Millermatic 175 wire feeding problem

[TOAdisco311]

I can't seem to get my miller 175 to feed .030 or .035 flux core wire thru the liner, tip adaptor, and tip. It runs thru the liner (.030/.035 liner), but once I add the tip adaptor and tip ( .030/.035 tip), the drive wheel just slips on the wire and it barely, if any, feeds the wire thru. The drive wheel is also on the .030/.035 setting.

I am running out of ideas of what could be happening, and I am tired of fawking around with the thing, especially after I stripped the threads on the gun where the tip adapter threads on fooling with the liners.:mad3:

This is a brand new machine and I am hoping I'm not missing anything to simple.

[SBChero]

do you have the drive wheel tension set?

can you push the wire through the tip on your own?

[Daveyclimber]

I am having the same exact issue with my 155/175 conversion. I have not used it in months and fired it up and the wheels spun no matter how tight the clamp screw was set. < sorrry for the Hijack just adding to the thread.

[blackcloud]

Just a quick thing to try. Make sure the gun and "cable" attached to it are as straight as possible. Ive found most feeding issues deal with a lot of bends in the gun, or a bent liner caused by running it over or kinking it

[kwrangln]

First the questions, then some tips.

Did it feed right at one time or is this a new welder that you havn't gotten to feed right yet?

Is the tip new?

Does the wire have any bends in it?

Are you trying to feed it through the tip with the drive rolls, or are you letting enough wire stick out of the gun that you have to slide the tip over the wire and then tighten it?

For the tips, first thing is to ignore the recommended liner length on the liner box. Cut the liner so that at least 1" sticks out of the gun and then press it into the gun when you install the tip adapter. If the adapter wont seat all the way, then trim the liner back a fuzz and retry it, repeat as necessary to get the adapter seated all the way. Cutting it at the recommended 1/2" or less, will leave a gap between the liner and tip which will allow the wire to bend between the two adding friction which will make feed unsteady.

Always run some wire out of the gun before installing the tip, slide the tip over the wire and then tighten. Installing the tip and then trying to feed wire through it will most likely end up with the wire hanging on the inside of the tip.

Use a sharp set of cutters when you trim wire, a dull set will deform the top of the wire leaving it oval shaped with sharp points which can hang in the tip when you feed it the first time.

Clean the tip, spatter on the end of it can hang the wire.

Simple beginner shit, but if theres something in there you havn't thought of, then its worth it.

[TOAdisco311]

Thanks for the replies.

Yep, it is a brand new machine, and I never could get it running right. It will feed .023 wire fine, but when you switch it over to .030/.035, the wheel just spins.

I have another liner, and I will try cutting it with at least 1'' of it out of gun. I have tried multiple spools of wire through it also as well, with no difference. I have been running the tip over the wire before trying to spool out more wire with the gun.

Would there be a problem running lincoln wire thru a miller tip adaptors/tips? I first thought it was the liner, and after installing a new liner and running it without a tip adaptor/tip it feed fine. But once I installed the tip adaptor and tip it wouldn't feed.

I'm running out of possible ideas of what it could be.

[Daveyclimber]

Did you switch to the appropriate drive wheel when changing?

[Bolt Thrower]

I'm guessing you're using the wrong side of the drive wheel and it's crushing the flux-core.

[oldjeep]

I had the same problem when I had to run a spool of flux core in my Hobart 180. Wouldn't feed worth a crap unless the gun was pulled straight out from the machine. Had the roller set right and no amount of tension made it better. Works fine with .030 solid.

[Daveyclimber]

My machine is loaded with .030 solid with the right drive roll and still will not operate properly though it worked last summer just fine

[Zrock]

has anybody taken some emery cloth to the feed rolllers? I have to do that every once and a while as the coting on the wire gums up teh rollers a bit and give's eratic results

[Aces'n'8s]

has anybody taken some emery cloth to the feed rolllers? I have to do that every once and a while as the coting on the wire gums up teh rollers a bit and give's eratic results

Yup...but only for the .030-.035....

[torkmonstr]

I have a miller 175, and to use flux wire you have to change the drive wheel to the grooved wheel oe it will flatten the flux coating and will not feed. the side lid also discribes the change

[MikeWazowski]

Make sure the wire go's through the tip with your fingers
maybe you have a bad tip or you need to go a little bigger on the tip:confused:

[FSR BIKER]

I was having problems with my welder as well, turns out since I hadn't used it in quite awhile the wire had some corrosion build up on it. Slapped a new spool in the welder and it works fine now.

[TOAdisco311]

The tip is fine. It will feed through the tip fine when I hold it against the wire, but it doesn't when I install the tip adaptor and tip onto the gun. It feels as if there is just enough resistance to cause problems. I will have to go fool with it tomorrow.

I will check the drive wheel again to make sure all is well.

[James_Fendley]

On my HH 175 I run the next larger tip size. It depends on the wire. I checked the size of the wire, and on .030 wire it was as large as .032 and would not go thru the tip. I know this is not the thing to do bit it solved my problem.

James

[TOAdisco311]

First the questions, then some tips.

Did it feed right at one time or is this a new welder that you havn't gotten to feed right yet?

Is the tip new?

Does the wire have any bends in it?

Are you trying to feed it through the tip with the drive rolls, or are you letting enough wire stick out of the gun that you have to slide the tip over the wire and then tighten it?

For the tips, first thing is to ignore the recommended liner length on the liner box. Cut the liner so that at least 1" sticks out of the gun and then press it into the gun when you install the tip adapter. If the adapter wont seat all the way, then trim the liner back a fuzz and retry it, repeat as necessary to get the adapter seated all the way. Cutting it at the recommended 1/2" or less, will leave a gap between the liner and tip which will allow the wire to bend between the two adding friction which will make feed unsteady.

Always run some wire out of the gun before installing the tip, slide the tip over the wire and then tighten. Installing the tip and then trying to feed wire through it will most likely end up with the wire hanging on the inside of the tip.

Use a sharp set of cutters when you trim wire, a dull set will deform the top of the wire leaving it oval shaped with sharp points which can hang in the tip when you feed it the first time.

Clean the tip, spatter on the end of it can hang the wire.

Simple beginner shit, but if theres something in there you havn't thought of, then its worth it.


Well I finally got off my ass and got back to working on the welder after the wire feeding debacle. I was able to save the threads and thread the tip adaptor back on the gun. I re read this post, and checked the length of the liner sticking out of the gun. Low and behold, I only had about 1/4" of liner sticking out of the gun. So I put a new liner in, and as per recommendation, left almost an inch of liner sticking out of the gun. With my fingers crossed I pulled the trigger and wire fed out smoothly. :D :smokin: I just wanted to thank everyone for the suggestions, and give people a heads up if they are having the same problem.

[kwrangln]

Well I finally got off my ass and got back to working on the welder after the wire feeding debacle. I was able to save the threads and thread the tip adaptor back on the gun. I re read this post, and checked the length of the liner sticking out of the gun. Low and behold, I only had about 1/4" of liner sticking out of the gun. So I put a new liner in, and as per recommendation, left almost an inch of liner sticking out of the gun. With my fingers crossed I pulled the trigger and wire fed out smoothly. :D :smokin: I just wanted to thank everyone for the suggestions, and give people a heads up if they are having the same problem.

Glad it worked for ya, same problem about drove me frikkin nuts on a lincoln 250 sp at work. Tried everything, finally called a tech rep out to check it out and he explained the liner bit to me (stupid me actually read the directions for once and look where it got me).