250 EX 5th breakdown

[notawelder]

Thought i would jump on here to try and encourage a response from Everlast about our 5th time broken down 250ex. It is not a year old and has an issue every time we need it. I have performed repairs as guided by tech support but the problems come back, telling me the bad chips are a symptom not the problem.
I am pretty sure we just got a rare green lemon and would appreciate any info to help expedite the process of having it replaced under warranty. I can not continue to spend our time and money repairing what seems to be a bad machine.

[revkev6]

just so we know, what are the symptoms you are getting??

[zoama]

What repairs have you made to this welder so far ?

[67cudafb]

I don't have a dog in this fight and understand your frustion with welder but a little more info would go along way. I have been researching online to buy a tig machine and like you I do not have any tig training. If you could give me more info about machine, tech support and what problems you have. Did you have someone who is a welder check machine. I am not trying to put blame on anybody just want to get a feel for what is best machine for a noob to buy. Thanks for a info.

[dgarnier]

not sure if I have the same problem as the OP, but a few weeks back my 250ex would only give me the HF arc with the foot control. Then talked to Ray and he had me try the torch switch and and seemed to get the arc going but he said to stop using it, and he knew what the problem was. They sent me out a new 4043 chip, and I put in and it did fish the display read out, but now i am back to only the HF arc even with the torch switch. So I have another call into support, I am not to thrilled with the machine not working but the support guys have been helpful in trying to get the machine back up an running

[notawelder]

first problem turned out to be arc gap, cleaned, set and back in business. second time around was the 4043 chip, display jumps to 400 something amps. chip replaced back in business for a week. same fault, new chip again, no fix. ray gave me the run down on moving some wires around and another 4043, back in business. About a month later another job comes up, same breakdown. Replaced chip again (outta pocket) no dice. talk to ray, suggests another chip (op-amp) as well as adding a ceramic cap for filtering and re-wrapping a coil that reduces HF feedback. performed repair, blows out again in the first day. The machine works half decent without foot control but still takes little fits.

I have decided that i have spent enough time and money on what appears to be a lemon (messed up since new, not even a year old), and now feel like i am getting the run around on a replacement unit.

Went to local weld shop and ordered a Lincoln to match the other shop equipment but am not going to give up on the everlast as a back up.

[67cudafb]

I can see your frustration and will be curious to see what everlast will do about it. Which lincoln did you buy? I am still on the fence about which tig too buy there seems to be lemons in all brands everlast,miller,lincoln and essb. My worry is the time it takes to get them fixed if and when it breaks.

[dgarnier]

Mike had me also count the wraps on the choke and I already had 10 on mine so we left that alone. I had the option to send it in or Mike could send the chip. This time I am going to send the machine in for service.

[notawelder]

I went with the Lincoln Precision Tig 225. More old school but got some good local testimonials. I just need a machine that works.

My Choke was only wrapped 9 times and i got 11 or 12 onto it. I think i might like to talk to Mike. I am just getting bounced back and forth between people as if no one can authorize an RMA #.

[dgarnier]

Ray got me the RMA number last time, but then I was passed over to Mike to try and get me going and not have to ship the machine back.

[performance]

I forwarded the info to Oleg so he would see this. He is away from his computer and is on his i phone now. But he is aware, of the problem and has agreed to swap units as soon as they come in, in a couple of days since they are now in port. You'll need to send it in and work the details out with him during working hours though.

[notawelder]

Thanks Mark, I will give you a call to get Oleg's Contact Info

[revkev6]

from the sounds of things, everyone is pretty busy trying to get the latest shipments in so they can be shipped out. Hope you get a quick turn around on your machine notawelder!

[Oleg]

Hello Guys ..

as all of you know that FEB/MARCH batch of welders had a problem with 4053 chip
we updated around 300 welders and around 40-50 units still out with costumers. They are aware of problem but there units working fine for now. Anyone with that problem from that batch will not need to pay shipping to us, will take care of it.



notawelder - please call me tomorrow and i will take care of you

[revkev6]

that's the kind of service I like to hear from a vendor!

makes me feel better when you hear that a known problem gets even better support than expected! Too often a defect gets treated just like a normal/random failure by companies

[redbeard]

that's the kind of service I like to hear from a vendor!

makes me feel better when you hear that a known problem gets even better support than expected! Too often a defect gets treated just like a normal/random failure by companies

Ditto that, makes me glad I chose Everlast.

[67cudafb]

Wow I must say I very impressed to see everlast does stand behind there products.

[revkev6]

Just wondering, what's the turn around time on a RMA like this??

[notawelder]

so far a little over a month

[Oleg]

notawelder
please contact me for exchange, today will be hard to get me BUT please leave a VM