I bought an argon flowmeter from harbor frieght.



When I open the valve on the tank, and turn the **** on the flowmeter nothing happens with the meter (left gage in the pic). It doesn't read cylinder pressure.

After I turn on the welder, it moves a bit. But the odd think the indicator starts at the high number and moves counter clockwise, relative to the picture. I haven't seen it below 20 cfm. If I keep turning the **** on the meter, counter clockwise (what I think is open), nothing happens. And if I turn clockwise, the indicator moves to a higher number.

Can someone help? My intuition may be off on this. I would think if I turn counter clockwise, I would be opening the valve more, allowing more flow? Can someone explain?

Thanks.

BTW: I'm using a harbor frieght tig/arc welder. If that has any relevance.

 

The valve on the tank is opened by turning it counter clockwise. The valves on regulators turn clockwise to open. Confusing I know. :-P Kind of like how some natural gas fittings are left hand thread. Make sure you've got argon in the tank, and then start the eleventybilionth 'grade my welds thread' to keep us entertained as we wait in our lawyers WiFi offices, at work, or w/e :-P
Have fun.

 

turn up the flow/pressure: clockwise.
shut off: counter clockwise

 

Can you guys recommend a procedure?

Let me get this right...

Open the vavle on the tank. (how many turns? or does it even matter?)

The flowmeter is closed when I turn the **** all the way clockwise. Is that correct? B/c if I turn it all the way ccw, the **** falls off.

It is confusing. I think I keep blowing my arc out b/c of it. There is also a flux gas valve in the torch.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by scartail &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

The flowmeter is closed when I turn the **** all the way clockwise. Is that correct? B/c if I turn it all the way ccw, the **** falls off.
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The other way So when it wants to fall out the valve is closed but when you turn it in it opens...think like a fuel pressure regulator, if you've ever used one of those

 

for the tank. i usual open it full blast.

for the flowmeter/regulator, feel for some resistance with the ****...

when you turn it far enough counter-clockwise(left). it should feel easy to spin. at that point, it should be completely close, dont need to remove the ****.


Modified by Lam.N at 2:30 AM 5/7/2006

 

When am I supposed to see change in the meter? Is it only when I'm welding?

 

ok.

the gauge on the right shows the tank psi.
the gauge on the left shows you flow/psi rate.

the more you turn right/clockwise...... the higher the needle/pressure will go,
stop at your desired pressure/flow setting.

the meter will never change... probaly a very slight needle movement when you start welding. but thats it!

just turn that **** and set the needle at 20cfm.

remeber if you turn that **** sky high. that needle wont go down when you turn it back down. you will have to releave some pressure in that line so it can be adjust again.

to do that is simple. tap the tig pedal real fast so it can pre-flow. and re-adjust the meter.

good luck.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Lam.N &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ok.

the meter will never change... probaly a very slight needle movement when you start welding. but thats it!

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This one hit it. I had the mete seting too high.

Thanks alot everyone...

Now, that I used 1/2 of my tank not know my meter, I have more practice to get in.