• Hello there guest and Welcome to The #1 Classic Mustang forum!
    To gain full access you must Register. Registration is free and it takes only a few moments to complete.
    Already a member? Login here then!

Hobart Plasma cutter help!?!?!

"SELLERSRODSHOP" said:
maybe there are still some "corn squeezins" left in that copper tube from when you had it on your still. i know how you do things up there in kentucky.
Click to expand...
shhhh, you'll blow my cover!
 
That yellow thing looks like a transformer. They rarely go bad as all they are is a coil of copper wire. I'd search online for a schematic and trace the power as it comes in. You want to also do a visual check, you'd be surprised how often the failed part burns up and is easy to spot. I'd be surprised if Hobart didn't have a fuse or breaker somewhere. Most likely, it's a fuse or the thermal overload.
 
Hobart walked me thru some tests. No fuse or thermal switch. They believe the mother board is fried. The cost is almost as much as a new one to replace. Out of warranty.
Now what would you guys do? I used it maybe 5 minutes and it's fried. it's about $1000 machine. Do I just tell my friend, so sorry or do I pony up and pay for a new one or part of a new one? I feel like crap. I'm never borrowing anything again!!! And I'm not buying a Hobart!
 
Take it out for a drive and toss it out of a moving truck. Take the parts to your insurance agent and see if it's covered.



J/K


That's a tuff one. You should always be expected to pay for breakage to someone elses stuff. That's why I don't drive anyone elses car at the track (at speed).

I'm guessing though that you couldn't have done the damage, it just crapped out on your watch. Your friend should understand that. Maybe help fix it and then you can continue to use it.
 
I'm sure he understands and I don't think he's mad. We share tools all the time. He has my cherry picker at his garage now. I'm rebuilding his 302 and I have cleaned-up and painted two rear axles for him. I have towed all his project cars to his house for him and of course he lets me borrow his trailer and on and on we could go. I just feel bad about the plasma cutter crapping out while I had it. I also don't have an extra $1000 to fix or replace it!
 
Tough call and tough situation to be in. That's why I hate borrowing anything. I treated borrowed items better than my own.
Bill
 
Get back with the company and see what they say about why it would have gone. Would it take time to go out or is it ....poof....and it is gone with no warning. Explain to them that you had just used it a bit and see what they say.
 
oh I did question why the motherboard would fail! They didn't have an explanation, just that from the analysis we did over the phone that's what they concluded had failed.
 
If it were me, I would offer to replace it. If I was on the other end, I would not accept any money from a friend. Most likely have a cold one and settle on a way to replace it......
 
"tarafied1" said:
oh I did question why the motherboard would fail! They didn't have an explanation, just that from the analysis we did over the phone that's what they concluded had failed.
Click to expand...
:craz I feel your pain. The neighbors picked up a near-new TIG that had issues for next to nothing. After much wire probing, butt scratching and calling Lincoln, "the motherboard is bad" and it was 'only' 800 bones. It did fix it, but that answer sounds awfully common/convenient for my tastes.

They did find a motherboard on the cheap ($350 or so IIRC) so you might want to do a little searching and see what you can find. Would be cheaper than a new one.
 
theres a really good place here in town that repairs welders & stuff. was fixing to haul pops lincoln in a couple weeks ago but it quit acting up. i'll track down the ph# if you want. them being independent, might be much cheaper on the repair. if you work something out, i can drop off & pick up for you.
 
Well that's some trouble shooting! That's like troubleshooting it down to a bad PLASMA CUTTER. Let's see, you've got a fan, a transformer, a compressor, and the mother board. I bet the tech doesn't know which one is which!

First, I'd tell your friend exactly what is going on, and maybe even show him this thread to back it up, since you've had it for about a month but it broke so long ago.

Then, I'd join some of the welding forums and see if you can find a repair center that would actually trouble shoot that board to the component level. I'd also look into a local repair center that could take a look. Don't take no for an answer, that baby can be fixed, and components are peanuts compared to the cost of the motherboard!

I had a BMW 735i once and the headlight went out, BMW wanted $400 to exchange the motherboard. I paid $175 for the electrical manuals, and traced it to a bad solder joint.
 
Thanks everyone. I have been telling him about it all along. He even came over and looked at it one night while I had the cover off. He came over tonight after I got home from the airport to give me some money for the parts I bought for his engine. I told him I was at a loss as to what to do but offered to take it to someone for a second opinion. He said he would take it to a shop and see what they say. So I will wait to find out and maybe offer to split the cost of repairs, he agreed if the motherboard is bad he could just buy another one. He said he knew where he could pick up a used one for $200 that didn't have the built-in compressor. He didn't seem to concerned about it. I still feel bad however.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top