Re: Am I as smart as a SA 200?
- From: "Private" <please@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2008 12:25:07 -0700
"SteveB" <WeBMorfin@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:8l9ta5-rt8.ln1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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
After you have accumulated the knowledge, experience, manuals, tools, paint
and parts supplies from rebuilding your first one, additional units will be
easy. 'It isn't rocket science.'
"You will never find out how big your mouth is until you bite off more than
you can chew.'
What have you got to lose?
I suspect that as a steady enterprise there are many problems due to scarce
and unreliable supply of old units as well as all the normal business issues
of cost of holding inventory and bad debts and comebacks from angry
customers who will think they are buying a new guarantied machine for a
bargain price rather than a well used machine with a 5 gal rebuild. As a
backyard sideline you should do just fine, just approach it as a learning
experience. As you develop a regular business and word gets around, I
suspect you will find the price of old machines to rebuild will rise.
The most important benefit for you may be that you will always have a good
personal machine and the knowledge of how to keep it working. There is more
money to be made actually welding than you will ever make selling old and
obsolete used welders, but the rebuild business will give you something to
do when actual welding business is slow and could give you a nice income
from bare rental (which is another business with its own share of pitfalls)
or you can hire welders (which is another...........).
Good luck,
.
- References:
- Am I as smart as a SA 200?
- From: SteveB
- Am I as smart as a SA 200?
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