PP50 wont make second cut with out first turning machine off and on

I have a PP50 that is about two years old. For the first year I only had the occasional need for it and did not use it much when the problem began, I just lived with it. Now I am using it almost everyday and would like to fix it. When I turn the machine on and make a cut, it will continue to blow air after I release the trigger. When I try to make a second cut, it will not strike an arc. I have to manually turn the switch off the machine and back on to make a second cut or to get the air to stop coming out of the nozzle. Everything works fine otherwise.

how much is your inlet air pressure from air compressor

What is your postflow set to? And make sure the switch is set to timed flow. You might want to flip the switch a few times and run the postflow control back and forth a few times to clean the contacts.

Your solenoid is sticking. There could be moisture in your air and it could have corroded the solenoid or spring. Do you have an air dryer installed inline? (Not the water trap supplied with the unit). You can probably resolve this by disassembling your solenoid, and cleaning it out. Also, a slight stretch on the spring may help. Just a few thousands added to the length is all that is needed. Don't over do it.

my older plasma was doing that took it and cleaned solenoid valve and lubed with some marvel mystery oil works fine since cleaning and lubing it = new it was sticking cause when it would not turn off i would lightly smacked the plasma cutter and it would stop blowing air and work ok now after cleaning valve

If it was just a sticking solenoid, I don't see how power cycling would correct it. I could see removing the airline or smacking it like Rod did, but if you turn off the power and the air stops, by definition the solenoid is functioning. Something is keeping it energized. Granted there is the possibility that shutting off the main power is shaking the machine enough to free a stuck solenoid, but that seems doubtful.

It will though. Never figured it out, unless there is a slight back flow of power that creates residual magnetism or something like that. It will correct it by shutting it off usually if the spring or solenoid is the problem. As far as it goes, we have corrected the problem almost always by cleaning the solenoid or stretching the spring.

residual magnetism is what i thought also cleaning it fixed mine

Thanks for the replies. Sticking solenoid does seem possible! I will try to clean it and see what happens.

I haven't had the cover off the machine yet so first what does the solenoid look like or how do I locate it inside the machine?

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Originally Posted by xtreme cartz

I haven't had the cover off the machine yet so first what does the solenoid look like or how do I locate it inside the machine?

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I'm guessing but probably follow the gas line into the enclosure. Might be obvious at that point.

Power the unit off and unplug it. The unit comes apart from the rear if it has plastic bezels.

It will be at the rear where the air fitting plug is, in most cases, but on the inside inline with the air line. It's a square parts with a rounded top part (couple wires going to it to turn it on and off). 4 screws to open it if the more current one we use. The spring is more likely the issue. Give it a light stretch, no more, like Mark said.

I took the black cap with 4 screws off the solenoid and stretched the small spring inside. It was really clean in there I was expecting gunk build up. Put it all back together and hooked it to the compressor. Somehow I managed to make it worse because air immediately started spewing out of where the two red wires go into the black cap on the solenoid. Is there supposed to be a gasket I didnt see drop?


Rambozo, Post flow is set to 0 and it is in timed flow position.

I found the O ring and reinstalled it. Started up the machine and made some cuts. Works like brand new! This truly feels like a miracle.

Yeah, those left over parts are killers. :)
IF the solenoid starts to give serious problems give us a call and we can get another shipped out to you under the warranty agreement.

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Originally Posted by performance

Yeah, those left over parts are killers. :)
IF the solenoid starts to give serious problems give us a call and we can get another shipped out to you under the warranty agreement.

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Can not tell you how many swirl ring calls where like that too :D

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Originally Posted by everlastsupport

Can not tell you how many swirl ring calls where like that too :D

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Good to see everything work out. This kind of support sure does beat having to send a unit in using the "package tosser" couriers, waiting for a repair and then risking another trip by "package tosser" back .... LOL

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Originally Posted by undercut

Good to see everything work out. This kind of support sure does beat having to send a unit in using the "package tosser" couriers, waiting for a repair and then risking another trip by "package tosser" back .... LOL

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Absolutely! I am very impressed by this support forum. Wish I had fixed it over a year ago didnt know it would be that easy! Glad to have an everlast plasma cutter. Its a great unit.


And yeah I too have lost the swirl ring before and wondered why it wouldnt cut! Lol All in the learning process.

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Originally Posted by Rodsmachineshop

my older plasma was doing that took it and cleaned solenoid valve and lubed with some marvel mystery oil works fine since cleaning and lubing it = new it was sticking cause when it would not turn off i would lightly smacked the plasma cutter and it would stop blowing air and work ok now after cleaning valve

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Boy, that sounds like the old technacal trick we used to do with our tv's and radio's . I might try that myself, LOL

Where is the solenoid valve and what does it look like? Mickey

It's in the machine in line with the air inlet and looks like a solenoid (how do you describe a solenoid? you know it when you see it sort of thing..)....with wires going to it...

Inline at the back of the machine is most welders. And a hose in (from the back of the machine) and hose out and wires going to it. Like Mark said you will know it when you see it. The TIG ones have a around top square base and 4 corner screws.

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Originally Posted by trickbiker

Where is the solenoid valve and what does it look like? Mickey

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Follow the hose, it always knows. ;)

Thanks Mike, I have been agravatingly useing it all day today but I want to open it up tomorrow and check out what sas been described to me. "Will get back when either I've brocken it worse or fixed it. Thanks Mickey

Ok, found a picture of "a" solenoid from a proto model I had we never introduced. Looks similar...not exactly though and it is on the other side IF I remember right or it hasn't been changed.

Thank you so much. Working on it in a few minutes

Here is the actual solenoid you will be looking for.
Cheers

I just came in from opening it up adn pulling the solenoid out. I streght the spring and cleaned the slyd. Then I put some molitheum grease on it and then wiped it off leaveing a slight filml. Put it back together and, nada, did the same thing, all air and not flame untill I turn the unit off. ?

Grease is too heavy...way too heavy...Even a light film. It will make it stick for sure.
How much post flow time are you using?

Mark I'm using no post time. A lot times if I unscrew the head pieces the air will quit. But normally I have to turn the machine off and on again. I can't cut expanded metal anymore.

The pilot arc isn't relighting? Can you have someone help you and see if the hear or feel a click when you let go of the switch? Just feel of the case or listen closely. If you do, that is the relay that is controlling the solenoid..and should be working...then its an issue with the solenoid. If you can't hear it,it doesn't mean it isn't working, but that it just may be a soft release. I think you'll be able to hear it if you listen closely. Its on the top board, a black or gray little box. You can call in and talk with Ray at ext 207 if you need to. And he can go through some things with you.

Thanks, I'll have it apart when I call him. Thats right, after the cut the pilot arc will not come on untill the air stops either by me unscrewing the tip or shutting the machine off.The top board is not secured real good. When I took the cover off I saw it moveing a lot and one stand off was not attached. Thanks again. Mickey

Mickey, before you open it, unscrew the torch (or torch control depending on model) but leave it plugged in, fire the torch and let off. While the air is stuck on, unplug the torch/torch control and see if the air flow stops. I had a loose wire in the torch do that once.

But sounds like solenoid or relay.

And grease is too thick for it.

Thanks Mike and other contributers BUT, must have scared it because after pulling the selinod out and cleaning it with no change, the next day with the idea you gave of Calling Alex it starting working without any hesitation. Thanks again for all the replys, it was really bugging me.