reb78 Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 I was just doing a bit of welding tonight, when the wire feed stopped. I could hear the motor, so thought the wire had jammed. I looked at the welder and it looked like the torch had disconnected from the body and the wire was spewing out there. On closer inspection, the torch was connected, and the section that it connects to had actually become detached from the wire feed tube. The threads had stripped where the section the torch locks into screws into the wire feed tube. This must have happened when it was made (2-3) years old i think and its been weak and finally broken. This pic shows the broken part in situ: This shows the stripped thread: This pic shows the thread on the end of the wire feed tube (i've removed it from the machine at this point: Can i buy the part in pic 1 as a replacement part? The welder is a Butters AMT 180C As a temporary repair, can i wrap PTFE tape around the end of the wire feed tube such that it sits tighter in what little thread is left in the broken bit? - if i use PTFE tape, will this either mess up an earth connection (the wire feed tube is earthed, but i guess that earths the wire rather than the torch?) or get too hot here (i've no idea if this part gets hot during use!) Any other ideas to repair it?? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minimaquinas Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 hi reb try a bit of chemy metal i swear by the stuff my discovery front pulley was held on with it for three years cheers brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted December 22, 2011 Author Share Posted December 22, 2011 hi reb try a bit of chemy metal i swear by the stuff my discovery front pulley was held on with it for three years cheers brian Will it work on brass? (i presume that bit is brass?) I'd probably save the option as a last choice though as i guess it will mean i cant get it apart again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minimaquinas Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 yes it will work on brass i fixed my 110 fuel tank drain plug the other week and it is still good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejparrott Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 Have you got a good welding suppliers or a fab shop/engineering works nearby? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted December 22, 2011 Author Share Posted December 22, 2011 Have you got a good welding suppliers or a fab shop/engineering works nearby? I dont know. I bought it from SPA in Sussex, but they arent local. I've dropped them an email tonight, will see what they say tomorrow - theyve always been pretty helpful. I'll have a search around for a local place. Can anyone recommend one in Hertfordshire? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcan bomber Posted December 22, 2011 Share Posted December 22, 2011 Looks like something my Loverly Lathe at work could probably sort for you if your stuck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted December 22, 2011 Author Share Posted December 22, 2011 Thanks Dave, i might call on your skills if i cant find a spare for sale anywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lrfarmer Posted December 23, 2011 Share Posted December 23, 2011 cemical metal wont be ideal as it need to make good contact as the main power go's through it to the torch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuck Posted December 23, 2011 Share Posted December 23, 2011 If you go to the mig welding forum & look up Weldequip (he has a shop on there) He'll sort you out. Does mail order too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted December 23, 2011 Share Posted December 23, 2011 You could use a Helicoil to fix it - but a new part is probably cheaper! The wire feed tube looks easier to machine a replacement - as there are no off-axis holes / threads. You could cut a larger size thread in the stripped bit, then adapt or re-make the wire feed to have the corresponding thread. You could even cut a bigger thread in one bit and a smaller thread in the other and make an adapter between the two. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted December 23, 2011 Author Share Posted December 23, 2011 If you go to the mig welding forum & look up Weldequip (he has a shop on there) He'll sort you out. Does mail order too. Thanks. I put a post on there, and then noticed his shop! (shut now till new year, so i'll contact him then). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted December 23, 2011 Author Share Posted December 23, 2011 You could use a Helicoil to fix it - but a new part is probably cheaper! The wire feed tube looks easier to machine a replacement - as there are no off-axis holes / threads. You could cut a larger size thread in the stripped bit, then adapt or re-make the wire feed to have the corresponding thread. You could even cut a bigger thread in one bit and a smaller thread in the other and make an adapter between the two. Si Thanks Si. I'm hoping that, since the torch connections are fairly universal, that this part will be common to more than one machine. Also, i had to take the other side of the casing off that covers all of the electrical gubbins - is there anything in there i shouldnt touch (its unplugged, but i wasnt sure if there was anything that stored a charge in there!!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted December 23, 2011 Share Posted December 23, 2011 There is unlikely to be any stored charge at a voltage that will hurt! (unless it's an inverter welder. If it's a traditional type with a honking big transformer, you'll probably be OK) If there are any big capacitors in there and you're worried, connect a light bulb across the terminals to discharge them. If the bulb flashes, there was charge in it but as soon as the bulb goes out it is pretty much discharged. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fozsug Posted December 23, 2011 Share Posted December 23, 2011 Mig Tig Arc, speak to Gary 02392 295612 , stocks spares for Butters off the shelf. http://www.migtigarc.co.uk/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reb78 Posted January 4, 2012 Author Share Posted January 4, 2012 Just in case anyone ever needs to know the name of that part in my pics above, apparently it is called the CTA block. SPA are getting one for me. Thanks for the other contact fozsug, will try them next time i need some bits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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