Mig will not feed wire.

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I recently bought a Century 110v wire feed unit that had been upgraded to a MIG and after testing it with the 0.30 flux core that was in it when I bought it, it seemed to feed slowly but it worked fine when I set the wire speed near 75%. Once I switched out the 0.30 flux core for 0.30 solid wire, it fails to feed properly. I can get it to feed through the liner and out of the gun with the nozzle and tip off but once I put the tip on, the wire slips at the drive wheel. I am using brand new 0.30 tips so that should not be an issue. The drive wheel is not slipping and the woodruff key is installed.I have set the drive tension to all sorts of levels and nothing works. Am I missing something here? Thanks for your help on this.
Reply:You got any pictures of it? Sounds like the wire feed motor is going.John 3:16(2) Miller Pheonix 456(2) Millermertic 252Dynasty 210DXHobart 210MVPDoringer D350 SA Cold SawScotchman 350LT Cold SawWebb 10x50 MillWebb 15x40 LatheGeka Bendicrop Ironworker
Reply:I can see the feed rollers turning, even when the tensioner is very tight, so it seems the motor is doing it's job. The wire just fails to feed, like the rollers are not grabbing the wire sufficiently, but I am using the 0.30 groove in the drive roller. Do the rollers wear out? Does solid wire need a different roller than flux core? Something with a knurled groove maybe?
Reply:Usually with a solid wire you use a V-groove roller.   Cored wires are usually feed with a U-groove roller.
Reply:you can try blowing compressed air thru the liner.but most likrly need to replace it.miller thunderbolt 250vlincoln square wave tig 175 prolincoln idealarc mig sp250everlast tig 210EXTeverlast power plasma 50chicago electric (hf) 130 tig/90 arcchicago electric 90 amp flux wire3 sets oxy/acet
Reply:Thanks to everyone for the replies. I will try to clan out the liner with compressed air but, like I said, it will feed through the liner and gun UNTIL I put the tip on and then it slips. I will also try to find a v grooved drive roller and see if that helps. Any other suggestions are welcomed.
Reply:You may have a slight kink in the liner that allows the wire to just feed, but the added friction of the tip is enough to stall it out. Try replacing the liner. If you cant remember the last time you replaced the liner, it's probably time for a new one.
Reply:Thank you.
Reply:Loosen the drive roller to release it, then try to hand feed the wire.   Do it with, and then without the tip installed and see if you can tell if it is binding.  Have you tried to take the tip off and feed wire through just the tip ?   If that feeds easily, it almost seems there is an alignment problem with the holes in gun and tip??  Maybe the gun was dropped while the tip was removed and bent the end of the gun?    Does it feed with the tip on only a half turn or so ?
Reply:Without the tip in, can you stop the feed with your fingers easily?It should continue to feed, even with pressure on the wire.if it feeds without the tip, but with pressure,Try a slightly larger tip.Last edited by geezerbill; 12-23-2014 at 09:05 AM.Hobart Beta-Mig 2511972 Miller AEAD-200LEMiller 250 TwinNorthern Ind. Hybrid 200Longevity Stick 140Longevity Migweld 200SThermal Arc Pak 3XR
Reply:Thanks everyone. I am going to run the suggested tests and report the results.
Reply:Is your spool tension too tight?  Sounds like worn or wrong feed rollers.Dan D.Manipulator Of Metal
Reply:The results are in. I can manually feed the wire through the liner BUT it takes a fair amount of force, sometimes requiring gripping the wire with pliers to force it down the liner. One would think that the drive rollers can produce enough force to do it if I can do it with a pair of needle nose pliers and a little push but ...?There is no need to try to resist the wire at the gun to see if it still feeds because it feeds poorly without resisting the wire at the gun.The tip is not the problem because the wire feeds very poorly/inconsistently with the tip and nozzle removed. The wire and the drive rollers are matched.I have tried many different tension settings at the spool and at the drive rollers.How easy should it be to feed the wire manually through the liner? Almost no resistance? Some resistance? Requires tight gripping and moderate force?Thanks again.
Reply:I also mostly run 030 wire but I run a 35 tip don't have as big of problem this way if it's pushing wire I'd say bad tip or kink in liner as said try no tip and pinch wire to see if it feeds if it does put ya a 035 tip on it
Reply:Sounds like it's time for a new liner.                                 MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:I have traced it down to something stupid. Apparently, the spool backlashed at some point and the loops got underneath each other and thats why the wire resists unspooling even though the spool itself is not too tight. I have not confirmed this yet with a new spool but it looks to be the culprit.Thanks to everyone for helping.
Reply:Yup. That was it. Thanks again.