HELP! My oxycon keeps red-lighting

[GlassOcean]

Bugger bugger bugger bugger bugger 

I desparately need to make some beads today, my first day at the torch in yonks (well since the neon nippled goddess incident!) no kids around and I haven't even bothered to get out of my PJs (my studio is in my house!) and my flaming oxycon only stays on for 3 minutes (timed it after the 8th blimmin time!) before the red light comes on and it turns itself off.

I have checked and done the following:

• It is not overheating
• it has plenty of room around it to take air in and dish it out
• my studio is warm (not hot) and dry
• the connections are all ok
• replaced the 9volt battery inside the side flap bit
• hoovered the cardboard and plastic inside filter
• washed and dried the foamy outside filters

Ever since I got it it has ran on orange but I asked on here and that is not a major deal as it is not for medical use, now it starts on green so I think excellent I'll get in quick and make a bead, then it shudders and goes off.

I don't know about you lovelies, but I struggle to make anything but spacers in 3 minutes!!! 

I am at the end of my tether  I have ruined so much glass after it getting all sooty and cruddy from the oxy going off that I think I might just give up!  Sorry for myself much!!!!

Bugger bugger bugger bugger bugger 

[Lyn G]

Oh Kerensa.....that doesn't sound very good! 

My first oxycon did exactly the same thing.  I was told to drop it from a height of about six inches a few times which sometimes works....but it didn't make any difference in my case.  In the end Martin exchanged it as I hadn't had it very long. 

It's very frustrating when things don't work.  How long have you had it?

[Redhotsal]

Mine's doing the same thing today too - thought it had over heated but but it doesn't look as if it had. If I find out the cause I'll post on here.

[GlassOcean]

Lyn, I bought it second hand so don't know where it originally came from, I am just waiting for a mail from the lovely I bought it from.

Sal, thanks lovely, it would be great if you would! 

I don't know what to try next!

[Jeanniegems]

Mine had a spell at that. I looked it over and found that the nut had worked loose on the front hose, re- tightened it and it's been ok since (touch wood)
Jeannie

[Pat from Canvey]

Is the plug connection loose perhaps, at one point the plug on mine wobbled as I must have tripped over the lead. Pushed it back fully and it was OK.

[Redhotsal]

Yes Pat, checked that one on mine first - it's usually a good quick fix. Sadly not though - I think I have a leak inside - fixed the leak at first but I think the pipe in question may  have blown off after we closed it back up. We'll sort it tomorrow.

[GlassOcean]

Ooo lordy, do I have to open it up?  Any idea where the screws are, I looked today but couldn't find them!  Mine is a Companion 590i.

[Redhotsal]

Not sure about the name but if it's the old style "squarish" one you'll have to flip it onto its side and locate the screw at the bottom. It's a long screw that runs across the unit. You can then open it up like a book. Not sure about the newer "tetrapak" shaped ones, however.

Inside there will be lots of silicon pipes. It's worth checking them to see if there's an obvious leak. Be careful though, as as these units get old the connectors become very brittle. You also get a lot of broken down foam from the sound proofing. It might be worth cleaning up the loose bits as general maintenance if you are delving in there.

The other obvious problem is that the fan can work itself loose. If the problem is such that the unit works for a while and then cuts out logical kind of suggests that as the fan gets hotter it works itself loose. If the fan stops working for any reason the unit will shut itself down, so it's worth checking the fan connections.
If you're going to operate it while it's open just make sure you don't touch any bits which you shouldn't!

[Pat from Canvey]

Thanks for that info Sal, very useful.

[GlassOcean]

Right, wish me luck, I'm going in!!!

[Jolene]

Good luck x

[Karen]

hows it going?

[ejralph]

my oxycon did a lot of that sort of behaviour before I brought it inside. Now I run it inside and run a hose down to the shed, the oxycons chug away on green light all day. They are much happier beasts inside the house I have found,

Good luck and hope you get it sorted out

Emma

[GlassOcean]

Right, I opened it up and hoovered it out, couldn't see any loose pipes or loose fans or anything, I have turned it on and opened my torch and just left it running for about 25 minutes so far and *touch wood* it is OK! 

Thanks for all your help lovely lot.