Welder Stopped Working. WTF Happenned
 

Ive got a Chicago Electric Mig-100 gasless welder, only used it for small jobs but last night I was using it hardcore for over an hour welding up some frames and a DIY engine hoist (will post pics when shes done, sub $100 hoist)

Ran out of wire on the spool, Started running the new wire through the feeder and into the line towards the gun, line got stuck at the very end, I ttok off the end cap thing to pull off the tip, instead I dropped the gun and it landed on my piece of work material (machine was on and grounded)

ZAP!

Just a small spark but I seen it, came from behind where to power wire grommet is in my machine. The power stayed on but the line feeder no longer works, trigger pulls but nothing moves or makes a noise. Power is on, the motor just doesnt work.

I pull the cover off and see a fuse, check that first and its blown, actually seems to ave blown on a previous owner and there is a copper thin wire wrapped around it, maybe completely bypassing this fuse right? Well I have no idea what size it is, cant find it on the site and coundlt find a ------- bit of info on the fuse form the diagram. SO I grabbed an automotive one I had laying around, threw it in and turned the welder on and it instantly blew, might not have been big enough I dont know

I need to get this working for the time being. Maybe put a piece of wire around the fuse holder, but it was already set like that and didnt work. ----!

Hope someone can help me as I want to make this hoist built and my buddy is counting on me to get his truck rack done. Need to know where to look and how to fix it, not to much components in here

Thanks

Re: Welder Stopped Working. WTF Happenned
 

sounds like the wire feed motor got zapped.

you need multi meter. yu need to ohm out the welder and see if anything is shorted to ground. you also need to check the wire feed motor for any possible open circuit. ie burnt terminal/wire.

check the wiring coming from the trigger to the motor also.

maybe the wire feed motor is rebuildable, i dunno id have to see it. does anythign smell burnt inside the casing??

Re: Welder Stopped Working. WTF Happenned
 

Didnt smell a dam thing and I ripped the side cover off right away

Ive got a digital mutimeter, never used it other than to adjust TPS, dont really know how to do anything as far as tracing wires goes though, electrical is a huge grey area for me

Re: Welder Stopped Working. WTF Happenned
 

well first things forst. ohm out he plug.

if the machine is turned off and yyour seeing resistence, something has shorted to ground.

if the machine checks out. then heres the order of operation.
the power is like water. see where it starts, ie the cord cap. follow the power. check the incoming terminla of the switch in the trigger. if theres power, pull the trigger. if the switch does not make, you know the switch is bad. if the switch makes, and you then follow the 120v to the motor,. and it does not run. you then know the motor is toast.




its a big process of elimination

Re: Welder Stopped Working. WTF Happenned
 

Bring it to me man, what is it like a 2 hour drive? I'll get it going.

Re: Welder Stopped Working. WTF Happenned
 

my vote is wire feed motor swtiches rarely go bad. and if it did youd smell it in the handle.

Re: Welder Stopped Working. WTF Happenned
 

bah, so you guys think I fried something? ---- that sucks

Guess I gotta learn how to use this multimeter, just set ot to ac/dc and still the positive probe around. Wish I would just held onto the ------- gun for ---- sakes, everythings fucked for me lately

Re: Welder Stopped Working. WTF Happenned
 

well its obviousy a/c current . u need to ohm it out fiorst. then ground the ground lead, and then follow the power flow, wherever it stops, thats where the problem lies. its easy

Re: Welder Stopped Working. WTF Happenned
 

haha wish i knew what u were talking about josh, ---- i hate electronics

Re: Welder Stopped Working. WTF Happenned
 

---- it, im just gonna ehad over to my bud now 1130pm and ------- cold, and start poking wires everywhere, see if i can electicute myself

Just gonna turn the power on, ground the multimeter out (on bench) and start probing ---- with the positve probe and see where there power starts and stops and what readigs Im getting and report back. Take a pic or two maybe
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