Checking exciter

I have an older Hobart gen. welder. The brushes were bad and I put in a new set. It won't weld. I get about 3 volts at the lead and there is a very small amount of arcing when I try to strike an arc. I think the exciter is the problem. Any thoughts about checking the exciter?

Thanks Randy

[Marlin K]

I had an old generator with brushes and when it would sit around too long I would have to clean the part where the brushes run on to make it work. I would have it running and use sandpaper and hold it in place with a wooden stick to prevent sparks and that way it would get cleaned and would start to work. Sitting around and not being used is the worst thing for stuff like this.

[John Tozzi]

You might have to "flash" it to bring back the residual magnitisim, or what ever the tech term is. On the old Lincolns they tell you how to do it in the manual. Basicaly apply power to the brushes for a few seconds and good as new.

[Martin Draper]

https://www.hobartwelders.com/owners...oldmanuals.php