250 ex

[johnson697]

I was welding with my 250 ex today on an oil pan and was having a hard time keeping a smooth and consistant arc had to kind of scratch start it sometimes and when it was welding it would kind of go off and on while i was welding but the arc would stay on just kind of jumped around .Does this sound like a point gap issue or something else?

[Rodsmachineshop]

what do you have your gas set at . i set mine 250 ex at 9 to 10 lpm if not enough argon arc start will be erratic but also could be point not set rite also , aluminum pan or steel pan

[johnson697]

steel pan,and my gas was set at around 7 ..cant remember what points are supposed to be set at.

[Paul Moir]

Did you try welding something else? Sounds sort of like contaminated material to me.
HF is shut off after starting, so it's not a point gap problem.

[5440]

Did you try welding something else? Sounds sort of like contaminated material to me.
HF is shut off after starting, so it's not a point gap problem.

DITTO!

Double check all connections are tight and confirm machine settings and try on some fresh ground steel.

[johnson697]

could be contaminated material as it is an oil pan but the material i was welding on the oil pan was new material ,cut the side out of the front of the oil pan and had to put a half moon shaped piece back in to make room for a starter ,so i dont think contaminated material was all of the problem and i did have to keep scratch starting the tungsten to start the arc.

[Rodsmachineshop]

have you tried using a new tungsten electrode and everything is tight on the torch

[johnson697]

did not try using a new tungsten but did have to re-sharpen and everything is tight on my torch,i use both thoriated and lanthanated tungsten.