MasterCraft MIG 180 Instruction Manual page 32

8. Setting the wire spool tension:
a. Turn the wire spool clockwise with one hand.
b. Increase the spool tension by tightening the wing nut while turning the spool. Tighten the
wing nut until turning becomes harder.
c. Stop tightening the wing nut. Repeat the steps a-c until proper spool tension is achieved.
Note: If high tension is applied to the wire spool, the wire slips off the drive roll or the wire gets
stuck. If low tension is applied, the wire spool unspools itself when the trigger is released. Readjust
the spool tension using the wing nut if the tension is high or low.
9. Disconnect the welder from the power source, and remove the leading end of the wire from
the spool.
10. Cut off any bent portion of the wire using a wire cutters.
11. Loosen the tension adjusting knob and lift up the tension arm off the drive roll.
12. Insert about 6" of the wire into the inlet guide tube, and across the drive roll and into the MIG
gun assembly.
13. Align the wire with the correct groove in the drive roll.
14. Fix the drive tension arm in place over the drive roll.
15. Tighten the drive tension adjusting knob until the tension roller applies enough force on the
wire to prevent it from slipping in the drive roll.
16. Plug in and turn the welder ON. Set the voltage switch to the voltage setting recommended for
the gauge of the work piece. Refer to the set up chart inside the wire drive compartment.
17. Set the wire feed speed control
handle to feed the wire through the torch assembly
18. Turn the power switch to the OFF position. Select a contact tip having the diameter same as
the wire being used
Note: Due to inherent variances in flux-cored welding wire, it is necessary to use a contact tip larger
than the wire.
19. Slide the contact tip over the wire, thread the contact tip into the end of the gun and tighten
securely.
20. Install the nozzle on the gun assembly, and use anti-spatter spray or gel to keep the spatter
from sticking to the inside of the nozzle.
21. Cut off the excess wire that extends past the nozzle leaving 1/4" of the wire to stick out.
22. Turn ON the power switch.
.
Straighten the MIG gun cable and pull the trigger in the gun
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MIG 180 INVERTER WELDER 058-9306-4
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