welder problems

[southernwelder]

my grandpa has a montgomery ward powr kraft 230amp arc welder and the amperage selctor lever wont stay in place when u lock it down and strike an arc it moves back up. anyone got any ideas what might be wrong or how to fix it???? i became a member of this site cause this thing is really agrevating me iv had it aprt and cleaned all the cob webs and dust out but idk what else to do any help or advice would be apretiated

 

[yomax4]

I know that it's not good for the lever to move while welding. It can arc and stay in that spot forever. I do think there is a way to tighten up the selector under the cover. Maybe send a pic of the mechanism.

 

[tommu56]

Is it the kind that the lever slides left and right?
post a picture
There should be some sort of friction or pin to keep it in place its been years scene used one with the lever.

 

[Shield Arc]

Does your welder look something like this? There is a guy on another tractor forum who has a machine similar to this one. He had the same problem as you do. Seems as I remember he had to use a sliding bar camp and just clamp the lever where he wanted it, to stay in place.

 

[tommu56]

this is the one I was thinking of


tom

 

[Winmac]

The lever on this type of welder simply moves a iron core in the transformer, this alters the magnetic field strength effectively changing the current output.
Have a closer look at the level locking mechanism, it is not holding, when you start welding the magnetic forces are moving the core.

 

[k0ua]

Didnt Joshuabardwell have to work on his to get it to stay.?. maybe he can help

 

[Gary Fowler]

Remove the housing (disconnect all power first) and it should be obvious how it works. Likely a knife bar type connection like the old fuse boxes or a floating bar that runs up and down some copper bar taps into the transformer. Maybe spring loaded and spring lost it tension or just might need some crimping of the contacts.