KP1697-068 - Lincoln Electric V-Knurled Drive Roll Kit for .068-.072 Wire

Technical Overview of the Lincoln Electric KP1697-068

The Lincoln Electric KP1697-068 is a precision-engineered Drive Roll and Wire Guide Kit designed to facilitate the reliable feeding of welding wires with diameters ranging from .068 inches (1.7 mm) to .072 inches (1.8 mm). This kit is an essential component for maintaining the operational efficiency of Lincoln Electric wire feeders, specifically those utilizing a 2-roll drive system. The primary application for this kit involves the feeding of cored wires (flux-cored or metal-cored) as well as certain solid wires where positive traction is critical.

The drive rolls feature a V-Knurled groove geometry. Unlike smooth V-grooves used for hard solid wires or U-grooves used for soft aluminum, the V-Knurled surface provides small teeth that grip the wire. This is particularly advantageous for flux-cored wires, which are tubular and can be deformed by excessive pressure from smooth rolls. The knurling ensures consistent wire feed speed without requiring high tension settings that could crush the wire or strain the feed motor. This kit is manufactured to strict OEM tolerances, ensuring perfect alignment with the wire path of compatible feeders.

Included in the kit is a specialized split wire guide. This component is critical for bridging the gap between the drive rolls and the gun receiver bushing. By supporting the wire as it leaves the rolls, the split guide minimizes the unsupported length of the wire, thereby drastically reducing the probability of "bird nesting"—a common failure mode where the wire buckles and tangles inside the feeder. This feature is essential for industrial environments where equipment downtime must be minimized.

The KP1697-068 is explicitly compatible with the Lincoln Electric LN-25 family of suitcase feeders, including the standard LN-25, LN-25X, and LN-25 PRO, as well as the Active8X portable wire feeder. These feeders are often used in field construction and heavy fabrication, making the durability and reliability of the drive system paramount. The kit contains two drive rolls and one inner wire guide, providing a complete replacement solution for the drive mechanism's wear parts.