Symptom-first troubleshooting

Burnback Troubleshooting

Troubleshoot wire burning back into the contact tip using tip size, liner drag, drive roll, diffuser, and setup checks.

Most Common Causes

  • Contact tip size mismatch, wear, or spatter restriction
  • Wire feed drag from liner or gun cable condition
  • Drive roll slippage or pressure mismatch
  • Voltage, wire speed, stickout, or technique issue

Beginner Explanation

What this means in plain English

Burnback happens when the wire melts back into the contact tip. The first checks are contact tip size/condition, liner drag, drive roll setup, and wire speed.

Machine and Equipment Pages to Check

Related Support Pages

Long-Tail Search Phrases Covered

MIG wire burns back into tipcontact tip sticking causesburnback contact tip liner drive roll

MIG Quick Shop Tip

Shop tip: check drive-roll tension, liner condition, and contact-tip size before replacing the whole gun. Many feed problems start with setup or a wear item.

Quick Support Links

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Need More Help?Troubleshooting, blog guides, and deeper diagnostics

What does this part do?

A contact tip guides the MIG wire and carries welding current into the wire. If it wears, burns back, or does not match the wire size, feeding and arc stability can get worse fast.