Clarke 205TE MIG Welder - Fitting MB25 Euro Torch Conversion Kit

**Now with Subtitles**
Fitting a Clarke 205TE MIG welder with a removable, MB25 Euro torch in place of the original fixed 'hobby' style torch.
The kit comprised the following:
Euro type connector with mounting base.
MB25 250A torch with 4-metre cable.
Various fixings, connectors and gas connection hose.
The Clarke 205TE already had a built-in gas solenoid, therefore, it was just a case of connecting the gas pipe from the solenoid valve to the Euro connector, connecting the main power feed and the wires from the torch trigger.
A small plinth was fabricated to allow the connector to sit at right angles to the wire feed, otherwise, the installation was fairly straight forward.
The removable Euro torch makes changing torches easier and allows different torches or even a spool gun to be fitted.
I bought the Clarke 205TE 16 years ago and it still works fine.
Clarke still produces this exact same model.

[@smilie120]

Thanks for the video! Super handy, looking at investing in a euro conversion for my Clarke 160, it’s only used for panel work but welding inside a car with a short torch lead is an absolute nightmare!

[@DougsShed]

The 4 metre long torch lead is very handy!

[@billforrest4205]

I stumbled on your video rather randomly, but it's led to me subscribing lol! I did the same conversion on the same welder about a month after I bought it. I wanted the flexibility of quick change euro torches, so I could extend the reach or use a shorter length depending on application. My approach to the angled face on the machine was to use threaded rod with nuts on as spacers to set the fitting on the vertical. To be fair I should have fabricated a wee box (keeps crap out) but I was in a hurry and couldn't be bothered! In any event it works splendidly, and In the 17 years I've owned it I've never had any faults develop. I'm just browsingthrough your oter video's now ; - )

[@DougsShed]

Hope you find some of my diverse topics useful.

[@alibro7512]

Great vid, thanks for sharing. I have a Clarke 160EN which has a dodgy torch and lead so have ordered a similar kit to try and sort it and your video has shown me what I need to do.

[@DougsShed]

Glad it helped

[@oldjcb]

Good job bloke

[@DougsShed]

Thanks!

[@garyyorke1080]

Thanks for sharing . Like yours mines the sealey 150 supermig but comes with the 2 mtr short torch , I've been considering this but mine doesnt have the gas valve built in so I'll get a kit with that included . Didn't think it would be too hard to convert over.

[@popapoco]

Excellent video you just saved me $500 dollars, that's what the shops wanted to charge me to do just what you did for your welder, already have the parts ordered so in 2 weeks il be fixin, my welder. thanks.

[@DougsShed]

Hope the conversion goes smoothly.

[@kenthetuner]

Worth watching to the end. Love the Red Squirrel.

[@DougsShed]

The Red Squirrels are becoming a bit more common here. But they still do not last long due to the busy road....

[@anthonybrown7959]

Brilliant. Fantastic work once again 👏. I will be using your video to help me sort out my mig.

[@DougsShed]

Glad it helped

[@anthonybrown7959]

@@DougsShed loved the process of making a diff from a mazda. Sure I will make one myself when the time is right. Currently working on a classic mini but I've never had the engine run. If it doesn't work I intend on putting a bike engine in to it. The diff will work perfectly. 😉👍

[@HobbyweldUk]

Great video! That'll give you a bit more versatility with that Euro connection fitted 👍

[@DougsShed]

Yes it does!

[@barrykilts4506]

I had thought about this for my 180 EN for a long time and recently decided against it but but looking at yours,I hope you’ll post all the relevant info.I wanted to get a new longer torch so maybe this will be a good idea if you say where you got it and the cost.I didn’t realize there was a complete kit,I figured it would be a piece by piece deal.might have to find it somewhere in the states but thanks it looks pretty straight forward

[@DougsShed]

Don't know any USA sources but eBay have listings from the UK.

[@petercrutchley7757]

Thanks for the video very informative . i have a Clarke 151te welder and i want to convert it . With hindsight any further advice ? . if possible i would like a conversation kit that fits straight on without the need to fabricate a plinth any ideas .Thanks again for taking the time to help others very much appreciated

[@DougsShed]

Hi Peter, the 151te looks like it has a flat front panel which should simplify the fitting of a Euro connector.

[@barrykilts4506]

I have a 180 EN and have thought about doing this but recently wondered if I should just skip it and use the money toward a new torch or something cause mine has treated me well and while it would be nice,what will it actually do for me?but a new torch,,,different story!!lol I decided to just keep on welding

[@DougsShed]

The original torch on my 205TE was not very good to start with.

[@alanloughlen7491]

Hi Doug Good video, I need to do the same to my Clark 196 Turbo. Where did you purchase your conversion kit from.

[@DougsShed]

ebay item 123749812826

[@colinsmith3938]

hi, I have the Clarke 151 and just fitted the euro torch does it matter which way round the blue and black wires go as the torch is not working now wire feed not working thanks good video.

[@DougsShed]

It should not matter which way round you connect the wires as these are just wires to the trigger switch. Unplug the connector and fit a temporary jumper wire to the wires from the machine and see if the motor runs when it is turned on. If the feed motor runs then the problem lies in the torch - either at the Euro connector or at the torch switch.

[@colinsmith3938]

@@DougsShed hi thanks for the reply will give it a go the morn

[@charlescarabott7692]

Iv got a helvilite 182 mig welder. The only thing i dont like about this welder is the fixed torch. Wonder if i can make the euro torch converion on it. It would be the perfect welder then.

[@DougsShed]

Hi Charles, The Helvilite 182 looks like a very small machine. The Euro torch is quite bulky and may be difficult to adapt to fit your machine. I am not sure if your machine has a solenoid gas valve for the shielding gas? Some of the gas/no-gas welders just have a simple valve built into the torch. In which case, you would need to use the alternative conversion kit which includes a gas solenoid valve which can be wired into your machine. Doug.

[@charlescarabott7692]

@@DougsShed yes it is small. Theres a video on youtube where the guy doing the conversion uses a soleniod valve. Ill look into it. Thanks for the reply

[@philrowlands28]

What’s the rolling chassis, Douglas?

[@DougsShed]

A project which has been on the go longer than your Sylva rebuild!

[@anthonybrown7959]

Hi Doug. Your welder?? Did your torch have the solenoid in the handle or is it inside your machine. My welder is about 25 years + old and has the solenoid in the handle and only 1 wire running back to the machine. Looks like I may need to buy a separate solenoid to get my welder working

[@DougsShed]

I presume that your torch had a manual gas valve fitted in the torch handle. A conversion kit including a gas solenoid valve is available www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MIG-EURO-TORCH-CONVERSION-KIT-including-MB25-4M-torch-and-gas-solenoid/113731621338

[@anthonybrown7959]

@@DougsShed cheers. I did see this after I had bout my kit. Sure I will be able to get a solenoid but unsure if it's 24v or 240v. I need to do some probing. Thanks for getting back and giving me some advice. 👍

[@mattmcgahan]

@@anthonybrown7959 Sounds similar to my machine. There is no solenoid in the torch, just a gas valve. When the trigger is activated this valve is depressed to let gas flow and an electrical connection is also made whereby the welding wire power, feeds the single wire. This wire goes back to a small circuit board that reduces the 35 or so volts to 12v for the wire feed motor. The board also when energised, closes a relay to complete the 240v contactor circuit. Now that there is 2 trigger wires, one has to go to the weld feed cable coming from the rectifier and the other to the spade terminal the old single wire went to on the board. Taking 12v from this board to activate a 12v gas solenoid would not be a good idea as it varies the voltage when using the potentiometer knob to adjust wire feed speed. A 240v solenoid wired to the contactor is best. So if like mine, the situation is. The contactor is live when the machine is switched on and activation of the board provides a neutral, so feed the valve from any handy live terminal and connect other wire to the board terminal for the contactor. You'll see from my description of wiring the trigger, that the torch is also live (35v) when the machine is on, and the contactor when engaged completes the circuit to the earth weld cable that will be clamped onto the job. Maybe not as straightforward as some conversions but it works.