welder speed

[Whatswrong]

I was given a motor driven welder it had Wisconsin baler engine but I have no idea what speed it should run .I converted it to PTO drive can run it off 540 or 1000 I have about 16 inch pulley driving about 3 inch.Last spring I tried running it with 35hp at 540 and didn't work good at all but there was an issue with the control .The other day the combine needed some work and I used the 1000 rpm with 120hp and it was HOT even turned down to 150 amps. At 300 amp I think it would blow a hole in 1/2 " plate in seconds .Any ideas what speed I should aim for?
I was using my new 80t rods.

 

[Willl]

Just a guess, but small engine lawn mowers run about 3500 so maybe.

 

[LD1]

Just a guess, but small engine lawn mowers run about 3500 so maybe.

Thats what I was thinking.

And with a 16" and 3" pulley, you are only turning the welder 2800RPM on 540 and a blazing 5333rpm on the 1000rpm PTO.

You can either play with the pulley size, or run the 1000RPM at an engine speed that would give you ~660 PTO RPM and that should put you at 3500-3600 welder RPM.

 

[Whatswrong]

Thanks ,I was leaning to 3500 ,the decals are too faded the engine was stepped up from about 4-5 running the three,it is easy enough to throttle a tractor with 1000 pto back and still have enough power.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

The Wisconsin flat head V-4 which is probably the powerplant you are referring to is more like 2200 rpm. Those old Wisconsin engines relied upon long stroke, big bore to make power, not rpm. In fact if they run that high (3600) on rpm they will likely blow. You won't find many of those older engines run much more than that on any brand.

300 amps should burn a hole in 1/2 inch plate fairly quickly. That's a lot of heat.

The old SA 200 Lincolns had a version with the same engine that ran at 1700 or so stock as well as a few other companies if I remember right. Shield Arc, the member, may have more info as well.

Have you checked the voltage output at the lead terminals? That will help you get close on RPM.

A picture or two might help identify the generator.

The rpm with 540 should have been closer than the 1000.

 

[yomax4]

If you have or can borrow a set of DC tongs, You can clip it the ground cable and adjust PTO rpm so the tongs meter registers the same as the amp knob on the welder. ( While Welding of course )

 

[Whatswrong]

I don't know how or where to get the test tools refered to but soon I will put the 540 option on the bigger tractor and see how the welder compares at the slower speed on different settings ,I need to redo the welding from spring on my air seeder that I did with the small tractor that would be a good comparison.
These comments are confirming my original thought that the 1000rpm was too much .I will try get a couple pictures for identity purpose and show my creation.
It was a v4 engine .

 

[dstig1]

What the heck are DC tongs? Do you mean a clamp on ammeter?

 

[Willl]

What the heck are DC tongs? Do you mean a clamp on ammeter?

Evidently, first time I heard them with that name. Looks like old time meter.

Weschler Columbia AC/DC Clamp-On Tong Test Ammeters on Weschler Instruments, Division of Hughes Corporation

 

[yomax4]

Evidently, first time I heard them with that name. Looks like old time meter.

Weschler Columbia AC/DC Clamp-On Tong Test Ammeters on Weschler Instruments, Division of Hughes Corporation

Just a Multi Meter with jaws that you open, run the ground wire through and release. tells you out put of your welder.. Sorry about the Slang. The guys that taught me how to use these always called them "Tongs". They need to be able to read DC.