How to Flush a Coolmate 4

[strobro32]

Hi All,

I'm new here. Looks like a neat place. I really like the art section as I weld artsy stuff.

I just got a new/USED 2003 Miller Syncrowave 250 TIG with a Coolmate 4. Problem is that it was sitting for a few yrs, unsused, in the garage of the friend I bought it from. The torch hoses had a few splits in all 3 torch hoses and most of the coolant leaked out. The one gal left, has a considerable amount of algae. I flushed the strainer but am unsure how to flush the Coolmate4 tank and hoses.

Any body know how to do this?

Thanks for your help,

Matt

[oldgoaly]

Matt,
If you drain it an fill with new coolant you should be ok, there is a screen in the pump that needs cleaning. We took ours apart, put new hoses, cleaned the cooling coil, oiled the motor while it was it was out. There is a parts breakdown/owner's manual available online on the Miller site. I'm running 3 gallons of distilled water (a/c condensate) and a gallon of plain antifreeze, no stop leak or rust preventive. tt

coolmate4a1.jpg

[usmcpop]

Proceed with caution, but here's a related thread: http://www.millerwelds.com/resources...em-what-to-do&

[Roger]

Coolant leaks are really big problem because most water cooled TIG torch systems water cool not only torch but also torch leads so they can be smaller, lighter and more flexible. You might notice hot torch before it's damaged. Water cooled torch leads with out water can be damaged beyond repair before your aware of problem.

[LarryL]

Hi All,

I'm new here. Looks like a neat place. I really like the art section as I weld artsy stuff.

I just got a new/USED 2003 Miller Syncrowave 250 TIG with a Coolmate 4. Problem is that it was sitting for a few yrs, unsused, in the garage of the friend I bought it from. The torch hoses had a few splits in all 3 torch hoses and most of the coolant leaked out. . . Thanks for your help, Matt

Others have explained above how to flush out and replenish the coolant. I'd just like to comment on the splits in your hoses. Because all 3 hoses had splits, I'd venture to say that aging of the hoses, accelerated by factors like exposure to sunlight and perhaps exhaust fumes and smog, caused the splits. There's another more common cause of hose splits you should be aware of, however, that can lead to expensive repair bills. Since a secondary function of the cooling liquid is to cool the power cable (the inlet or outlet liquid flows through the jacket of the power cable), you must remember to turn on your Coolmate before you begin welding. Welding without coolant running through your power cable - caused by any reason - will cause a power cable to overheat and eventually split. A few of us, like me, have learned this lesson the hard way. If you don't want the frustration of not being able to weld in the middle of a job, then having to take the time to run down to your local welding supplier so that you can shell out $75 - $80 for a new power cable, and finally coming home to replace the cable, put a reminder to yourself near your welder's power switch: "Turn on cooler before welding!" The leaking coolant from a split hose is capable of shocking someone or short circuiting/corroding the innards of electrical equipment, like your welder, although I've never heard or read of any such incident like that. Enjoy your welding!