Fluxcore feed problems - is my spool adapter on right?

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I'm pulling my hair out trying to get a10lb spool of NR211MP to feed right so I'm chasing my butt here.First, is my spool adapter on right?  It'd be a crying shame if not.  I actually got this thing loaded without it unraveling   The thumb screw and spring don't actually place any pressure on the spool adapter so that spool of wire slides on the spindle.  When I looked at that thing before putting it on it didn't make sense going on any other way.I messed with the heat settings and wfs but I all I got was popopopopopopopop from the recommended settings for what I was working on.  I think I made one decent-for-me 2" pass and that was it.  If I would have put a camera on it, it would have looked like those bad welding youtube videos you guys all laugh at.I quit for the day because I was at the point of throwing tools.  I can't afford to break what I have!   At least I got the oil changed on the truck.  That Fumoto valve is heaven.Last edited by Monica; 10-19-2010 at 12:51 PM.Lincoln AC225 and CartLincoln WeldPak HD and CartOne hand
Reply:Is the spool engaged in the drive pin at the back of the drive?Maybe the spool adapter is not engaged with the drive pin?Ive had friends that loaded spools and had lots of trouble and on some of these occasions it has been the spool not engaged in the drive pin.Just a thought.....
Reply:how many amps are you pushing and what size is your wire and do you have the right size rollers in your feeder? are you using a power cord? If you are it may be to small. Start at highest heat and wire setting. Then dial back your wire speed.
Reply:Originally Posted by LarryOIs the spool engaged in the drive pin at the back of the drive?Maybe the spool adapter is not engaged with the drive pin?Ive had friends that loaded spools and had lots of trouble and on some of these occasions it has been the spool not engaged in the drive pin.Just a thought.....
Reply:Maybe the spool axle tension is too tight, or maybe the spool is hanging up on something as it spins around?  Try rolling the wire back onto the spool, secure the end of the wire to spool, then spin the spool around and see if it moves freely.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by DesertRider33Maybe the spool axle tension is too tight, or maybe the spool is hanging up on something as it spins around?  Try rolling the wire back onto the spool, secure the end of the wire to spool, then spin the spool around and see if it moves freely.
Reply:There should be a 3/4" wide white spacer with a keyway in it I believe.. at least on my lincoln it's there. What am I seeing behind your center shaft with the parallel sides? It looks like a couple of "wraps" of something.
Reply:Originally Posted by Mr TinkerThere should be a 3/4" wide white spacer with a keyway in it I believe.. at least on my lincoln it's there. What am I seeing behind your center shaft with the parallel sides? It looks like a couple of "wraps" of something.
Reply:two things,My lincoln weld pak 180 hd feeds from the top of the spool.  Yours is feeding from the bottom, make sure this is correct.Second,  the sound you are describing sounds like the polarity is backwards.  Did you switch from solid core to flux core and not change the polarity?MillerMatic 252, HTP 221 w/cooler, Hypertherm PM45, Lincoln IdealArc 250 AC/DC"I'd like to believe as many true things and as few false things as possible"
Reply:Originally Posted by frieedtwo things,My lincoln weld pak 180 hd feeds from the top of the spool.  Yours is feeding from the bottom, make sure this is correct.Second,  the sound you are describing sounds like the polarity is backwards.  Did you switch from solid core to flux core and not change the polarity?
Reply:It appears to me the feeder is positioned for the wire pull from bottom of the spool.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by MonicaA white spacer eh?  Hmm I don't have anything like that here with this.  The "wraps" you're seeing is the spring on the back of the thumb lock
Reply:I'll have to check with Lincoln I guess for the white spacer.  Here's my diagram and it's exactly what I have as far as parts go.  The machine is brand new, only ran that first spool through before the 10# you see there.This is the adapter:  http://www.buyweld.com/m15445-1.htmlDR, you're probably right.  The orientation of the feeder at the bottom of the case makes sense.Last edited by Monica; 10-19-2010 at 12:51 PM.Lincoln AC225 and CartLincoln WeldPak HD and CartOne hand
Reply:Which model Weld-pak do you have?Looking on line at the Manuals I noticed that the Weld-PakHD does not list the Spool Adapter but the Weld-Pak100 does.Weld-Pak 100http://content.lincolnelectric.com//...r/im/IM782.pdfWeld-Pak HDhttp://content.lincolnelectric.com//...r/im/IM768.pdfPerhaps the Weld-PakHD  does not have a strong enough Drive motorEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Like Broccoli says, the IPM may not be quite what the dial settings indicate with that bigger roll on there. Or at last initially while it's full. Lot of times that sputtering is as much a wire feed speed issue as it is anything. It'll burn back too far, run in hit and do that over and over. Try upping the wire feed speed by a bunch till it definitively stubs then back off."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:WeldPak HDLincoln AC225 and CartLincoln WeldPak HD and CartOne hand
Reply:The HD manual states the following:DESIGN FEATURES• Accommodates spools of wire up to 2 lbs (1 kg) in weight.Doesn't appear to accommodate a 10 lb. spool.  My Lincoln 125 came with an adapter specific for loading a 10 lb. spool.
Reply:Originally Posted by qcfc88The HD manual states the following:DESIGN FEATURES• Accommodates spools of wire up to 2 lbs (1 kg) in weight.Doesn't appear to accommodate a 10 lb. spool.  My Lincoln 125 came with an adapter specific for loading a 10 lb. spool.
Reply:Originally Posted by MonicaHmm, yup, you're right.  There it is on pg B1, B2, and B3.
Reply:Originally Posted by qcfc88lol ... well, look on the bright side, your welder is fine!
Reply:Wire stubbing, arc pop pop pop pop.........................................??????  ??If your wire speed is too high for the voltage the wire will stub on the steel, and the arc will be intermitant.  Go to the highest voltage possible considering the thickness of the workpiece, then start with a slow wire speed and adjust upwards.You cannot feed wire faster than the machine will melt it off.  HEAT HEAT HEAT HEAT  It's always about HEATWell.................. STICKOUT TOO.  Increase stickout beyond around 3/8" on any of the small machines and the arc/puddle characteristics go to hell in a handbasket in a New York Minute"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammWire stubbing, arc pop pop pop pop.........................................??????  ??If your wire speed is too high for the voltage the wire will stub on the steel, and the arc will be intermitant.  Go to the highest voltage possible considering the thickness of the workpiece, then start with a slow wire speed and adjust upwards.You cannot feed wire faster than the machine will melt it off.  HEAT HEAT HEAT HEAT  It's always about HEATWell.................. STICKOUT TOO.  Increase stickout beyond around 3/8" on any of the small machines and the arc/puddle characteristics go to hell in a handbasket in a New York Minute
Reply:On smaller machines you can put some side pressure on the wire as it comes out of the tip and actually hear the motor bog a little and see the wire speed change. Mess with the tension and you can hear the difference. Lots a small things can affect the realized wire speed with the weaker drives. Play with it a bit and you'll get a feeling for what might be going on."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Originally Posted by MonicaOK.Is it normal for there to be a WFS problem when installing a larger spool?  Iis it normal to have to use slower WFS setting to weld the same materials?  I don't know enough to know what's "normal".
Reply:Thanks Broccoli.   I'll look to unload this 10lb.  I don't see running a bigger wire machine any time soon so no use hanging onto this spool if it's just going to go bad.  Do they go bad?I'll pick up 2lb next time I'm at the store.Lincoln AC225 and CartLincoln WeldPak HD and CartOne handWell they can get rusty- stick it in a Ziplock bag with a bag of dicse.. disse.. dicess..uh those little bags that suck up the moistureYou could try setting up an apparatus to roll the wire from the 10lb spool on to the 2lb Spool.Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:You could try setting up an apparatus to roll the wire from the 10lb spool on to the 2lb Spool.That's what I was going to suggest,just try to keep it from overlapping too much,easier said than done   lolMaxus Pro-125 MigChicago Electric 90 amp DC flux-coreLincoln Electric AC 225 tombstoneO/A torchM/O mini-torch10 acres of flatland15 acres of holler
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1Well they can get rusty- stick it in a Ziplock bag with a bag of dicse.. disse.. dicess..uh those little bags that suck up the moistureYou could try setting up an apparatus to roll the wire from the 10lb spool on to the 2lb Spool.
Reply:I'd suggest NOT rewinding wire from one spool to another.As you stated Monica, there are issues of keeping the correct tension on the filament (wire in this case), as well as cross-lay and possibly also twisting the filament.I'd suggest just going and putting an appropriate hole in the sheetmetal back of the wire compartment on the machine, and then rig up an external rack/stand to hold the 'bigger' spool.  Voila, bigger spool runs wire into machine and the machine feeds it out for welding.  MIght want to rig an insulator or gromment to keep the wire from scraping or shorting to the machine's case sheetmetal.This way you can use the larger and more economical (on a price/pound basis) spool.  As to going 'bad', as mentioned that is a sort of Yes.  The wire could get rusty (atmospheric moisture or condensation or spill/splash), dirty (dust, grease, etc from the air/surroundings), and in the case of fluxcore wire the flux core could absorb moisture from the air and change the flux/wire/welding characteristics.ZIp-lock bag or a sealed toolcase works for me to keep the 'smaller' spools semi-protected.  For the 4 inch diameter spools, you can buy or make a 'storage' container.  To make one, get some plastic 4 inch plumbing pipe (Schedule 40 or DMV is fine, as all you need is for the spool to be able to fit into the pipe ID) and then put some end caps on it as desired.  Last edited by MoonRise; 09-14-2010 at 02:48 PM.  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:aametalmaster over on Miller does itI know it is a Lathe in the Pic but he said you could do it on a drill press or a hand drill.Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Originally Posted by MonicaThanks Broccoli.   I'll look to unload this 10lb.  I don't see running a bigger wire machine any time soon so no use hanging onto this spool if it's just going to go bad.  Do they go bad?I'll pick up 2lb next time I'm at the store.
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1Well they can get rusty- stick it in a Ziplock bag with a bag of dicse.. disse.. dicess..uh those little bags that suck up the moistureYou could try setting up an apparatus to roll the wire from the 10lb spool on to the 2lb Spool.
Reply:I'd eat the cracker before it got in the bag SamEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Thanks for the pics, of the lathe setup and the smiling cow Lincoln AC225 and CartLincoln WeldPak HD and CartOne hand
Reply:I know this is an older thread but I needed to followup for the readership as I've had time to work in the garage again.  I replaced the 10lb spool with the 1lb and the machine is working fine.  WFS I got set again as well.The problem was the 10lb spool as suggested and confirmed.  The WeldPakHD will not run a 10lb spool.I've got the10lb stored and I'll cross that bridge when I get there on transferring the wire.Thanks yall.Lincoln AC225 and CartLincoln WeldPak HD and CartOne hand