Miller 225D Plus

[MudHog]

As I mentioned in my intro, I aquired a Bobcat 225D Plus from my office. It wasn't running and ended up being a stuck injector pump which in turn made the fuel rack itself stick too. Got it running last Tuesday and Sunday I plan to try and weld with it. Below are a couple questions I have about it.

1. How can I remove the fuel tank to try and clean it? Can it come out the bottom or a side so that I don't have to remove all the electrical items? If no, then I'll just run some clean diesel through it and keep a couple spare filters on standby.

2. I'm being told it wouldn't keep a battery. In the manual it says to check the voltage regulator. How can I check this?

3. I'm being told that when it was last being used here (upwards of 2-3 years ago) it would tack good with stick, but it wouldn't weld consistantly. Any thoughts on this?

4. I want to get a wire feeder for it. Local store quoted me a Suitcase X-Treme 12VS, but that is way out my price range, considering I got the machine for free, so is there an older wire feeder model that I can use that I can find a used one?

[DesertRider33]

On the wire feeder, look around for a used Lincoln LN25 or Hobart Hefty or Miller Suitcase VS. My first Suitcase 8VS I bought used in great condition for $500. Found it on Craigs List.

[DSW]

I have an old Miller Super S-32P that is a VS type feeder. I picked it up used for about what DR got his for, from a place that refurb'd it.

[MudHog]

We have an SP model, I think its an SP-32P as well, in our shop and I'm wondering if I can use one of those on this machine. I know I can find those at a decent price.

[DesertRider33]

You can use any volt-sensing non-remote feeder on your Bobcat. Don't buy any feeders that have a 14-pin remote control cable and you'll be fine.

[Xtreme Fabrication]

Don't waste your time with the wire feeder for your 225 bobcat. I have an extreme 12vs and my old 225 would not run the feeder. The older 225 do not make enough CV power to run a 12vs, unless you run .023 wire.

[DesertRider33]

My buddy has a late 90's Bobcat 225NT and runs fluxcore .045 with it in a 12VS no problems.

[MudHog]

Struck an arc with the Bobcat yesterday. Burnt one rod of LH just welding on some angle. Would weld a little and stop and the engine would idle down. Arc again and it would speed up. Seems to weld pretty good for not being used in almost 2 or 3 years.

Going to hook the leads to my dad's SP-32P and see how the bobcat handles it. If it does good, then I'll just find a used one somewhere instead of getting the X-treme that is way out of my price range.