My Lincoln Mig doesn't give me a hot enough spark to melt the metal. Any ideas on what may be the problem. I am using .030 wire.

MIG welding is also called Metal inert gas welding, gas metal arc (GMAW) welding. MIG welding uses an arc of electricity that creates a short circuit amidst a constant anode and a cathode. The short circuit produces heat and a non-reactive gas. This melts metal, enabling it to be mixed together. After the heat is removed, the metal cools down and then solidifies, creating new fused metal. MIG wire is used in MIG welding. Tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding utilizes a non-consumable tungsten electrode that produces the electric arc for the weld. Unlike MIG welding, TIG welding does not require additional metal to be added.

Usually caused by a loose, burnt, or corroded connection. Check and clean all connections you can find and see.

Try switching the a,b,c,d back and forth a couple of times a corrosion builds up and causes a week contact so there isn't enough voltage to work . This has happened to me a couple of times . The first time the fan was running and I had no wire feed action and then a local repair guy told me that corrosion is very common with the portable Lincolns . You shouldn't even have to take it apart to clean it just switch it back and fourth and that does the trick. Good luck.

What model of suitcase? Could be the contactor in the suitcase, could be the mig gun. Are you using the CV setting on the Bobcat, instead of CC? Is the Bobcat on the high CV setting and the dial most of the way?

Hi:
Sounds like you have the wrong polarity in your machine. If you are using flux core wire, make sure to connect your ground clamp to the positive side and your gun to the negative side. Dial the right voltage and wire speed according to wire size and metal thickness.Let me know if this help.
Regards,D.S.

Hi:

You should only reverse polarity only if, before you were using innershield wire on the same MIG welder.
Your gun should be connected to + and ground to negative and you should use a spool gun for it.

Argon gas is ok, but for thick metals 1/4" and above you should use a mix of 75/25 argon/helium.

Good luck!

try 75 25 argon helium gas or straight helium helium makes metal melt hotter

Your diode is shot, the best place to find a new one is from miller welding, (same as Hobart now ) it will cost you around 65.00

May be a bad connection to your transformer where the positive lead hooks or a burnt up diode .

Your liner is grounding some place make shure the tip is not touching any thing but the answer to your question is there is a direct short in your feed hose or tip or liner