SA 250 will not strike an arc

[ventureline]

I'm a relative newbie here. Haven't welded since high school (15 years ago). I just got my newly acquired SA200 started after it was siiting outside for 11 years. I changed the oil & filter, cleaned air filter and flushed the gas tank / line. I replaced the stinger and the clamp and reset the lead connections back at the machine. It seems to run fine but doesn't always strike an arc. I'm experimenting with 6011 and 6013 rods and some different scrap metal that I have. It too seems to strike better with the fine curent cranked up, regardless of the main current setting. Is there a source of maintenance or troubleshooting books available for this unit? Any direction would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Kevin

Sounds like the engine isn't reving up when you go to stike an arc, True or false....

[lars66]

After 11 years out side I'd be checking to make sure all the brushes were intact & loose in the brush holders.

[cobbkevin]

The engine speed doesn't change when I strike an arc...humm. And to the second piece of advise: This is going to sound very ignorant - but I don't know where the brushes are! I'll look around tonight when I get home.

I'm still looking on the net for a book or two on this (or a similar) machine. Thanks for the help!

[vicegrip]

The engine speed doesn't change when I strike an arc...humm. And to the second piece of advise: This is going to sound very ignorant - but I don't know where the brushes are! I'll look around tonight when I get home.

I'm still looking on the net for a book or two on this (or a similar) machine. Thanks for the help!

Unless it's a REALLY good book , sounds to me like you can't do better than Ventureline

[ventureline]

The engine speed doesn't change when I strike an arc...humm. And to the second piece of advise: This is going to sound very ignorant - but I don't know where the brushes are! I'll look around tonight when I get home.

I'm still looking on the net for a book or two on this (or a similar) machine. Thanks for the help!

No Rev up, no welding control. Where is the idle control xoilinoid. or just post a picture of the right side

[SouthernThunder]

Thanks for everyone who helped me here, especially ventureline who gave me a good rundown on breaking this machine apart. Turns out it was the rheostat and the wiring inside the genny housing that goes to the coils. Couple days worth of work and shes up and running like a new machine again. Thanks guys.

[Hulings1]

1981 sa250 wiring any ideas what this switch someone wired in does? Maybe flash the system?

[AEmery]

Hi guys, I was having some of the same problems that some of you had on here. Your guys's answers really helped me it a lot and diagnosing what was wrong with my new to me Sa 250. It turned out being a bad bridge rectifier. Also wired a fuse in the system, like some of you had mentioned. Thank you for all your help.

Does anyone know what part this is, and what does it do? Do I need this part in my system? Is it not shown on any of the schematics that I've seen.

Thanks in advance.

[MAC702]

What is immediately on the other side of that panel?

[AEmery]

There is nothing on the other side of that panel. It is just One of the two hot wires coming out of the generator, it goes into that unit, out the other side of that unit into the rheostat.