plasma cutter help

[logicaluk]

Last night i was browsing ebay and found a spares or repair plasma cutter not to far away for cheap so put in a bid an awoke this morning to find i was it's new owner, its a sealey mighty rocket 250 air electric plasma cutter, pilot arc.





Not knowing much about plasma cutters when i got it back on the healing bench it powered up and leaked air but wouldent do anything else after fixing the air leaks i realised the "devil horns" on top of the torch weren't making contact with the shroud.
After a tweek it did make contact and buzzed in to life, but inside the torch head with out going near the earth clamp but it wasnt flowing any air, there was no power to the solenoid ive jumped a wire off the contactor to the solenoid and now we have air too. Not sure if it was the right thing to do but its easly undone.

I do know it needs a new torch and lead set as the original is cracked I'm gessing sealey wont support a 30 year old machine but ill call them in morning, what size and type of torch do i need? any tips suggestions or info will be greatley recived
Many thanks
Dan

[skkylinedave]

Google your local welding spares place . They sometimes have strange odd man working there who can mend these things with bits and bobs.

[logicaluk]

Some times you have to play the long game, the afore mentioned plasma cutter has been sat in the darkest corner of the workshop since none of the local repair shops would look at it, totally ignored for what looks to have been more than 3 years, it got moved when I started building the new workshop but until I tripped over it last week I hadn't thought about it, a quick look on evil bay and a pleasant surprise, to find out they had now come down to the very affordable price of £25 with a 10ft lead, and they even offered a further £10 off any spend over £15 so a spare torch and consumables for £6 it was.

20200115_170915 by logicaluk, on Flickr

Fingers crossed for the weekend.

[logicaluk]

OK turns out it's the wrong one, a pilot arc torch needs: Air, 2x switch connections and the earth wire. This one is missing the earth connection.
I've contacted the eBay seller, and they are most sorry the warehouse sent out the wrong item, would I like a refund or replacement. I've asked for photos of what they are going to send me.
More to follow
Dan

[aland75]

I have a (younger) pilot arc plasma cutter, which I assume works in the same way.
Likely a new torch will sort yours, but if I can help, let me know.

[logicaluk]

Thanks Alan

[Deleted]

What a thread revival that was!
Do keep us updated.
A plasma cutter is kinda on my tool wish list but frankly it would be an expensive ornament mostly.

[logicaluk]

I finally got it connected up, the air feed connection from the machine to the torch hose needed an adaptor making, but the rest was simple enough.

I turned it on and it works...... nope it looks like it works but doesn't cut, just makes dimples in the metal.

20200205_173148 by logicaluk, on Flickr.

I have no idea what's up I'm off to have a Google.
Any help greatly appreciated.
Dan

[logicaluk]

some pics of the inside

20200412_145431 by logicaluk, on Flickr

20200412_145435 by logicaluk, on Flickr

20200412_145441 by logicaluk, on Flickr

20200412_145446 by logicaluk, on Flickr

[ferny]

The brand new one I bought did that just before it decided to do nothing. I'm in the process of getting it replaced!

[at200]

I would bob over to the MigWelding forum. A few of the guys over there use them and might be able to help. Probably best posting in the Tools sub forum.

www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/

[dodgerover]

First step blow out all the dust and clean up every connection you can find