with a steel nut years ago and it worked like a new machine. That's my best guess where to start, very simple reliable machine without too much to go wrong.HH 187Miller Bluestar1EAHP AlphaTig 200X
Reply:thanks I'll check that out but it seems to tighten up pretty good. I agree with you though when it was working right it is a dandy little welder.