"Brent" wrote in message
...
On Mar 15, 1:58 pm, "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

the SA-200 is the Lincoln the pipeline guys go nuts over right? the
one with a generator instead of an alternator? and a true DC machine?

I can think of several places where being an SA-200 maintenance guy
with an SA-200 Rental unit/Loaner would be worth the weight of the
transformer in gold. You could charge a big premium if youre able to
offer essentially 0 downtime by bringing in a replacement welder. That
way they are NOT down a machine while you fix it and i'm sure thet
premium could easily be a $300 rental per day since they are still
making a lot of money off that welder not being out of service.

Idle People and missed deadlines and quotas are way more expensive
than paying a guy to fix the welder and bring in a loaner

Just a thought

Brent
Ottawa Caanda

Many here have given me ideas I didn't think of. Yours is one of them.
First thing is to get it running, and running right. I know that a welder
is only a boat anchor if it won't run and be reliable. So, I'll get the
right stuff from Continental and Lincoln and fix 'er up right.

That said, there are downsides to renting. I hate loaning stuff. I own two
vacation rentals where people occasionally amaze me with their carelessness,
stupidity, and indifference. Trouble is, you don't have control over who is
going to be using it, and if they are experienced. Yes, you can get a
$2,000 deposit, and if it's totaled, you get the $2,000. Then you have no
welder, and are off to find and rehab another, and have all the downtime in
between. Or, you spend a lot of time just keeping it running and fixing
stuff that others messed up, or tried to "adjust" because they didn't know
how to use it. The rental idea is still in my mind, but it may consist of
personal monitoring and scrutiny including watching during the work.

If everything goes right, it's a beautiful thing. Problem is, everything
doesn't always go right.

Steve