Welder won't weld

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I have a lincoln 175 plus. I purchased it about a year ago. It has never seemed to weld the way my dad and I thought it would. I haven't done much welding but he has. Haven't used it in about 6 months. Now we can not even seem to get it to weld. We are using 75/25 gas .030 solid wire. We have usually used the gas around 20. When we went out to use it yesterday and it would not weld the tank was low so we went and got a new tank. All it will do is splatter. If we turn the gas off it will weld like a wild man but the welds look poor and porous. We have some shielded wire, we changed to it and it wasn't much better. Any help would be appreciated. Were just trying to weld beads. Mark
Reply:Did you remember to reverse polarity when you switched to flux core?That would explain both failures, first you ran out of gas for the solid wire. And then you didn't switch polarity for the flux core.9-11-2001......We Will Never ForgetRetired desk jockey. Hobby weldor with a little training. Craftsman O/A---Flat, Vert, Ovhd, Horz. Miller Syncrowave 250
Reply:thanks for the reply, but when we got the full bottle it still wouldn't weld. I do not think or know how to reverse polarity on my welder?mark
Reply:I would look under the side cover, my welder has a switch, on others you reverse the lugs that go to the gun and the ground clamp. for self shielded flux core you want DCEN that is your electrode negative. for gas shielding you want the opposite.here is the link to the manual for what I think is your machine. Pg 10 has the diagram of what you need.http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Cat...t.aspx?p=33425Last edited by Garfield43; 08-29-2008 at 10:35 PM.Reason: added link
Reply:Originally Posted by Noob Markthanks for the reply, but when we got the full bottle it still wouldn't weld. I do not think or know how to reverse polarity on my welder?mark
Reply:Any way you slice it, you have a gas coverage problem. When you pull the trigger, do you hEAR gas flowing from the tip?? If not, a solenoid replacement is in order.And then, after so much work...... you have it in your hand, and you look over to your side...... and the runner has run off. Leaving you holding the prize, wondering when the runner will return.
Reply:In addition to the gas flow checking and polarity issues.....the contact tips are consumable items.....I've seen folkscomplain wholly about the weld machine--never realizing thatcontact tips are replaced with new...as needed!Blackbird
Reply:I would seriously recommend reading your owners manual. It will answer most all of those questions. If you don't have it you can download a copy at LincolnElectric.comThe difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:Originally Posted by Rojodiablo When you pull the trigger, do you hEAR gas flowing from the tip?? If not, a solenoid replacement is in order.