Can't get new MIG welder running.

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Hi,I am new to this site and do not have much experience welding, but I have been using a gasless MIG for a few years....until it was stolen.  The old one was a Cetury 110v MIG, my new one is a 220 - Chicago Electric Model 94164 that I bought from Harbor Freight. The problem is I can't get it to work...I feel somewhat disabled or something because I plug it in, the power light is on, the fan comes on...but thats it.  There is no noise, the wire won't feed when I pull the trigger...nothing.  So I thought it was the welder, I took it back, got another, tried that- same thing!!!  I have tried two different 220v plugs, and two different 220 v sources (one runs my drier and I know it works.) using 30A double pole breakers and 10-3 wire....I am not sure if there is a hidden switch, some safety mechanism, or what.  When I call HF they just say to take it back, they don't have a technician that can help me trouble shoot when I know it is probably something simple (or stupid)....any help would be great, other wise I am taking this thing back and going back to a little crap box 110v!!!!
Reply:Nixsis5,Is there a troubleshooting page in the manual?After the machine powers on it just waits for the trigger switch to close, so if your torch cable is hooked up correctly and nothing happens it probably is a bad trigger switch or something internal.All I can see from a picture of the front panel are On/Off, Min/Max, 1 - 2 switches and wire feed knob...Matt
Reply:It sounds like no 220v to the welder have you hooked it to the 110v wires.
Reply:The only thing it has for trouble shooting for "welder does not function when switched on" is - tripped thermal protective device, (shut off and let it cool down)- faulty or improperly connected switch body, (take to a technician)or- internal fuse blown....(take to a technician)...  This is the second brand new welder I have tried and I have never had the thing turn on or be able to pull wire....I keep thinking it has to be the wiring or a ground problem, but I do get power, just for the light and fan though, nothing else.
Reply:yeah, thats what I was thinking,,,no 220...but I plugged it in at two locations, both are 220v and have 10-3 wire from the panel w 30A breakers...
Reply:Had a problem like that with a brand new Miller Plasma at school...turned out it was wired wrong, so it would turn on but wouldn't work. Check your plug wires.
Reply:Plugging it into different sockets won't help if the plug is wired wrong.
Reply:what style plug did you put on there, or did you leave the original?"The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Check the voltage from the 2 power sides and make sure you have 230-250 VAC. If you don't and you have no voltage showing on the meter you only 120 VAC and they are on the same side of the panel at the box. You must check from ground to each side of the plug for 120 VAC and then side to side to make sure there is appprox. 240 VAC. If you have the 240 VAC then check to see if there is a plug from the gun to the wire feeder that is not pluged in to the mating recepticle at the feeder or the machine. Check fuses.
Reply:My wire they installed in my house was faulty, I was only getting 120v, but it still welded, although I could get no penetration, no matter how I set it. I would think the trigger should still work, but mine is a different brand, might be wired different....
Reply:Take it back and buy a decent machine. From somewhere else.UA Local 598
Reply:The fact that you dryer consistently works from that receptacle tells me the outlet is good.I find it hard to believe that multiple new machines are faulty with the same problem.I'd check and make sure your primary plug is wired properly.CWI, CWE, CST for Miller, Lincoln, Thermadyne, Hypertherm & ESABMillermatic 350PLincoln Invertec 205 AC/DCVictor combo torchESAB PCM 1125
Reply:Most likely you have wiring problem.  What color wires do you have in the cord from the machine?  How are they being used?  How many wires do you have in your dryer plug?Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:Inside my Lincoln are two heavy wires that must be reversed to switch from AC to DC.  When I took the machine out of the box, these two wires were not connected.  It is possible that you have a similar setup on your welder.
Reply:Originally Posted by lugweldMost likely you have wiring problem.  What color wires do you have in the cord from the machine?  How are they being used?  How many wires do you have in your dryer plug?
Reply:the green wire is the gound not the white one as it should be when you wire the plug ask me how i know i am 100 percent sure this is your problem i just did the same thing this morning
Reply:No offense, but I'm not surprised with the Chicago Electric "Chinese special" from Harbor Frieght.   Junk.....  Put it on ebay and sell it "as is."  Then buy Miller or Lincoln.  Good luck.Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:Originally Posted by SuperArcNo offense, but I'm not surprised with the Chicago Electric "Chinese special" from Harbor Frieght.   Junk.....  Put it on ebay and sell it "as is."  Then buy Miller or Lincoln.  Good luck.