Help with lincoln 225ac welder

[Page2]

Is wd-40 non conductive? I've never looked at the can to see, in part because I'd be mighty leary about spraying and oil into an electrical part.

Lincoln says replace the switch. I'll see after I get into it. I tried to move it a hard as I could without fear of breaking it, and it won't budge. Too bad it couldn't just keep spinning clockwise.

WD 40 works fine for this , we use it to clean contacts on vintage electronic equipment, or you can buy electrical contact cleaner if you care to. I would suggest you keep your welder covered when not in use, just to keep all the junk in the air of your barn/garage/shop from settling in places it shoudn't be. These old Lincolns last forever with a little care, good luck.

 

[swines]

I got home yesterday evening and the top hinge of my wrought iron gate had given loose. It had obviously been wire welded because there was very little penetration in the weld. I'm talking less that 1/16 and more like 1/32". I'm surprised it lasted the past 15 years.

More likely a stick welder with the wrong setting or wrong stick type....

 

[mopacman]

I have worked alot on high amp high voltage contacts that wipe across each other. We would clean them with solvent, dress the rough spots of with a file and put regular grease gun grease on them. These contacks where not moved under load which a welder should not be either.....Larry

 

[pat32rf]

If its an older unit, then its built like a tank and designed to be repaired. In the worst case you should be able to find a Lincoln distributer (as opposed to a store that sells them) and buy a whole new switch but try to fix it first. Then put a bit of grease on the contacts. WD40 will burn if ignited by a flame or spark. Don't adjust your current settings while under load, this will pit and possibly weld the contacts, as they are designed to carry current, not interupt it, (like a magnetic contactor would).
(Used to work for the Canadian Lincoln distributer but bought my unit from Canadian tire as their volume discount was under my employee price......)

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Pat32 wouldn't grease burn to if there were that much arcing that it could catch WD40 on fire? I thought that part of the Volatile compounds in WD would evaporate. 6 of one and half a dozen of the other dilema?
Jim

 

[kossetx]

It's 20 years old so I don't know if that helps or not. Lincoln said the part is readily available but I'll try to fix it first. No time to do so yet. I only use it 1-2X a year so not high on my priority list. I do have some 3/8"X30" pipe that I need to turn into a BBQ pit soon though.

 

[mopacman]

Their should not be any arcing if it not switched under power. It is standered practice to use grease on this type of switch.......Larry