Mounting Of 10 To 44 Lbs. Spools; To Start The Welder; Feeding Electrode; Idle Roll Pressure Setting - Lincoln Electric IDEALARC SP-255 Operator's Manual

WARNING
Check to be sure the retaining spring has fully
returned to the locking position and has
locked the Readi-Reel cage in place. Retaining
spring must rest on the cage not the welding elec-
trode.
To remove Readi-Reel from Adapter, depress retain-
ing spring tab with thumb while pulling the Readi-Reel
cage from the molded adapter with both hands. It is
not necessary to remove adapter from spindle.

MOUNTING OF 10 TO 44 LBS. SPOOLS

To mount 10 to 44 lb. spools (8" and 12" diame-
ter): (For 8" spools a K468 adapter must be used.)
1. Remove the locking collar and the Readi-Reel
adapter (if installed) from the 2" dia. spindle.
2. If using an 8" spool, place the K468 adapter on the
spindle first. The hole in the adapter arm is to
engage the pin on the spindle.
3. Place the spool on the spindle making certain the
brake driving pin enters one of the holes in the
back side of the spool. Be certain the wire comes
off the reel in a clockwise direction when dereeled
from the top of the coil.
4. Replace and tighten the locking collar for several
seconds.

TO START THE WELDER

Turn the "Power" switch to "ON" This lights the red
LED back lighting of the LCD display and a readable
screen should be visible on the display. With the
desired weld mode selected, operate the gun trigger
for welder output and to energize the wire feed motor.

FEEDING ELECTRODE

WARNING
When inching, the electrode and drive mechanism
are always "hot" to work and ground and remain
"hot" several seconds after the gun trigger is
released.
NOTE: Check that drive rolls and gun parts are proper
OPERATION
for the wire size and type being used. (Refer to
Accessories section.)
1. Turn the Readi-Reel or spool until the free end of
securely
the electrode is accessible.
2. While securely holding the electrode, cut off the
bent end and straighten the first six inches (152
mm). Cut off the first inch (25 mm). (If the electrode
is not properly straightened, it may not feed or may
not go into the outgoing guide tube causing a
"birdnest")
3. Push the wire through the guide tubes and close
the idle roll assembly. For idle roll pressure set-
tings, see Idle Roll Pressure Setting Section below.
4. Turn "OFF" weld timers by pressing TIMERS OFF
key. Press the gun trigger and push the electrode
into the drive roll. If the electrode fails to thread
itself into the outgoing guide tube of the wire drive,
open the quick release idle roll arm, thread the
electrode manually, and reclose the arm.
5. Inch the electrode through the gun.
NOTE: If using the low speed starting feature of
the SP-255, the wire will feed at low speed for 2
seconds while inching, then come up to the set
speed.
6. Check that the welding process is set for the wire
type, diameter, and gas per instructions on name-
plate.

IDLE ROLL PRESSURE SETTING

The idle roll pressure thumbscrew is set at the factory
backed out 2-1/2 turns from full pressure. This is an
approximate setting. The optimum idle roll pressure
varies with type of wire, wire diameter, surface condi-
tion, lubrication, and hardness. As a general rule, hard
wires may require greater pressure, and soft, or alu-
minum wire, may require less pressure than the facto-
ry setting. The optimum idle roll setting can be deter-
mined as follows:
1. Press end of gun against a solid object that is elec-
trically isolated from the welder output and press
the gun trigger for several seconds.
2. If the wire "birdnests," jams or breaks at the drive
roll, the idle roll pressure is too great. Back the
thumbscrew out 1/2 turn, run new wire through
gun, and repeat above steps.
B-11
IDEALARC SP-255