SP100 spatters badly and doesnt penetrate .. Help

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Exactly what the title says..Lincoln Idealarc SP100 spatters badly and doesnt penetrate.Been told it might be a transformer ??help?
Reply:You mentioned in the other thread that it might be set up for gas mig. Do you know whether the gun is positive or negative right now? I'm thinking that the gun/ground need to be switched to get the polarity correct for FC welds. If it welds at all I'd doubt it's the transformer..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:Well he called a repair shop and they said its probably a transformer. They also said Labor is 100 an hour.... My bud said he welded a few things and the next time he used it , thats what it was doin. Barely layin a bead and spattering everywhere. Welds just chip off after words. Not all of them. I think he replaced the on off switch and didnt hook up the leads right.
Reply:Ok, so I called a shop and they said I was probably right on the polarity being backwards... Then he said st worse case its a diode and $50 to repair it. He also said if its 100 bucks and tries to weld then its worth fixing.. So i am not findin anything on the web that helps me diagnose this..
Reply:It's a bit tough to trouble shoot if the machine is not in front of you to play with. 7A749 may be able to help with a few suggestions. Transit and Duanne have helped with a few issues like this also. Hopefully one of them may chime in. BUT you need to play with the machine to figure this out. If this is your bud's and at his place, theres no good way to tell if it's only the leads that need to be swapped or not. If it's an electrical issue, you'll need to take a tester to various parts to determine just what is wrong posibly..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:More than likely a diode or 2, or cap.Do you know how to test components?
Reply:I am sure I could test the diodes with my Vmeter , right? I just wouldnt know how to go about it...I went ahead and bought the welder from him cause when I went to check it out and run a bead for myself, there wasnt a nozzle or contact tip on the gun.. He had been welding with just the diffuser and about 30% of the diffusers tip is gone..Gave him $125 and took it home..  When i got home hooked it up and just ran a 3" bead .. did ok as long as the wire was touching the diffuser.. So is it as simple as him being kinda retarded and not having a tip or nozzle on it????? He was also trying to weld on very rusted 3/16 angle..Last edited by dually502; 08-30-2009 at 04:36 PM.
Reply:You're calling your bud, "kinda retarded".  That's funny.He's sitting there with $125 cash in his pocket.You're sitting there with a $125 paper weight.HE doesn't sound so retarded to me.And, exactly what type of "frame fab" work did you expect to do with that type machine?Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Man he is retarded. known him 15 years...  He had 3" of wire sticking out of the diffuser and trying to lay a bead on nasty rusted angle ..... The Lincoln supply store will be open tomorrow.. I am gonna get a new diffuser , nozzle and some tips then see exactly what is goin on with it... Well I know the machines limits.. As far as frame fab goes, I wasnt planning on doing anything extensive.. Just gonna add a few gussets to each of my relocated  rear shock mounts. Thats all 1/8 plate....I know how to bevel and such.. I was a pipe fitter/welders assistant.. When I can have a 230v connections to use then I will get a Lincoln Tombstone.  Also a majority of my work is sheet metal..Last edited by dually502; 08-30-2009 at 06:43 PM.
Reply:Wire welding without a contact tip ??   Yeah, that is a little retarded, to say the least.  LOLGood luck with the machine repair.  MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:One should never assume that the simple things have already been checked.Not having checked or realizing that there was no contact tip in place is...................Were the 2 of you unable to work that out?
Reply:I tested out a used machine at the owner's house.  He had a very worn out .072 tip in the gun and .045 wire in the machine.   I didn't have any .045 tips to fit that gun at the time and no .072 wire either.   I could barely get it to weld anything, had to hold a good side pressure on the wire to get it to make contact with the tip at all and then the wire was shorting into the work and making a big mess.  I bought the machine, feeling sure I could get it running good.  Once I put a fresh .045 tip in the gun, it welded beautifully.  Last edited by DesertRider33; 08-31-2009 at 08:11 AM.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by BillyOne should never assume that the simple things have already been checked.Not having checked or realizing that there was no contact tip in place is...................Were the 2 of you unable to work that out?
Reply:I believe the proper terminology in today's politically correct vernacular would be "developmentally impaired," or "intellectually challenged." I'm not much on PC though, so "freakin' retard" works for me... Work HARDER, not smarter! ------------------------ Miller Bobcat 250Millermatic 251Lincoln Precision TIG 185Hypertherm PM 600Hobart 135 HandlerOxweld 400 FlameMaster
Reply:Well he thought it welded better without the contact tip and nozzle.. I am shure it did ok as long as the wire was touching the diffuser??But as he ate the diffuser away using like that the welds started to suffer and the spatter just increased(just a guess).... I have messed with it and had no problems gettin good penetration with minimal spatter.. It is very tricky to keep the wire touching the diffuser so it welds good...  It has been a real pain trying to find a diffuser .. Every supply house says its discontinued or something.. Not knowing I have called Lincoln already and thats how I got my part numbers.. Lincoln also gave me the name and address of each Welding Supply I went to today. The 7th supply house said they could get the diffuser as long as they don't have to order to many.  So I guess Lincoln makes them buy in bulk and thats why no one wants to order me some.. Shoot I will take 2 or 3.. I finally found the diffuser online at WeldingSupply.com.. $5 each +$9 for shipping.. I hope it weld good with a new diffuser and tip..here is the diffuserThe welder in question!
Reply:Glad you found the parts for it!   I'm still cracking up about someone actually thinking the machine would work better without a contact tip!  ROFLMAO!!MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Might want to make it worth paying the $9 shipping and buy 2 diffusers and/or a package of tips.BTW, don't forget to resize your photos so they don't cause your text to get cut off.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:All in all... a pretty good buy on that little welder though.  Glad you found the parts.  Just don't try welding battleships with itWork HARDER, not smarter! ------------------------ Miller Bobcat 250Millermatic 251Lincoln Precision TIG 185Hypertherm PM 600Hobart 135 HandlerOxweld 400 FlameMaster
Reply:Sorry about the huge pics...Will cut them down when I get my laptop back...His brother wants me to trade him this sp 100 for a HD 130. I just dont think those HD welders are as good as the ones from Lincolns main line. Besides its only got one knob and a hi/lo switch.. Told him no way , this comercial Lincoln is better..Gonna order 2 diffusers and a nozzle tomorrow.. Hopefully have it by the weekend..Surely the nozzle will be easier to get from a local welding supply??How long should a diffuser and nozzle last ?? Does it last longer with the gas or longer with shielded flux core wire ??   I figured the nozzle would have to be replaced more often then the diffuser .. Thanks guys.Last edited by dually502; 09-01-2009 at 12:53 AM.
Reply:try these out
Reply:Diffusers when used with solid wire and gas and a gas nozzle and tip last just about forever, unless you do alot of overhead short arc.   If you're doing fluxcore, see if you can get a fluxcore tip/diffuser shield to go over the diffuser or a fluxcore tip holder kit that replaces the diffuser.   Diffusers don't last long with fluxcore with no protection from the spatter, especially if you intend to use it for solid wire and gas after doing some time with the fluxcore.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Thanks. I ordered a diffuser and a flux core nozzle so it protects the tip.. When i make sure there arent any other problems, then  I will get 2 more diffusers and 2 of each kind of nozzle.  He gave me this heavy spool of 35 double shield flux core wire. I put it on and even though half the spool is gone it seems to drag down the motor.. But i think its about the same weight of a new smaller spool..  How big of a spool will this thing handle without consequences???