problem with mig feed speed

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Recently picked up a used LIncoln 255 (4-5 years old), no user manual. I started a new project and had some difficulty getting just the right wire speed. At one point my wire jammed so I had to cut the wire and pull it through the gun. I then started to readjust the rollers and I think I had the wire spool tension spring too tight. I threaded the wire in and started to feed the wire through the cable/gun, during this in the past I have turned the wire feed selector all the way up to speed up the process. Now when I do this with my welder I realized the wire feed selector made no changes in the actual speed of the drive motor. Further investigation reavealed that if I hold the trigger the speed will change (it takes about 3.5 seconds). Is this normal? Is this some new easy start feature that I read about somewhere?  Its been about 8 years since I've used a 220 mig (been stuck with a 110....until I bought the new house). I did a search on this site but had no luck. I'm going to have to get a users manual. Any ideas? Thanks!
Reply:Does your welder have a "run in speed"  setting?  Some welders do.  What the setting does is slow down the wire when you first pull the trigger.  Sounds like maybe that is what you are experiencing?  Maybe you can find a manual on Lincoln's website.My name's not Jim....
Reply:Sounds like your machine has an automatic wire jog mode, which means that if you pull the trigger without striking an arc, after a predetermined amount of time (apparently it's 3.5 seconds, in your case), the machine shuts off the weld power to the wire, shuts off the gas solenoid and re-sets the wire speed to a predetermined speed.   My Millermatic 350P has this feature and the wire jog speed is around 200 ipm, if I remember correctly, so if I have the machine set lower than that, the wire will speed up when it goes into jog mode.  If I have it set faster than that, the wire will slow down when it goes into jog mode, if I remember correctly.Owner's manual for your machine should be available on the Lincoln website, or you should be able to order one in print, through your local Lincoln dealer.Last edited by DesertRider33; 12-08-2009 at 07:37 AM.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:There are a few different manuals for Lincoln 255 migs, but here is a link to one of them.http://www.mylincolnelectric.com/Cat...t.aspx?p=33455MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op