Post some pics of your welds, may help to diagnose.
Problems with Lincoln 180
About 10 months ago I bought a new Lincoln 180 mig to replace my 130 amp Napa mig welder that I had picked up off craigslist for $35 b/c I was convinced I needed something with more power to weld up my cage on my Jeep. Well after 10 months I still cannot get this thing to lay nearly as nice of welds as my Napa welder. I had welded 1/4" with my Napa welder on sway bar mounts that have seen abuse, the welds looked beautiful and have held up perfectly.
I bought the cheaper Lincoln with the A-E voltage settings. But I feel like this thing should weld a lot better than my Napa welder. I get a ton of burn back of the wire to the tip of the gun. I have tried everything, including calling Lincoln multiple times and haven't been able to figure this thing out. At first I put it off as a learning curve on a new welder, but I'm over that and just freaking hate this thing. If I had the money I would go out and buy a new Millermatic 252 but I'm a broke college kid.
Has anybody else had trouble with their Lincoln 180? Mine sucks! Oh I'm welding with .035" and 75/25 mix gas. All I can use it for is to tack my cage, no way I can weld tube with this thing as is. I shouldn't have sold my Napa welder :shaking:
I bought the cheaper Lincoln with the A-E voltage settings. But I feel like this thing should weld a lot better than my Napa welder. I get a ton of burn back of the wire to the tip of the gun. I have tried everything, including calling Lincoln multiple times and haven't been able to figure this thing out. At first I put it off as a learning curve on a new welder, but I'm over that and just freaking hate this thing. If I had the money I would go out and buy a new Millermatic 252 but I'm a broke college kid.
Has anybody else had trouble with their Lincoln 180? Mine sucks! Oh I'm welding with .035" and 75/25 mix gas. All I can use it for is to tack my cage, no way I can weld tube with this thing as is. I shouldn't have sold my Napa welder :shaking:
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You say it burns back all the time??
These welders are known for wire feed issues. First try backing off on the wire feed tension. I am not at work so I can`t look at one to see if they have a wire brake or not . This would be on the hub the wire mounts on.
If that is to tight that will cause the problem
Lincoln in a cost saving move went to a press on gear instead of drilled and pinned The tolerances were not tight enough and after a while or right away the gear will slip while welding . At first enough to be a pain but it can get to the point where it slips all the time.
The best advice is weld on some scrap with someone watching the driverolls or you watch and have some one else weld .See if you have any slipping
From your post I can guess you pretty much adjusted wire feed and voltage to kind of dial it in.
Myself I would not run any wire but .023 in a welder like that in fact I run .023 on a Miller 22A feeder and miller XMT-304 power source for anything under 1/4 "
I hope that gives you some help.
Good luck
These welders are known for wire feed issues. First try backing off on the wire feed tension. I am not at work so I can`t look at one to see if they have a wire brake or not . This would be on the hub the wire mounts on.
If that is to tight that will cause the problem
Lincoln in a cost saving move went to a press on gear instead of drilled and pinned The tolerances were not tight enough and after a while or right away the gear will slip while welding . At first enough to be a pain but it can get to the point where it slips all the time.
The best advice is weld on some scrap with someone watching the driverolls or you watch and have some one else weld .See if you have any slipping
From your post I can guess you pretty much adjusted wire feed and voltage to kind of dial it in.
Myself I would not run any wire but .023 in a welder like that in fact I run .023 on a Miller 22A feeder and miller XMT-304 power source for anything under 1/4 "
I hope that gives you some help.
Good luck
i'm having the same issuse with a promig 175,first few month's the welds were great.i'm using .35 wire.now after about a year of use,i'm getting shitty welds.i had a 110 snap on welder before and used .25 wire and never had any issues,then upgraded to the 220v machine.i'm gonna drop down in wire size/tip and maybe look into some new wheels and see how it goes,if it doesn't change then it's goin up for sale.
You all should know that liners are consumable items .
Rule of thumb with the wire tension off contact tip removed gun as straight as possible . you should be able to pull the wire out with just your thumb and index finger in a pinch grip
The first thing any one should do with any wire feed issue is change the liner. It is harder on a liner to sit then be used every day. i know some of these little welders sit for weeks at a time or longer.
Now welding in these out of position places on vehicles it is real easy to kink your gun enough to cost feed problems. It happens to us all you just need to be aware of the problem
Rule of thumb with the wire tension off contact tip removed gun as straight as possible . you should be able to pull the wire out with just your thumb and index finger in a pinch grip
The first thing any one should do with any wire feed issue is change the liner. It is harder on a liner to sit then be used every day. i know some of these little welders sit for weeks at a time or longer.
Now welding in these out of position places on vehicles it is real easy to kink your gun enough to cost feed problems. It happens to us all you just need to be aware of the problem
I hopped up to .035 to do some welding on some 1/4" but recently switched back to .025" (i think, might be .023") with the correct size tip and drive wheel. I get burn back either way. I got a buddy of mine to watch the drive the other day and he seemed to think the wire was not slipping. Weld quality is so shitty with this thing we busted out the buzz box and stick welded a deer hoist we were making instead of mig welding it and the stick welds look 100x better!
I have not tried replacing the liner, honestly that is what I was going to try next, but this thing hasn't had very much wire through it. Maybe two 2lb rolls and half a 10lb one, so I wouldn't think the liner needed replaced just yet but i'll try it soon.
I have messed around with the wire tension and have tried it at different tensions. As far as the spool brake goes, I assume you mean the nut that you put on after you place the wire roll on the shaft? I have that pretty loose, just to the point where my wire won't bird nest on me.
I may take it by my local welding shop and see if they can figure it out. I guess it's still under warranty but I don't know if anything is technically broke on it.
I have not tried replacing the liner, honestly that is what I was going to try next, but this thing hasn't had very much wire through it. Maybe two 2lb rolls and half a 10lb one, so I wouldn't think the liner needed replaced just yet but i'll try it soon.
I have messed around with the wire tension and have tried it at different tensions. As far as the spool brake goes, I assume you mean the nut that you put on after you place the wire roll on the shaft? I have that pretty loose, just to the point where my wire won't bird nest on me.
I may take it by my local welding shop and see if they can figure it out. I guess it's still under warranty but I don't know if anything is technically broke on it.
i know this isn't gonna help, but i went through 3 lincoln 180's w/ wire feed issues in 2 weeks. Finally, I just got a Millermatic 185, the 252 is where it is at. like wyoming said they are known to have issues...
Actually that helps a lot. Honestly I was starting to think I was going crazy and maybe just forgot how to weld, haha. It's good to know I'm not the only one.i know this isn't gonna help, but i went through 3 lincoln 180's w/ wire feed issues in 2 weeks. Finally, I just got a Millermatic 185, the 252 is where it is at. like wyoming said they are known to have issues...
So what do I do, take it in and try to get some warranty work done on it? Or sell it and try to find a MM200 or something of the sort for a reasonable price?
I haven't had any issues with the 180c and I have had it for a year. Just a thought if you haven't checked yet (which you probably have)...If you are welding solid wire w/gas, the work clamp shoud be connected to the - termial. I know you are to reverse the polarity for flux core. I don't even know if that would cause burn back or not.
Yes pictures would be a big help.
Are you getting the correct amount of gas shielding . i don`t think it would cause the burn back issue .
Check if the polarity is correct that might cause your issue.
Another thing what kind of circuit is your welder on. How is the electrical supply at your panel box . I have while on a independent breaker had problems with these 115v units .
You might also check the trigger circuit for loose connections no cuts in the gun??
Just Saturday with a new gun and new feeder miller 22A feeder i was having issues with the wire stopping because of kinking the gun just enough.
Just so you know if you take your welder in for warranty and it turns out it is user error or working to Lincoln specs you will be billed most likely an hour charge . Ask before you commit to leaving your welder. You need to write or type a good description of the problem and tape it to the unit telling what it does . Does this have any thing to do with how long the welder is being used a heat related issue often missed unless the tech is aware of this
Also I can`t remember how long the guns are under warranty .
I work for the local Warranty repair center for all the major brands of welders and plasma machines.
Good luck
Are you getting the correct amount of gas shielding . i don`t think it would cause the burn back issue .
Check if the polarity is correct that might cause your issue.
Another thing what kind of circuit is your welder on. How is the electrical supply at your panel box . I have while on a independent breaker had problems with these 115v units .
You might also check the trigger circuit for loose connections no cuts in the gun??
Just Saturday with a new gun and new feeder miller 22A feeder i was having issues with the wire stopping because of kinking the gun just enough.
Just so you know if you take your welder in for warranty and it turns out it is user error or working to Lincoln specs you will be billed most likely an hour charge . Ask before you commit to leaving your welder. You need to write or type a good description of the problem and tape it to the unit telling what it does . Does this have any thing to do with how long the welder is being used a heat related issue often missed unless the tech is aware of this
Also I can`t remember how long the guns are under warranty .
I work for the local Warranty repair center for all the major brands of welders and plasma machines.
Good luck
I'll try to get some pictures next time I'm back home which should be this coming Friday most likely.Yes pictures would be a big help.
Are you getting the correct amount of gas shielding . i don`t think it would cause the burn back issue .
Check if the polarity is correct that might cause your issue.
Another thing what kind of circuit is your welder on. How is the electrical supply at your panel box . I have while on a independent breaker had problems with these 115v units .
You might also check the trigger circuit for loose connections no cuts in the gun??
Just Saturday with a new gun and new feeder miller 22A feeder i was having issues with the wire stopping because of kinking the gun just enough.
Just so you know if you take your welder in for warranty and it turns out it is user error or working to Lincoln specs you will be billed most likely an hour charge . Ask before you commit to leaving your welder. You need to write or type a good description of the problem and tape it to the unit telling what it does . Does this have any thing to do with how long the welder is being used a heat related issue often missed unless the tech is aware of this
Also I can`t remember how long the guns are under warranty .
I work for the local Warranty repair center for all the major brands of welders and plasma machines.
Good luck
Yes I'm getting the correct amount of welding gas, my polarity is right, the electrical box my welder is running off of has plenty of power (i'm in an industerial complex) and my breaker is plenty big. The gun is never kinked when I'm getting this issue, also it starts from the second I turn on the machine.
I have been afraid of taking it in b/c I didn't want to find out I'm just retarted and it was nothing to do with the welder all along. Thanks for the heads up on getting billed for an hours labor, definately good to know.
I am also facing the same problem with Lincoln 180. It frustrated me so I want to buy one. Can you suggest some good value for money welders?
what do you mean "connected to the terminal"? there is only one way to hook it up right?I haven't had any issues with the 180c and I have had it for a year. Just a thought if you haven't checked yet (which you probably have)...If you are welding solid wire w/gas, the work clamp shoud be connected to the - termial. I know you are to reverse the polarity for flux core. I don't even know if that would cause burn back or not.
I also have a Lincoln 180 Dual Power Mig the problem with mine was the wire feed motor it wasn't turning but I barely made the three year warranty and it's getting repaired for free I hope the problem is solved. Johnny Gonzales
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