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  1. #1
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    Default Wire feeder to suit a Cigweld 165 Turbo Mig Welder

    Went to fire up the Mig welder to make a new rear gate for the box trailer and the wire feeder on my Cigweld 165 Turbo doesnt want to feed and no click clack noise.
    I bought the machine from our our local BOC store who has now closed and the next closest BOC store being 300 klms away isn't good.
    I've checked out the BOC and the Cigweld sites and both don't list parts.
    Can anyone recommend somewhere that I could purchase the part online.
    Cigweld 165 Turbo Mig Welder.jpg

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
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    Mackay North Qld
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    Do you know which part is non-functioning?

    The click-clack noise is made by a solenoid.

    Solenoids function mechanically to turn on the gas, the electrical power from the rectifier plus start the wire drive motor moving.

    Chances are that the trigger circuit ( its low voltage ) is open. It can be as simple as a wire pulled off a terminal pin.

    Your model has the fixed gun cable so you may have to remove the case cover ( machine unplugged) to follow the trigger wires to the terminal connection.

    Also check the gun trigger mechanism as it may be the culprit.

    Failing the above Rapid Electrics Mackay or NQIE North Queensland Industrial Electrics Mackay are repair agents for most of the big brand welder names and possibly may be able to assist you with a part. They may decline to sell you a part if they think you are unqualified electrical person. Of course you have an electrician mate who will install the part for you

    I do not have knowledge of welder electrical spare parts online.

    Grahame

  3. #3
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    I did find some mig solenoids online. Bob the welder has them.Mig solenoids are low voltage so you would be looking at 24 volts

    That is IF the solenoid is at fault. How do you tell? You ( sorry! your leccy mate) can bridge the terminals that the trigger wires are on when the machine is turned on. If the solenoid is not OK it will not clack.

    Grahame

  4. #4
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    Dec 2007
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    Melbourne
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    Default

    I had this problem on one of my CIG MIG welders - turned out I had the wire speed turned down too low!!

  5. #5
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    Thanks guys and yep I've already had the covers off to check everything over and to see if any loose or disconnected wires.
    I've seen Bobs the Welder on ebay but I couldnt see parts to suit my welder.
    Grahame, I'll try your suggestions and if no success I'll drop the welder in the bin and buy a new BOC Smootharc TIG 185 ACDC Mig/Tig welder.
    My welder is 14 years old and its been well cared for and this is the first ever problem I've had with it.
    I want to get the gate made before Easter so the new welder next week is probably the best option.
    Boc Smootharc TIG 185 ACDC.jpg

  6. #6
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    Aug 2006
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    Default

    I think you may have a hard time finding that welder with AC/DC tig and Mig capability's.

    Quote Originally Posted by Specialized29er View Post
    I'll drop the welder in the bin and buy a new BOC Smootharc TIG 185 ACDC Mig/Tig welder.
    Boc Smootharc TIG 185 ACDC.jpg

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
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    York, North Yorkshire UK
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    Disconnect from the mains power source before doing this !

    Testing a 24 volt solenoid is easy ! Find its terminals and disconnect the wires, then use a 12 volt source, a car battery will do, and clip one side of the battery to one of the solenoid terminals and touch the other terminal with the wire that is connected to the other battery terminal.

    If the solenoid is OK it will kick. A common failure is a broken wire at one terminal or the other. Vibration or /and corrosion is usually the cause.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  8. #8
    Join Date
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    Around 30 years ago I bought a little Due Mig, it had this problem which turned out to be the thin wires in the lead had broken.
    I just ran external wires strapped onto the lead with eleco tape up to the gun.
    Most solenoids will work as long as there the right voltage.
    Using Tapatalk

  9. #9
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    Specialized29er,

    Com_VC, BaronJ, DaveJ and I are all trying to reinforce this point about the trigger circuit.

    When a mig fails there is 99% chance it is mechanical -in the wire feed usually. When it is electrical, the high percentage says its usually in the trigger circuit. Before you bin the machine please make some more checks.

    Check the trigger mechanism and the continuity of the two wires between the trigger and their connection points inside the machine.

    Bear in mind the mig gun cable has been moved around for 14 years and it is not beyond the bounds of possibility for something in the trigger circuit from trigger to internal machine connections to have a minute unseen break somewhere or poor connection.

    It is not hard to check these with a multimeter after some minor disconnection.

    Cheers

    Grahame

  10. #10
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    Apr 2012
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    Healesville
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    Another way to test if the switch or switch wiring is at fault is to remove you welding wire from the welder and also the welding cable, then fit a jump wire into the 2 switch wire conections on the front of the welder and the switch/turn the welder on, if your gas and wire feeder now work then you will know that the problem is in the switch or the wires to it.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by shedhappens View Post
    Another way to test if the switch or switch wiring is at fault is to remove you welding wire from the welder and also the welding cable, then fit a jump wire into the 2 switch wire conections on the front of the welder and the switch/turn the welder on, if your gas and wire feeder now work then you will know that the problem is in the switch or the wires to it.
    These type of welders usually have the wires coming out of the lead inside the machine that go straight to the connections.
    He will just have to chase up where the 2 wires go and the do as you say and put a jumper across the 2.
    Using Tapatalk

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Specialized29er View Post
    I've seen Bobs the Welder on ebay but I couldn't see parts to suit my welder.
    I suspect your mig will have a 24-volt solenoid. Any mig with a trigger on the end of a gun cable will have 24 volts or at least a low volt operation.

    Your machine solenoid will likely have the operating voltage stencilled on it.

    So long as the replacement solenoid is 24 volt it is not a big deal to make one fit, given the shield gas tube sizes are near the same.

    BobTheWelder is good like this-you can email or ring to find what the gas inlet/outlet size of his 24-volt solenoid is.

    Grahame

  13. #13
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    Jan 2017
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    Well thanks guys for all the suggestions and still have the welder but have not been able to get it going.
    Purchased a Cigweld Weldskill 185 3 in 1 and so far all is good and I've managed to build the rear gate in time for a lovely week away in the rain.

    Cigweld Weldskill 185 28.04.18.png

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