Yet another TIG Foot Pedal issue

[bswinn]

This one however isn't really related to the functionality of the food pedal. While I agree it's not the BEST construction I've seen it's solid enough for my use. I had to make a couple modifications to make it work the way I wanted to however. I replaced the audio style (read Log scaled) with a linear POT and put some plastic feet on it so the screws weren't gratting on concrete. Those screws by the way strip out as soon as the screw driver gets to within one inch of touch them. Anyways....I digress.

Was working my Nickel welding christmas gift. Burnt though about $3 worth of Nickels practicing and dialinig in my settings. During the process some splinter in the back of my mind was telling me something was funky but I just pushed past it because I had to get the job done.

It turns out that my quick foot pedal press and releases were making the belt skip teetch on the cog attached to the pot. Well eventually the POT reached full scale and the foot pedal was acting as more of a switch. But the repeated press and release at full scale would pull the belt tight and relax. Eventually this repeated stress caused the bend under load repeatedly against the 90 degree bed that clamps it to the pedal. It broke right before my last weld of the project.

My questions are this. Has anyone modified their foot pedal to use something other than shody construction, cheap timing belt method in their foot pedal? Has anyone found an easily locatable store that would carry such belts so I might fix it until I come up with a better solution? Is this something everlast support would service (i.e. send me a new section of timing belt)?

[everlastsupport]

This is something to call into out toll free 877-755-9353 and talk to someone is sales.

Tech support can not ship parts (don't have any). While the pedal is not the greatest, there are many out there. You can call and get a price on an upgraded pedal as well. Also if you search the forum you will find pedal mods, and some people have made their own or adapted other pedals.

Also, not knowing the unit you have, but can you use the trigger since you are dialed in and still weld?

[performance]

The belt is similar to some Vacuum cleaner belts.

[bswinn]

Thanx Mike. Yes, currently I can still weld. I just set the POT in the foot pedal to max position and use it for the microswitch inside. Reasoning behind this is that I upgraded to a CK TL 210 torch which has no switch functionality. I might add it in the future. But the move to this torch with it's SUPER flexible lead makes welding on my PT200DX so much more enjoyable. It's like I don't even have a torch in my hand anymore since all I have to concentrate on is filler, puddle, and control. I don't have to worry about the weight of the torch and it's lead.

I've looked into upgrading the pedal but since I just blew a chunk of change on the torch I'd prefer to just grab a belt and "duct tape engineer" something until after teh holidays.

Mark thanx for the info on the Vacuum cleaner idea. I'll go hunting around stores this evening to see if they have some belts kicking around. Imagine they would since I know I've blown a couple vacuum belts in the past. Stupid tassled rugs!!!

[everlastsupport]

I hear you on the cash flow. And the CK/flex is a nice torch. You can look at walmart and also, search around, there are still some vacuum repairs shop around. Might get lucky.

[sportbike]

I haven't had any issues with mine, but why not just get a new pedal made for the welders. With the volume of welders being purchased, one would think getting a new pedal made wouldn't be very costly. A compact pedal like miller with a plastic top woudl be adequate. Same pedal across the board with different Pots as required. Gotta be better than dealing with the tech calls and pretty much theonly real part that is not really up to par with domestic brands.

[Grandslam99]

BSWINN, My PP256 pedal was doing the same thing and I was able to correct the issue, see http://www.everlastgenerators.com/fo...9195#post39195. The pedal still didn’t feel correct/comfortable but was fully functional but it required quite a few degrees of movement for the 270 degrees of pot rotation. I’ve since ordered and installed the SSC replacement pedal from Everlast and it made a WORLD of Difference in the operation of the unit. Your unit may or may not have an SSC replacement pedal available.

[bswinn]

Grandslam, I've been looking at the SSC replacement pedal. It looks like the 6-pin unit that replaces a miller equivalent would work. But again, it's a extra 100+ quid i don't really want to spend so soon after buying my new torch. So like I said up above earlier I'm just trying to patch it up and maybe make it to my birthday and give myself a gift at that point.

[performance]

You must not be aware that we sell them on our site? No the Miller equivalent won't work. The ones we sell are 100% compatable.

[5440]

I modified the Miller RFCS-14 pedal...there is no looking back now.

[tictac]

I modified the Miller RFCS-14 pedal...there is no looking back now.

Can you post the wiring for it please.

[5440]

Link to my post on this.

http://www.everlastgenerators.com/fo...ontrol-Upgrade

[bswinn]

I spent the entire weekend scrounging EVERY store in my town plus the neighboring town. Can't find the belt anywhere's. Guess I'll just wait till the Everlast office opens up on the West Coast and give them a call and see what they can do.

[bswinn]

Alright, so last tuesday (12/11/12) I called support about the foot pedal issue. It's still under warranty so they sent me a new on with a return label in the box. It just showed up today. Wrong pedal. I'm a little miffed. The pedal has a knob on the front. My original pedal did not. Seems to me this is a reasonable mistake since I believe the old PT200DX had this type of pedal but I'm still a little frustrated.

Can someone point me in the direction of support who can work with me a little more on this that just saying "A new one's in the mail. Anything else?"

[Oleg]

bswinn

just call the office for faster response

[everlastsupport]

Bswinn,

Please call the office for items the forum can not help you with.

[bswinn]

Alright, so I know that after I post this all I'll get is "Please call the office" but honestly calling the office hasn't worked. Either my welder originally came with the wrong foot pedal, the associate I've talked with doesn't know what's going on or the packaging department doesn't. See the photos for a much better understanding of what I'm facing here.



The two on the left are the "replacements" i was sent. This has taken almost 4 weeks. The one on the right is my original. The difference is that the one on the right only has one potentiometer that Ohm's out at 47K. The other two have two potentiometers each. One for the foot pedal action, and one twist knob on the outside. The second photo shows (poorly I know) that my original foot pedal has a sticker that says "FT-47K-CL" while the other two say "FT-2.2K-CL"

So honestly...WTF is going on here. Sorry for the language but I'm beyond annoyed right now. Please explain to me which foot pedal my PT200DX is supposed to have. I only used the original a couple of times and from what I can remember it worked okay. Is the original wrong? Or is Everlast sending the wrong replacement to me? Or is there a third option I've overlooked.

[performance]

It depends upon which 200DX you have. If you have a new one, it will have no knob, and a 47k potentiometer in it. IF you have an older one, it will have 2 potentionmeters, one that shows 2.2k and the other will be 47k. It looks like you were sent 2 of the older 200DX which we have just cleared from inventory in the last few months.

[zoama]

Alright, so I know that after I post this all I'll get is "Please call the office" but honestly calling the office hasn't worked. Either my welder originally came with the wrong foot pedal, the associate I've talked with doesn't know what's going on or the packaging department doesn't. See the photos for a much better understanding of what I'm facing here.

The two on the left are the "replacements" i was sent. This has taken almost 4 weeks. The one on the right is my original. The difference is that the one on the right only has one potentiometer that Ohm's out at 47K. The other two have two potentiometers each. One for the foot pedal action, and one twist knob on the outside. The second photo shows (poorly I know) that my original foot pedal has a sticker that says "FT-47K-CL" while the other two say "FT-2.2K-CL"

So honestly...WTF is going on here. Sorry for the language but I'm beyond annoyed right now. Please explain to me which foot pedal my PT200DX is supposed to have. I only used the original a couple of times and from what I can remember it worked okay. Is the original wrong? Or is Everlast sending the wrong replacement to me? Or is there a third option I've overlooked.

I'll try to help but I'm no expert. I believe the pedals with two pots are the old style and the single pot is the new style. I know you're annoyed but if you'll remain calm I'm sure Oleg will get this straightened out. In my experience, everlast customer service is very good but sometimes there are mixups and delays. I guess that's to be expected in a rapidly growing business. Whomever you talk to, tell them you need the pedal with no knob.

[performance]

...or tell them you have the same one as the 250EX...but hey, if you needed a belt, why not remove one off the existing pedals you have? But if you have ever opened up a MIller, you will find a similar belt on some of theirs...so the construction and the way they work is not all that different.