Auto Adjusting Buzz Box

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I have a 50's Lincoln AC180 that has the big handle on the face to dial in your amperage. While I am welding with it I notice that over time in can "slip" and lower itself from 85a to about 70a. I noticed it a couple of times before, but today I was welding for over an hour and saw the difference in the weld. I am not familiar with welders as this is new to me, but I remember seeing something about an adjusting nut to tension the handle, but the handle seems tight enough to me. The only thing I can think of is when the rod gets stuck and more amperage surges through may cause the crank to "bounce"? I don't know, just guessing. Attached ImagesAC-180 Lincolnwelder circa '50's
Reply:Don't know for sure what's causing your problem or the exact cure. But next time you do some welding, get someone to watch the dial for you while you weld, to determine when it starts to move. You may have to make some referance marks on the dial and machine face to make it more apparent when it happens. This might let you know if it's a slow gradual movement or if it happens in short bursts. Just something to think about. Might give you a better idea of what to do to correct it. If it's a gradual movement, try cranking up the amps alot higher and see if it moves faster or at the same rate.
Reply:I have small one's so its tough to get the mrs. out there when I am welding... don't want anyone to go blind watching the pretty lights!   If you look at the position of the crank in the photo, that's the 85A setting. For it to move down to 70 amps, it has to crank up against gravity (counter-clockwise)  That's why I thought it was so weird. See, the machine is smarter than the operator, it know that after welding for so long on a multipass weld, you should lower the amperage because the base metal is hot!  LOLAC-180 Lincolnwelder circa '50's
Reply:Well it is a circa 50s machine , and as such it has probably laid down more beads than you. So maybe it knows more of what the settings should be than you do for what your trying to do. Or maybe your shop is haunted and there is some kind of paranormal activity going on here. Could be the spirit of a former owner stayed with it and is trying to assist you with the right machine settings. Has it done this before? Or is this a new to you machine?
Reply:LOL, right! Its a new to me machine so as far as I know, it has always done it. And for sure, it has laid down more beads than I have AC-180 Lincolnwelder circa '50's
Reply:Output amperage is changed by the position of the rotor in the transformer and under load it will vibrate and attempt to rotate.  There are two "brake" spring tension adjusting bolts/nuts on each end of the rotor assembly that are intended to prevent the unwanted rotor movement so start there.If you don't already have it, go here http://www.lincolnelectric.com/asset...oln3/im124.pdf to download the unit manual to see what I'm referring to.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:duaneb55 will tell you right but it's an old machine and like the rest of us old farts we don't keep it up like we used to lol225NT bobcatAEAD200LEScott 125mm175, mm252 w 30A, PT225mm211, TA 181iHyper Therm 380, cut master 529100X & XX, Digital Elite6 Victor setssmith little torch, meco midget kalamazoo band sawsteel max saw evoulution circular saw
Reply:LOL, I thought that was what viagra was for  Thanks a bunch Duane, I reread the manual and it talks about adjusting it to 9 pounds tension (or about 3/4" spring height) the picture shows the springs as well #20. Man, I wish I knew this before reassembling that case, there is hardly and slack to get to the front of the transformer. I had to d/c all the front panel connections!!! Alot of those parts are held on with a nuts and washers and will drive you crazy trying to line them up while pushing the panels forward and the case backwards onto the base... a time for three hands.AC-180 Lincolnwelder circa '50's
Reply:I understand the need for three hands at times for sure. Keep us informed on how it "turns" out. 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!