Old Hobart Wirefeeder

admin

Hi, I'm a bit of a newbie when it comes to welding, as I mostly do woodworking, however, I really enjoy metalworking and am looking to expand the capabilities of my shop. Anyway, I have an old Hobart wirefeeder that I got for free, and when I got it home some time ago I plugged it in and the motor was working. Since then it has sat untouched behind my workbench  as I can't use it in its current state, and I haven't really looked into how much it's going to take to get a complete setup. The other day I dusted the cover off, plugged it in and the motor didn't run. I checked for loose connections, but everything seemed fine. Since my electrical knowledge is limited, I don't know what could be wrong, and since I haven't touched anything since it was last working that confuses me even more. Any ideas?The info on the machine says: Model # AGH-27Ser # 16DA-38097Specs 3921BMade in Troy OhioI'm guessing it's about 30-40 years old. Now as far as getting it working, is it worth it? The power supply (not sure if that's what it's called) that it was mounted to was the size of a fridge and ran off of 600v 3 phase was way too big to bring home, and I couldn't use it anyway, so I just took the wirefeeder. I'm assuming smaller power supplies are available. I only have 30 amps 220 coming into my shop right now which is a bit of a limitation. What I would like to do is get a new smaller power supply provided I can fix the wirefeeder. I can't spend alot of money on this as I have college to pay for right now and my welding needs will be fairly limited for the next 4 years. Otherwise I would go and buy a  nice Tig welder, but that'll have to wait for a while.  What do you guys recomend in terms of a power supply. Would I be able to use an old stick welder as a power supply? I could probably find an old buzz box reasonably priced. So to sum things up, what do you thing is wrong with the wirefeeder, and is it worth fixing? Then assuming I can fix it, what should I do about a power supply? Thanks in advance for your helpAndrew
Reply:Unless the feeder has a switch on it that has CV and CP positions, you basicly have NOTHING.With a proper power supply, it is one hell of a feeder, probably capable of pushing 1/16 wire.Given your stated conditions and requirements, you'd be much better off investing in a different machine.Appreciation Gains You Recognition-
Reply:Hang on to it and keep your eyes open. I have a Miller, a Lincoln, and a Airco wire feeder that I power with a 24 volt battery charger. If you run across a good surplus power supply, you can use it. You need a constant voltage supply. The motor may just need a cleaning and check the brushes.
Reply:You should update your profile with your location.  If you are anywhere near Las Vegas, I'd gladly have you come over and I'll take a peek. I've also restored an old Miller 80A wirefeeder that came with my old CP-200 3-phase MIG machine.  Now the MIG (which still works) is in storage and my Trailblazer has been adapted to run the old feeder.  One thing that had me going for a brief minute was the 5A fuse.  Be sure to check if your unit has one.
Reply:Mac, I think you may have hit on something with the fuse. It has a little fuse that may need to be replaced. Franz, I'm gonna hang onto it, but I think I'll look for another welder to start. Out of curiosity, what's CV and CP? Even in I can't use it as a wire feeder, the motor will come in use for something else (I've already become a bit of a packrat)I'm thinking about a used stick welder like one of those lincoln tombstone welders. Any other recomendations? I'm quite confident when it comes to buying used machinery, but I don't know much about buying used welding equipment. What do I need to watch out for to avoid getting burned? I'm located just north of Toronto, Ontario. Can you guys reccomend any good new and used welding suppliers in the area? ThanksAndrew
Reply:A typo, that's what it was, I oughta proof read.Should have been CV = constant voltage & CC = constant current.Wire feeders operate on CV and stick operates on CC.Some suitcase feeders have a switch on them and circuitry that allows them to operate from stick machines.Toronto eh, well, hop on the Fast Ferry to Rochester, where we guarantee to get you mugged within the first half hour, although our muggers do request you carry US money as they are too stupid to convert currency.Seriously, contact BigRig Guy, he should know every supplier's arm in Toronto that can be twisted for a deal.Appreciation Gains You Recognition-