Welding Tips and Tricks

HELP!!!!! My Lincoln 305g is dropping the voltage and fluctuating and really just performing badly. I sent it in to Coastal and they said they load banked it and checked it out and found nothing wrong. Suggested inspect ground. I bought all new connections, ground on pipe to connect ground and same problem. I am wondering if I am not doing something wrong. I have no problem at school welding. Could they be lying to me and did not check it? looking at new machine. Have no time for this. Going to buy a Miller this time. Should it have a break in?

Welcome to the forum. Sorry I can't help about the machine problem.

Are you welding with it??

What process???

What amperage, Setting???

~John

While I am not exactly sure what is wrong with the machine, I can tell you there is not a break in period on a machine. Maybe out of personal preference but not from the manufacture.
Edit: Ok didn't realize this was a generator welder, maybe a break in does apply
-Jonathan

A buddy of mine has a 305-G, sweet machine. I know the new ones have an issue with filling the gas tank to the top. It washes the cylinder walls, and the engines life is shortened.

I have a passion for Lincoln SA-200 . Bill's Welder Repair recommends on a rebuild to not go past 3rd gear for the first 50-hours. And at 50-hours change the oil. After that let her rip.
http://billswelderrepair.com/SA-200.html

Does it do it immediately upon striking an arc, every time? How does it sound during idle/load? How many hours are on it?

Only has 65 hours on it. It will do it after about 10 minutes of welding. The amp meter will fluctuate up and down and will not arc for about 10 minutes. I am not looking at this with hopes of it being fixed anytime soon. Tomorrow buying new Miller bobcat 250. Need to get to practicing now and not another 6 weeks from now. Need to work. Also., I am welding 6010 on root pass and will do it when tigging. does not make any sounds different than normal revving. Mechanic of 30 years or so does not speak favorably of the electronics on these.

Sounds like something with the duty cycle. I'm not sure how the duty cycle system itself works, maybe a bad temperature sensor? Anyway, sounds defective to me.

65 hours you should still have some kind of warrenty eh?

Do you have a warranty??

Or did you buy it used??

Said it has 65 hours on it. Even if he bought it "used" its hardly used. Although if the guy sold it with that many hours on it, probably obvious something was messed up on it.

It was new when I bought it 4 years ago. Just sitting in shop. Been working and just recently had time to get back into welding. Bought a new bobcat 250 today. Welds like a dream. Getting used to it. I really love it.