possessed welder

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I'm 10 minutes away from finishing a project and my welder is acting upIt's an old master craft 230 stick Welder.When I set the amperage to 130 as soon as it arcs there is a thump and the amps go down to about 90 on its own.I figured this Was just the adjuster slipping so I took rope and attached it to the adjuster and then the other end to a low ceiling rafter to keep upward tension on the adjuster and it lifted itself in the air (50+ pounds) just from the force of the adjuster pushing itself down.Wtf
Reply:You need a priest!  Maybe set it for 170?
Reply:Whatever frictional surface that formerly pressed itself against the laminated iron housing surrounding the windings must have gone to the happy hunting grounds.  If there isn't sufficient friction, your giant electromagnet will definitely pull any movable part deeply into itself with more force than you can imagine.Miller Syncrowave 350Millermatic 252/ 30A spoolgunMiller Bobcat 225g w/ 3545 spoolgunLincoln PowerArc4000Lincoln 175 Mig  Lincoln 135 Mig Everlast 250EX TigCentury ac/dc 230 amp stickVictor O/AHypertherm 1000 plasma
Reply:Check for a broken locking spring on the shunt lever. pulled out rivet and ect.Post a picture and the full model number, there may be a way to get parts.
Reply:Same as a Century 230 and several other brands that had them made by Century.  You can find threads about the workings (or non-workings) of the shunt adjuster and some fixes. Sounds like a mechanical issue offhand."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Almost all Century welders have a 6-digit code number like 110-xyz where xyz will be 3 numerals. If you can find this code number on your welder, Google it and you will find a link to the manual which will show you how to adjust the shunt mechanism. Usually it is not broken, just out of adjustment.JohnA few weldersA lot of hammersA whole lot of C-clamps