Oh Boy- another IdealArc Tig 300 300 (to fix)

[sd455dan]

BIL 300 300 has been stored on a trailer for years and I was telling him how much enjoyment i was getting from welding with my old 300 300.

I asked why he didn't get his out of storage and start using it.

Well here is where it got interesting... Apparently the last time he used it he tried some friends (hot tip) of using the welder to heat a ring gear to be remounted on a flywheel.
I guess it was running for an extended period and then something inside went POP:shocked: This may be an accepted procedure and I believe these are pretty tough old machines. I plan on taking a look tomorrow to see how hard it will be to load it and bring it to my shop and see if I can get her going again.



the bonus- (IF it hasn't been stolen) It comes with a wire feeder
so even if I can't get the welder to work , will get to try the wire feeder (with my 300 300) and get to see what spray transfer is like and it should be a great learning experience to at least try a wire feeder.

also interested to see if there is much difference between my magnetic amplifier controlled unit and thenewer SCR controlled 300 should I get it to work.

 

[stuckmotor]

I've heard about older welders with a setting for thawing pipes. Never thought about using it to expand a ring gear.

 

[sd455dan]

When i was a kid my dad used the old Tombstone 225 Ac hooked up to a 80ft lead running to a frost free
that pipe seemed to freeze at least once a winter Would run it at 60 amps for about 45 minutes and it would work every time. Never seemed to hurt the welder.
IIRC the 225 had a circle around the 60 amp setting for thawing pipes



Still surprised just heating the ring gear caused any problem with a 300 amp welder. Especially since they have overheat protection a Big fan and some are used regularly for carbon arc gouging.
Not even convinced that the failure was related. from what he can remember the welder still welds at the max output for each of the 5 ranges, this at least sounds like there is hope as far as fixing it
since (from reading) if the welder only welds at all out max the main reactor core could be shorted , at which point it may only be good for the copper, the hi frequency parts and whatever else can be salvaged.

 

[Shield Arc]

It comes with a wire feeder so even if I can't get the welder to work , will get to try the wire feeder (with my 300 300) and get to see what spray transfer is like and it should be a great learning experience to at least try a wire feeder.

I can't remember, do these welders produce CV? For Mig, and dual shield welding?

 

[sd455dan]

I can't remember, do these welders produce CV? For Mig, and dual shield welding?

Well that's the odd thing, no, no CV they are a constant current supply.

So not sure how a wire feeder is supposed to work with a CC tig 300 300?..?:confused3:



Drove over and checked out the trailer where the welder and feeder have been stored .

The feeder is now a non factor...
because a low life thieve(s) stole the wire feeder- and took the long welding leads that were on it, also cut the power cable to .:thumbdown:.

At least this is one case where not being a (portable) welder paid off- Thanks to being so heavy, they couldn't just walk away with it.

Anyway looks like the only way to remove the welder from this trailer (or to store it) was with a fork lift. They have one there but the ground is pretty saturated with water due to the record setting month of rain locally.

So going to load up the tractor on the fifth wheel trailer and use my newly converted pallet forks for the job, think the welder will just fit under the FEL for the trip back.
I got Lincolns code off the welder and found some trouble shooting info for the control boards already , so things may be looking up:thumbsup:, although it is a bit of a bummer that the wire feeder had been ripped off

 

[Shield Arc]

You could pick up a used LN-25 and run self shielded flux core wire. This weld was made with one of my LN-25s, and a 50-year old CC only engine drive welder.

 

[sd455dan]

That is one nice weld!
you can sure lay down a SMOOTH wire feeder mig weld...

hopefully someday get to try a mig in spray mode , but for the near future going to try and fix BILs 300 300



I did get the welder to my place today


got it into the shop and got the covers off- found a mouse house :laughing: and removed it

got it vacuumed and blown out.


Wired up a temporary 240 vac plug and some dinse females to match my existing leads.

Pushed the power contacter button and the welder will weld just as I was told- max power with no adjustment but it is (correct) max output for each range . So at least the main output winding seems OK

confirmed the AC output in all but Maximum range did match the faceplate listed ac amps by sticking a 5/32 rod and using an ac clamp meter. The adaptor is definitely undersized for testing MAX range


Shut the welder down and did a bit closer inspection of the control board

have at least a couple of burned components- a small resistor and possibly a diode.

and a Bit more bad news

Now when that went it would have made some noise

time to do some research... but overall am happy the main parts of the welder seem Ok

 

[Shield Arc]

I played a little bit with spray. This is .035" Lincoln L-56 wire, with C-10 gas.

 

[sd455dan]

It's ALIVE

Had to replace both large SCRs a resistor and some zener diodes, other than that everything looked good.


Fired the stick mode up and the welder has full amp control again :cool2:

 

[sd455dan]

WELDER is 100% - total parts cost $32
Something to be said for Large transformer type welder repair, -as long as the main transformer/windings are not damaged most of the control circuitry parts are reasonable.


fixed a couple Argon leaks and cleaned HF points,
Tigs down to 3 amps and did some 200+ amp tests stick welding 1/2 inch pate. as soon as the !@#* rain quits will deliver to BIL and he will at least have his welder back minus what the thieves stole.