Refreshing your Lincoln AC-225 220V tombstone welder

Good day,

I recently purchased a Lincoln AC-225 welder for $40 (Minus leads of course). Before I plugged it in I decided to take it apart and clean it. I will show you how you can take your old welder and make it work like a new one.

These machines have been produced for many years, and chances are you own one, why not pass it on to your kids? 

I cannot state how easy this is to accomplish. Chances are if you own one of these welders you are more than proficient to dissemble its simple switch assembly and properly clean and lubricate it. In fact, the most difficult part in my opinion, is the tedium of removing the screws to access the internals. 

Please, do not be afraid to attempt this. 

You will need:

Tools to remove sheet metal screws, plus a phillips, and flat screwdrivers
5/16", 3/8", an 7/16" box end wrenches and sockets (One of each for each size)
Good quality grease. I used Mobile-1 Synthetic automotive grease
A Dremel tool with light abrasive polishing bit 

Step 1 Cut the breaker, unplug the welder, then start removing screws.

Unplug your welder. This is a life and death step. 220VAC is very dangerous-it is dangerous because it is high current, and it GRABS you when you come into contact with it. Higher voltages such as 30kV low current are actually less dangerous, because they will REPEL you. 

So make sure your tombstone welder is unplugged, because it's too early to have your own. Tombstone, that is. 

There are lots of screws. Mine had an amalgamation of flathead, phillips, and hex-head screws. I am not sure if they come from the factory like this. 

I did not take pictures of every step as far as screw removal goes. All I can tell you is to keep all of the screws in a container. 

The front specification plate must be removed. To do this, there are 4 screws in the front, but you must also remove the selection switch handle (White arrow). To do this, simply remove the flathead screw that is in the fat portion of it. (See green arrow)

Comments

[stantique]

I just bought one of these with the leads for $100. This instructional works! I revamped mine with following this page and no cash. It now runs like brand new! Thanks alot!

[tundrawolf]

Thank you very much. It makes my day to see you helped. Thanks again.

[ungubungu]

An excellent article on the tune up for Lincoln welders. Great pics and great script. I used dielectric grease meant for spark plug boots. Also it helps to pull out on the selector switch when making voltage changes.

[tundrawolf]

Thank you for the kind words.

[bilray]

Very useful info and good job, Thanks.

[tundrawolf]

My pleasure. Happy to be a help.

[bilray]

My welder was stuck on the 75 amp setting, thanks to your instuctable I took it apart and refreshed every contact in it.Works like new.Thanks again.

[tundrawolf]

I was very blessed by this comment. Thank you.

[rimar2000]

You did a very good deal!

[tundrawolf]

Thank you my friend! Muchos gracias mi Amigo!