Mig welder problem

[Stephen Newell]

I have a little 85 amp Sears mig welder that has gotten some obstruction in the liner where the welding wire runs I can"t get out. My best guess is I"m going to have to replace the liner. If I have to replace the liner, is it a Sears only part or are the liners a standard item I can get at a welding supply shop.
 

[504]

Pull the old one out, and match it up at a welding store.
 

[wisbaker]

Someone made the darn thing for Sears, betcha it's about the same as their name brand stuff. Like the other guy said-pull the liner and take it to a real welding supply and they'll match it. Might want to figure out who built your machine so if you need parts and K-mart doesn't want to play nice with you you can other source your needs.
 

[Stephen Newell]

I did pull the liner out of the welder. I thought perhaps I could work a piece of welding wire through it and work the obstruction free but it didn't. Whatever is in there is stuck good. The wire or compressed air did nothing. I will probably try taking the liner to a welding supply in the morning. Sears parts won't be open until Monday and frankly as old as the welder is I have doubts if they offer the liner anymore. I know I bought the welder in the early 1990's.
 

[Stick welding]

Every MIG gun manufacturer has their own liners. Make sure something didn't short the liner and it basically welded the wire to it. Liners do need to be replaced. They get bits of copper flaking off and pull in dirt every time they're used. That's why it's important to not have too much drive roll pressure and use a wire cleaner or ear plug before the drive rolls. That said it may be difficult to find a liner since an 85 amp MIG isn't a popular machine. If you're lucky it will have a standard gun like a Tweco which will make finding a liner a lot easier. Worst case you need to get a new MIG gun but then it might be better to upgrade your machine. A big advantage in buying a name brand machine is that you'll be able to get parts and consumables down the road.
 

[VernMI]

Sears used rebadged Century welders so look for their liners.
 

[Stephen Newell]

You may be right about the wire getting welded to the liner. Come to think about it when it stopped working I had to cut the wire off at the roll and put the wire out of the sleeve with a pair of pliers. At first it was hard to pull and then suddenly came easily. The wire may have just broken off leaving a piece of wire welded in the middle. Its encouraging about the part maybe being Tweetco. I assume the "T" logo on the liner is for Tweetco and the numbers behind it are 45-40.

I normally stick weld everything but years ago I did work for a company that sold cast aluminum furniture and I bought the welder for the argon gas. It worked fine for that purpose but now I mainly use the welder for welding sheetmetal.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Uncle Ernie]

An ear plug? As a wiper? Interesting idea!Can you send a pic of your machine with one in it?
 

[Stick welding]

It's Tweco not Tweetco and they are used on a lot of small MIG welders and large ones as well. They are good guns. Highly possible that's what the T stands for. A good welding supply should be able to get you one. You could try googling Tweco and/or the part number on it.
 

[Stick welding]

Can't post a pic but lots of guys cut a slit in an ear plug and use it for a wiper. The felt pads aren't very expensive though.
 

[36 Coupe]

Using a tip too long or with the wrong size wire will weld the wire to the liner.My stick welder gets used a lot more than my wire welder.85 amp is too small anyway.