I Bought a Broken Portable Welder – Can I Fix It? | Miller Bluestar 2E Part 1



I bought this Miller Bluestar 2E portable welder for $100. It doesn’t run or weld. Let’s see if we can fix it.

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28 thoughts on “I Bought a Broken Portable Welder – Can I Fix It? | Miller Bluestar 2E Part 1”

  1. 72 year old retired generator guy here – I used to have that exact welder about 1985 or so – the system you were trying to describe that gets the generator going is called the field flash circuit – be sure and read your book on how to adjust your ac voltage 132 is pretty high – try to not run too much above 124 or so – when you run that thing make sure and put a leash on it – that one lunger will walk right out of the back if your pickup if your not watching… good job. – I picked up a 400 amp Miller pipeliner the other day that would not weld – 15$ later and a new diode I was in business – if I was you I'd put some new main brushes in it and clean up the slip rings – that reostat is a common failure – also work that range switch back and forth – it has wiping contacts but they do need cleaned by working the switch..

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  2. My uncle bought 4 electric tomb stone welders which were all junk, Took 4 of us to load just 1 up into a truck, I stripped and scrapped the copper in them, we had to unload them in a spot for later, well, I had to drag them 1 by 1 into the garage with my truck so I can strip them, lawn tracker couldn't pull it, not enough grip, They had to weigh around 500lbs each. wasn't fun lol.

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  3. * I love it !! It's a lost art when it comes to diagnostics. I don't like parts changer's and I applaud you on your approach. Go visit an HVAC supply company or if you have to, go through a service shop and have them order the resistor. My brother is a service tech and I think I remember him mentioning resistor's like that.👍✌️

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  4. "Now that we've spilled gas everywhere, lets try and weld something" lol
    You've convinced me that I need an ultrasonic cleaner. You can get replacement carbs for that on eBay. Cheap Chinese carbs, but they work. Talk to Lincoln, if they don't have a part you need, they can point you towards someone who does.
    Excellent work figuring it out!

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  5. In all these decades, I NEVER THOUGHT that I'd see the EXACT same rheostat that I have.
    Yup, I have that exact one that I picked up in the late 70s. Supposedly it was out of an old X-Ray machine, but who knows.

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  6. Wes I used to work in steel mill in Chicago suburb, Lincoln 480 volt 3 phase motor gen setup like you got. Check your brushes & stone the commutator, with a stoneing tool such as, Ideal used to make, or some very fine sand paper. Check all your brushes. Hugh Mc. Chicago, metro.
    PS: correct you have to excite the field of generator.
    Stone your commutstor.check brushes for slip ring. And brushes for excitation, stone them.

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  7. I'm so glad you are able to make video's as well as you have been doing. I'm also glad that you use knee protection when kneeling on concrete. Trust me when I tell you that the concrete and knee kneeling will cause issues

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  8. You should have went to starter fluid before pulling the plug. After verifying that it runs then spray gas into the intake after starting with either. A minute running that way usually does it. If it doesn’t run good on it’s own after that, I’ll use that engineered gas which usually cleans up the carb. I only pull stuff apart when easy actions don’t work. I have been a mechanic for 60 years, I am too busy to make work for myself.

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