Buying a used SA 200: What to look for, and walk away from.

What to look for, what to walk away from, as fast as you can, and what to consider buying to rebuild or put into service. New paint is not rebuilt! It's on the inside that counts.

The rules of searching for an SA-200 Pipeliner

1. Understand that it is the "Age of Incompetence." Nobody seems to know anything about anything. Do not take any statement from a seller on face value, what do they really know about the machine?

2. ------------------Myths: -----------------

   a. The whole machine has been rebuilt. What the hell does that mean? Who did what to whom? Is there any repair bill, warranty claims, or any objective evidence of work performed?

   b. Repainted is not rebuilt. The average rod burner will bite on any that is shiny or has big tits!

3. My "buddy" has been a welder for 40 years and knows everything about these machines! He says it's good. What does that mean?

4. The engine is good, "look how smooth the flapper moves."

5. If it's not leaking, it's not a Lincoln! You would not accept from any other engine. If there is a leak or a problem, fix it!

6. The oil bath air cleaner is the best air filter ever made. If you hear this, you are hearing a person who is living in 1939,

If I were looking for an SA200, I would personally look for a "hex-barrel" machine. Look for code numbers starting with code number;xxxxx.

---------------What no one ever told you, until now.-------------

This design was a brilliant piece of engineering. The armature and stator housing, for all practical reasons, are electrically the same. Add more torque, and you have a 250 or 300 welder. In my opinion, the only reason they fail electrically is cheap insulation. In my opinion, Lincoln has great engineers, but when it comes down to manufacturing, they could teach the Chinese how to make something cheaper. Today, we know the design's weaknesses, and we can either upgrade something or work on them. Lincoln was making thousands of machines to sell and make a profit.

OCTOGON SHAPED STATOR HOUSING

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Don't add, I need time off my machine, just crapped out!

1. Remanufactured engine figures $3000. +, if it is done right. Make sure you get it in writing. A written warranty of at least 1 year should cover failures, including seal leaks. Any static, walk away and find someone else. Always pay with a credit card; in most states, you can challenge a charge for up to two years.

   
   

2. Water pumps, alternators, carburetors, starters, thermostats, belts, magnetos, spark plugs, and engine control switches will eventually fail and need replacement. These parts are all external to the engine and the welder stator., mMost can be replaced in the field with hand tools. As an owner/operator, you need to understand these items and how to service/replace them. This is where I can help you. Anything you buy from us, you get unlimited free telephone help. Remember, I have to eat like everybody else. If you buy anything from, say, Amazon, YouTube, AW, Ecrap, or whatever parts. com, Joe Blow's cheap parts, and it doesn't work. Don't call me, call Ecrap.

Weldmart's new L8707 exciter coils are all copper, wound with tape covering, coated with clear epoxy, and have a ring terminal ready for installation. They come with a 10-year warranty to the original purchaser. When we install them in our shop, we warrant them for the life of the original purchaser. We have been selling these same coils for over 35 years, with no known failures.

Obsolete from Lincoln Electric

Most pipeliner style machines, SA-200, older SA250 diesels, Classic 1, Pipeliner 200D, and all SA series welders, including older machines with DC auxiliary, use L8707 exciter coils. Obsolete by Lincoln, they have thousands of machines worldwide that use these. Lincoln has obsoleted all versions. Luckily, they have a very low failure rate.

There are five different winding styles due to the varying RPMs. We can rewind them all!.

Rebuilding a SA200 -here is a credible cost for the following;

1. Remanded Engine: $2500.00+ with warranty

2. Rewound the main armature. $2500.00 with warranty

   

   
   

3. Shunt coils $700-$950 With replacement warranty.

4. Radiator 300.00 With replacement warranty.

5. Exciter coils. $600-$1000.00 With replacement warranty.

6. Rewound DC exciter armature: $1200.+ With replacement warranty.

   
   

You need to become as technically self-sufficient as you are able. This is where we can help you. Luckily for you, your SA200 is a straightforward machine that's easy to maintain.

All these costs do not include labor charges for the disassembly and reassembly of your machine. This is grungde, unbolting, and manhandling chunks of iron. To

be profitable in business, learn what to do and what you can't do, and pay to have it done. Remember, at the end of the day, it's not how much you make, it's how much you spend.

Suppose you buy a used SA200 for $4000. By investing 10,000.00 in repairs and upgrades, you end up with a machine that should last at least 50 years with regular maintenance.

Name another machine you can buy for $14000.00, that you could maintain yourself and expect more than 10 years?