Need some help. I have started having a problem with the spool on my welder Clarke 130EN. The nut that holds the wire spool on tightens up as the wire is pulled off the spool. I have to stop and loosen the knob. Not sure what is happening or why it started. Any help and quidance will be greatly appreciated. It has really slowed down my floorpan installation.

A photo would really help, it do sound to me as the spool is turning in the same direction as the nut when it get tighten, i would try to put two apacers in between the spool and nut.

Chris

Is there a spring below or above the spool?

I'm not familiar with that brand of welder but they all use the same principal in order to keep the correct tension on the spool. You may have put it back together in the wrong sequence or are missing a component. If all else fails could you not double nut it to prevent it from tightenng too much?

Here are some pics of the welder. There is a spring between the knob and the washer. Thanks

It could be difficult to adjust your spool tension with the wire on the spool messed up like that. I looked at my Miller, although different, it also uses a washer, spring and nut to adjust the required tension. The nut is the nylock variety to help in preventing loosening & I guess tightening too. Was there something interferring with the knob when the door closed?

Edit: I vaguely remember that because I use the large rolls of wire I had change out a piece that was provided when I bought the welder. Try looking in the manual for info on that. If you don't have a manual for that machine, you should be able to download one on the net. Good luck!

Edited March 4, 201114 yr by geezer

Find a bolt with the right thread pattern and thread it into the knob with some thread locker in it. After the thread locker cures remove the bolt and put it on the welder. The residue will make the knob tighter. Make sure the clutch washers are in place and not binding or burred. That fixed my Miller"s drag problem.

Just replace the knob with a nylock nut and you're done. The alternative is buying a new knob from a Clarke supplier.

And this ie why i recommend it's better to buy a used pro welder, just got my self a 1y old Migatronic 305, so powerfull, that it will make you egg and bacon.

Don't know what to say about the tightening issue except for what others have said.

What I did notice, I don't see a "wiper" for the wire as it enters the wire feed. Clothes pin with a piece of cloth or the welding supply will have something that is made to keep the wire clean.

Don't know what to say about the tightening issue except for what others have said.

What I did notice, I don't see a "wiper" for the wire as it enters the wire feed. Clothes pin with a piece of cloth or the welding supply will have something that is made to keep the wire clean.

I use a foam earplug, just poke the wire though it and let it jam up against the wire feed block. It works great