Post by DynoDave on Jun 11, 2009 6:38:58 GMT -5
I just thought I'd post this to see if anyone has any tips, suggestions or related MIG welder experiences.
I have an Airco Mini-Pro 125 MIG welder (115V). The machine is about 20 years old. It was a local dealers demo unit that I bought when I moved here to Michigan so I could work on my Charger. It's been a good machine so far. No problems. I did 90% of the needed welding in the Charger with it, also snowmobile trailer, several snowmobile repairs, several side jobs (car builds) room mates had over the years, made my factory-look dual snorkel air cleaner for the Cordoba, and it went on the road to a friends house for a year or so to hang new quarters and do other sheet metal work on his '70 El Camino.
As of this month, it's on loan to another friend to do some work on his '65 Mustang. Sadly though, when he went to use it, it did not work. The machine has been sitting for several years not being used. He said he pulled the trigger & got a very weak, sputtery weld. He turned up the amperage and wire feed, pulled the trigger, and nothing. No current flow, no wire feed. There is a still a "clunk", which we initially thought was a relay for the wire feed motor (which is not turning), but have since learned is probably the gas valve solenoid opening/closing.
A read through the owner manual shows no fuses or circuit breakers internal to the machine, but another friend who's spent a lot of years in the fabrication and heavy repair business says he's never seen a unit without a breaker in it somewhere.
20 years later, the dealer that sold it to me is long gone. Airco was bought up some years back by another manufacturer, and they have turned over parts and service to a 3rd party. So there is a source for parts, but no guarantee of what they will stock for an older out of production unit.
I have 0 experience at repairs of this type, in this field. I don't know if any welder dealer will work on it, or how much money I should think about putting into it if I do seek a repair. I don't know if shops that work on welders work on all makes and models, or if I'm s.o.l. because Airco is gone.
My friend is on a tight time line to get his Mustang finished, and has already shopped for a replacement. A new Lincoln, that's a little better machine than mine on output amperage, can be had from Home Depot for $360. That's about what I paid for mine 20 years ago. Seems like a pretty good deal to me. For myself, I have my eye on a Hobart 220V unit at Tractor Supply Company, if I can't fix the Airco.
Any thoughts?
I have an Airco Mini-Pro 125 MIG welder (115V). The machine is about 20 years old. It was a local dealers demo unit that I bought when I moved here to Michigan so I could work on my Charger. It's been a good machine so far. No problems. I did 90% of the needed welding in the Charger with it, also snowmobile trailer, several snowmobile repairs, several side jobs (car builds) room mates had over the years, made my factory-look dual snorkel air cleaner for the Cordoba, and it went on the road to a friends house for a year or so to hang new quarters and do other sheet metal work on his '70 El Camino.
As of this month, it's on loan to another friend to do some work on his '65 Mustang. Sadly though, when he went to use it, it did not work. The machine has been sitting for several years not being used. He said he pulled the trigger & got a very weak, sputtery weld. He turned up the amperage and wire feed, pulled the trigger, and nothing. No current flow, no wire feed. There is a still a "clunk", which we initially thought was a relay for the wire feed motor (which is not turning), but have since learned is probably the gas valve solenoid opening/closing.
A read through the owner manual shows no fuses or circuit breakers internal to the machine, but another friend who's spent a lot of years in the fabrication and heavy repair business says he's never seen a unit without a breaker in it somewhere.
20 years later, the dealer that sold it to me is long gone. Airco was bought up some years back by another manufacturer, and they have turned over parts and service to a 3rd party. So there is a source for parts, but no guarantee of what they will stock for an older out of production unit.
I have 0 experience at repairs of this type, in this field. I don't know if any welder dealer will work on it, or how much money I should think about putting into it if I do seek a repair. I don't know if shops that work on welders work on all makes and models, or if I'm s.o.l. because Airco is gone.
My friend is on a tight time line to get his Mustang finished, and has already shopped for a replacement. A new Lincoln, that's a little better machine than mine on output amperage, can be had from Home Depot for $360. That's about what I paid for mine 20 years ago. Seems like a pretty good deal to me. For myself, I have my eye on a Hobart 220V unit at Tractor Supply Company, if I can't fix the Airco.
Any thoughts?
