Sa 200 Lincoln Wedler

[DJB282000]

Hello
Not sure if anyone can help but here it goes.

I picked up an old as 200 welder and have gotten it to run but it will not spark an arc to weld. I have power from the 110 outlet but only get a small spark when stricking the welding rod.

any sugestions

[Al_The_Man]

According to the Lincoln site, the SA200 is a gasoline driven DC generator welder?
When you say 110 outlet is this a mains fed AC or DC stick welder?
Al.

[DJB282000]

This is a dc welder but it has a utility 110 outlet on the front of the machine.

This outlet is working so i do not think that it is needed to flast the exciter .

[Al_The_Man]

What is your open circuit voltage of the welder? They don't show electrical schematic for the control on the site, I would check you do not have a high resistance connection on the main cables and see if you can detect how it is excited, if there is separate excitation for the field, check the voltage, unless that is the same as the 110v socket?
Then if the brushes and comm. look OK then I would trouble shoot the field control pots.
Al.

[Mac T. Knife]

Watch what you plug in to the outlet, The old SA 200s put out 110 DC.

[butch.crenshaw]

I have some of the same problems, I have a SA200 F163 Gasoline Lincoln Welder, it runs really well, I have 120 vdc at the outlet plug on the face of machine, but i can not get an arc, I have measured the the voltage at the main welding lugs and it is only 3.8 volts. Could my problem be the small PC board (idler board controller)? Does anyone know a way I can check it?

[jamesl]

I have used these sa 200 lincolns for many years and if you remove the cover over the exciter armature you may find that it is corroded (turned black). Start the machine and fold a piece of emery cloth over a piece of wood, then hold it on the armature until thr copper turns shiny again. This should fix the problem. Sometimes if the machine has been sitting idle for a long period of time it will loose its residual magnetism in which case you may have to hook up a 12 volt battery to the exciter brushes for a few seconds. By the way the exciter armature is the smallest end of the main generator.

[butch.crenshaw]

I will try your suggestion....thanks again

[butch.crenshaw]

i tried flashing ....still no arc....do you think it could be the idler PC board? Is there a way to check the board to see if it is the problem?

[Shanghyd]

Butch,
The PC idler board only serves to idle the machine up and down. Welding RPM for the engine is about 1550, not sure of the exact rpm.
It is supposed to operate like this:
When you are not welding the idle solenoid is energized and it pulls in the solid metal bar. This action overcomes the spring of the governer that hold the carburetor open and at a high idle.
When you strike an arc the solenoid loses its ground through the action of a reed switch and the metal bar in the soldenoid is released. The governer springs then force the throttle open and brings the engine up to welding rpm.
When you stop welding the solenoid gets a ground again and energizes the idle solenoid, which pulls the metal bar in and the engine idles down. The pc board only operates the idle. If you have 120VDC you are operating at high idle.

You have 120 VDC so your exciter circuit is working. There are main brushes for the armature that are very similar to the exciter brushes. They are under a cover. If you have a long hood welder you may have some difficulty getting to them. Once you access them make sure they are not stuck in their holders. They are carbon so don't pry on them or they will shatter.
The very worst problem you may have is a problem with the shunt coils.
It could also be a problem with the wire that connects the shunt coils together.

So to troubleshoot:
1. Check main armature brushes to see if they are stuck in their holders.
2. Use a meter to check the ohms of the shunt coils. (google search)
3. If the ohm check fails for the shunt coils check the wire that connects the shunt coils for continuity

[Nitesky]

Originally Posted by jamesl I have used these sa 200 lincolns for many years and if you remove the cover over the exciter armature you may find that it is corroded (turned black). Start the machine and fold a piece of emery cloth over a piece of wood, then hold it on the armature until thr copper turns shiny again. This should fix the problem. Sometimes if the machine has been sitting idle for a long period of time it will loose its residual magnetism in which case you may have to hook up a 12 volt battery to the exciter brushes for a few seconds. By the way the exciter armature is the smallest end of the main generator.

Do NOT use emery cloth on an armature. The abrasive conducts electricity and when it dislodges and becomes embedded between the commutator bars it shorts out the armature.
Sandpaper only.

[chris20]

my lincoln when it would not weld the coils was bad