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Posted by SteveB on March 15, 2008, 2:21 pm
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Another SA 200 welding machine came up yesterday. I am going to go look at
it today. If I can buy these locally, I can fix them up, and make some
decent cash. The guy said it runs and welds, but won't return to idle.
Sounds relatively minor to me. I think he'd take less than $500, too, and
it's on a trailer.
Just how much knowledge is needed to do this? I have singlehandedly taken a
327 Chevy motor out, changed freeze plugs, had the heads done, and put it
back in by myself. I can fix most anything, except carburetors and
automatic transmissions. I could learn them, but haven't so far.
I understand how engines work, and have the puzzle solving ability to take
stuff apart, figure out how it works, and how to fix it. Right now, I have
no reservations about digging into the one I just bought and either getting
it running or seeing why it won't. Gas engines are relatively simple. They
run or they don't. If they don't, there's a short list of things it can be.
Gas. Spark. Compression. Major component part failure. And a couple of
other things.
Just how complicated is this SA 200, and all its controls? They must be
pretty dependable and easy to work on to be such workhorses. The engine is
a simple flathead four banger. Radiator. Points operated spark system.
Battery with starter and voltage regulator. The other items on the welding
side I haven't fooled with a lot in my life, but think I could figure out.
As with anything else, buying electrical testers and hooking them up is
usually a RTFM thing, and the troubleshooting chart shortens with
experience.
Just how hard is this? I know after a time there would be tests to do when
considering buying one of these machines, and would develop a checklist. I
was just wanting to bounce it off you guys and see if I'm heading down a
peaceful creek or towards the waterfalls.
Steve
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Posted by Gunner Asch on March 15, 2008, 1:28 pm
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wrote:
>
>Just how complicated is this SA 200, and all its controls? They must be
>pretty dependable and easy to work on to be such workhorses. The engine is
>a simple flathead four banger. Radiator. Points operated spark system.
>Battery with starter and voltage regulator. The other items on the welding
>side I haven't fooled with a lot in my life, but think I could figure out.
>
>As with anything else, buying electrical testers and hooking them up is
>usually a RTFM thing, and the troubleshooting chart shortens with
>experience.
>
>Just how hard is this? I know after a time there would be tests to do when
>considering buying one of these machines, and would develop a checklist. I
>was just wanting to bounce it off you guys and see if I'm heading down a
>peaceful creek or towards the waterfalls.
>
>Steve
http://www.weldmartonline.com/pc-22-1-pierce-governor-for-continental-f-162-f-163-f-244-f-226-f-227.aspx
Maybe. Though it could simply be a sticky linkage or stuck float among
other similar easy things.
Gunner
"Pax Americana is a philosophy. Hardly an empire.
Making sure other people play nice and dont kill each other (and us)
off in job lots is hardly empire building, particularly when you give
them self determination under "play nice" rules.
Think of it as having your older brother knock the shit out of you
for torturing the cat." Gunner
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Posted by Maxwell on March 15, 2008, 4:09 pm
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> wrote:
>
>>
>>Just how complicated is this SA 200, and all its controls? They must be
>>pretty dependable and easy to work on to be such workhorses. The engine
>>is
>>a simple flathead four banger. Radiator. Points operated spark system.
>>Battery with starter and voltage regulator. The other items on the
>>welding
>>side I haven't fooled with a lot in my life, but think I could figure out.
>>
>>As with anything else, buying electrical testers and hooking them up is
>>usually a RTFM thing, and the troubleshooting chart shortens with
>>experience.
>>
>>Just how hard is this? I know after a time there would be tests to do
>>when
>>considering buying one of these machines, and would develop a checklist.
>>I
>>was just wanting to bounce it off you guys and see if I'm heading down a
>>peaceful creek or towards the waterfalls.
>>
>>Steve
>
>
http://www.weldmartonline.com/pc-22-1-pierce-governor-for-continental-f-162-f-163-f-244-f-226-f-227.aspx
>
> Maybe. Though it could simply be a sticky linkage or stuck float among
> other similar easy things.
>
> Gunner
>
>
It's probably built like my 7?s model. A very slow (adjustable) vacuum tap
slowly pulls down a vacuum chamber that pulls the carb back to idle. When
you strike an arc, a solenoid acts on a schrader valve that relieves the
vacuum in the diaphram, and returns control to a spring loaded governor,
that set the engine to high rpm. When you strike an arc, the solenoid
retreats closing the schrader valve, and the vacuum begins to build until
the carb is pulled back to idle. Adjusting the flow on the vacuum tap
controls the length of time the engine remains at high rpm after the welding
arc is broken.
If so, my guess is the diaphram is weathered and leaking, so the engine is
never pulled back to idle. Good luck. Sounds like one hell of a deal. I sold
my machine in 1992 for $4000.
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Posted by Maxwell on March 15, 2008, 4:16 pm
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>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>Just how complicated is this SA 200, and all its controls? They must be
>>>pretty dependable and easy to work on to be such workhorses. The engine
>>>is
>>>a simple flathead four banger. Radiator. Points operated spark system.
>>>Battery with starter and voltage regulator. The other items on the
>>>welding
>>>side I haven't fooled with a lot in my life, but think I could figure
>>>out.
>>>
>>>As with anything else, buying electrical testers and hooking them up is
>>>usually a RTFM thing, and the troubleshooting chart shortens with
>>>experience.
>>>
>>>Just how hard is this? I know after a time there would be tests to do
>>>when
>>>considering buying one of these machines, and would develop a checklist.
>>>I
>>>was just wanting to bounce it off you guys and see if I'm heading down a
>>>peaceful creek or towards the waterfalls.
>>>
>>>Steve
>>
>>
http://www.weldmartonline.com/pc-22-1-pierce-governor-for-continental-f-162-f-163-f-244-f-226-f-227.aspx
>>
>> Maybe. Though it could simply be a sticky linkage or stuck float among
>> other similar easy things.
>>
>> Gunner
>>
>>
>
> It's probably built like my 7?s model. A very slow (adjustable) vacuum tap
> slowly pulls down a vacuum chamber that pulls the carb back to idle. When
> you strike an arc, a solenoid acts on a schrader valve that relieves the
> vacuum in the diaphram, and returns control to a spring loaded governor,
> that set the engine to high rpm. When you strike an arc, the solenoid
> retreats closing the schrader valve, and the vacuum begins to build until
> the carb is pulled back to idle. Adjusting the flow on the vacuum tap
> controls the length of time the engine remains at high rpm after the
> welding arc is broken.
>
> If so, my guess is the diaphram is weathered and leaking, so the engine is
> never pulled back to idle. Good luck. Sounds like one hell of a deal. I
> sold my machine in 1992 for $4000.
>
>
Sorry, my mistake. Change the second "when you strike an arc" to " when you
stop welding".
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Posted by RoyJ on March 15, 2008, 1:33 pm
Please log in for more thread options The engines and the units are extremely basic. The motor is a flathead.
The carb is a single bore unit, not much fancier than on the 5hp
lawnmower. Ignition is either magneto which is much more a mechanical
device than electrical or a 4 post points and coil setup. The welding
circuits are heavy duty bolt together mechanical items. If they are
clean and not toasted, they tend to work.
Go for it!!!
If you want a similar unit with a lot more if's about it, I'm looking at
an 18kw genset. Vintage mid 60's, looks to be Vietnam era military. Onan
J120 industrial/marine engine with a long gone mfg for the generator.
But parts for the Onan engine are scarce and expensive. Parts for the
generator are unavailable from the mfg, but very similar to a 25hp, 3
phase, 208/416volt motor. Motor runs, generator has a "blown diode".
Price range is similar to what you are looking at for the SA 200's.
I'd take the 200 in a minute, still thinking on the Onan powered unit.
To buy or not to buy, that is the question.
SteveB wrote:
> Another SA 200 welding machine came up yesterday. I am going to go look at
> it today. If I can buy these locally, I can fix them up, and make some
> decent cash. The guy said it runs and welds, but won't return to idle.
> Sounds relatively minor to me. I think he'd take less than $500, too, and
> it's on a trailer.
>
> Just how much knowledge is needed to do this? I have singlehandedly taken a
> 327 Chevy motor out, changed freeze plugs, had the heads done, and put it
> back in by myself. I can fix most anything, except carburetors and
> automatic transmissions. I could learn them, but haven't so far.
>
> I understand how engines work, and have the puzzle solving ability to take
> stuff apart, figure out how it works, and how to fix it. Right now, I have
> no reservations about digging into the one I just bought and either getting
> it running or seeing why it won't. Gas engines are relatively simple. They
> run or they don't. If they don't, there's a short list of things it can be.
> Gas. Spark. Compression. Major component part failure. And a couple of
> other things.
>
> Just how complicated is this SA 200, and all its controls? They must be
> pretty dependable and easy to work on to be such workhorses. The engine is
> a simple flathead four banger. Radiator. Points operated spark system.
> Battery with starter and voltage regulator. The other items on the welding
> side I haven't fooled with a lot in my life, but think I could figure out.
>
> As with anything else, buying electrical testers and hooking them up is
> usually a RTFM thing, and the troubleshooting chart shortens with
> experience.
>
> Just how hard is this? I know after a time there would be tests to do when
> considering buying one of these machines, and would develop a checklist. I
> was just wanting to bounce it off you guys and see if I'm heading down a
> peaceful creek or towards the waterfalls.
>
> Steve
>
>
>
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>Just how complicated is this SA 200, and all its controls? They must be
>pretty dependable and easy to work on to be such workhorses. The engine is
>a simple flathead four banger. Radiator. Points operated spark system.
>Battery with starter and voltage regulator. The other items on the welding
>side I haven't fooled with a lot in my life, but think I could figure out.
>
>As with anything else, buying electrical testers and hooking them up is
>usually a RTFM thing, and the troubleshooting chart shortens with
>experience.
>
>Just how hard is this? I know after a time there would be tests to do when
>considering buying one of these machines, and would develop a checklist. I
>was just wanting to bounce it off you guys and see if I'm heading down a
>peaceful creek or towards the waterfalls.
>
>Steve