Made an element and soldering tip for my Weller WPS18MP soldering iron. Used #31 insulated nichrome element wire, 8 1/2″ long, crimped each end attaching Teflon coated-PTFE wire. The nichrome wire was wrapped around a threaded brass screw, connected/soldered other ends of Teflon coated wire to the old pin connector (reused). Inserted the element into a SS housing I turned on my lathe, same style as old tip just longer. Please view my other video on how to build 3d printer bed elements here, same procedure, the soldering tips are just smaller, did not glue element in place either.
Just finished building another tip for my second iron, works even better than the first. Think I’ll redo the first one to match the second tip. Heats up much faster than the first cause I used a SS thin wall tubing instead of making another tip housing on my lathe, less area to heat, it also stay’s cool where the tip plugs into the iron, less labor to build it as well. So three problems solved and they will last a very long time.
I used Kapton tape (in this video) on the bare nichrome wire just for an example or illustration, therefor saving the new insulated nichrome wire I have. The thread size on the copper tips I stated was 1/4″ x 20, need to correct that, it is actually 1/4″ x 28.
One other item I need to mention as to why I used the SS thin wall tubing for the element housing. It has a very low coefficient of heat transfer (does not transfer heat well). The brass screw I wrapped the element wire around does transfer heat well, so therefor keeps the heat where you want it at the tip & for the most part, heat will not transfer down the SS tube where you really don’t want it to travel. This is also why I made the SS tube longer & why I used thin wall tubing.
Kapton tape: 1/4″ x 36 YDS for $5.00
https://www.kaptontape.com/1_Mil_Kapton_Tapes.php
Insulated Ni-chrome wire: 5′ for $3.50
https://ultimachine.com/content/31-awg-nichrome-wire-0
Connectors female: Pack of 100 for $3.00
https://ultimachine.com/content/01-gold-female-connector-pack-100
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**Always follow the instructions in your repair manual when doing repair or maintenance work on Outdoor Power Equipment. Manuals can be found at the manufacturers website.**
This Craftsman GT5000 Garden Tractor has a hydrostatic transmission with hand control. When the transmission is moved forward, and than put back into neutral it continues to creep forward. Fixing the problem involves adjusting the control arm by loosening a adjusting bolt which is located underneath the right fender and connected to the control arm. To get access to the adjustment bolt, remove the right rear tire. I was able to jack up the rear of the tractor and start it, so I could test the tractor while the rear of the tractor was off the ground. The adjustment requires very small movements until the right position is found. You will know when it is adjusted correctly when the tractor rear wheels do not turn with the transmission is put in neutral from forward and reverse position.