engine drive question

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Im sure its been talked about on here before but I cant find it. Also I have tried searching google but I'm not having any luck with that either. Several years ago I had a pipeline welder tell me something about connecting the hot and ground together with a piece of metal and let the machine run for a little bit. I cant remember if he said to max the machine out or set it low, I cant remember how long he said to do this for, and I cant remember what this is even used for. It was back when I was looking for a engine drive, and this is one of the things he told me to check for. Well several years later I found a machine, I don't feel the need to do this "I don't think" but now I'm curious as to what he was talking about. Just wondering if someone could give me some information on this process, good or bad, what it is supposed to accomplish, or if you could just tell me the term for this process then I will try another google search. Thanks.
Reply:That sounds like a dumb idea.....My father welded pipe for years and i never seen him do anything like thatNow if you wanted to test the machine using a load bank ( a BIG Resistor) that's differentBacked my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:Maybe he was referring to a makeshift "load bank" using just a welding rod and piece of scrap metal.Here's a video of one of the more well known experts and restorers of the SA200 - Hobo Hilton - "load testing" a machine.  It doesn't tell you what the output is but lets you know how the machine runs under a fixed or varying load.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Old school way of putting a machine to the test. Lets you know if it will stumble under heavy use. Most people will burn a 1/8" 6010 and say " nice machine". My shorty runs fine, burns rod and most peole would say nothing is wrong. Bury a 3/16" 6010 like the video and she starts to spit fire out the stack and make all kinds of noise. Btings out any weaknesses. sent while goofing off at workLong after the price is forgotten, the quality will remain.Both of my Poppy's 1954 Short Hoods -Third generation to weld with it and teaching a fourthSA 2## - Bought and sold more than I can remember or care to list, 8 in the shop right now
Reply:I worked in a lws for a while and we would load bank the diesels to break them in. I've heard of guys using chain link fences to do the same thing. Load down the generator and see what it's got. Most machines don't need a break in any more though. Repair shops do load bank them to make sure the engine runs well under full loadTeach Ag Mech - Mike At Home:Lincoln Electric AC225Miller Challenger 172Gas AxeWork:eclectic bunch of 90's vintage blue boxes
Reply:In the early 1980s I was the first welder on site. Getting ready to put in a huge cofferdam, with tiebacks, and a very large whaler system. Over a year of welding. Company bought me a brand new SAE 400 with diesel engine. It didn't run quite right, I told the superintendent to have the LWS send out a repair tech to look at it. The sup told me to shut it down, hook the leads together, max the machine out, turn it on, and walk away. I said WHAT?! He said just do it! I didn't want to, but I did. Machine purred like a kitten from then on!Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Thanks guys,  after reading these responses... that is what he said. You would find out what the machine would do under a load. If there was anything wrong, you would find out.
Reply:The more length of material between the leads, the more resistance, but also the more surface area for the "load bank" to cool off.Teach Ag Mech - Mike At Home:Lincoln Electric AC225Miller Challenger 172Gas AxeWork:eclectic bunch of 90's vintage blue boxes
Reply:Then it does not hurt the machine to short it out like that?
Reply:Well I wouldn't clip the stinger to the ground clamp and let 'er rip on 10' leads, but you're basically turning all the cable and whatever else hooked between into a heating element.Teach Ag Mech - Mike At Home:Lincoln Electric AC225Miller Challenger 172Gas AxeWork:eclectic bunch of 90's vintage blue boxes
Reply:Thanks good to know.
Reply:If you want to see what a machine can do and don't want to short it, use a carbon that's at max size for the machine. For most it will probably be 3/16 or maybe 1/4". It'll feel the hurtTeach Ag Mech - Mike At Home:Lincoln Electric AC225Miller Challenger 172Gas AxeWork:eclectic bunch of 90's vintage blue boxes
Reply:Would a 3/16 welding rod work as well?
Reply:My old Sa200 used to like me to warm her up with a rod or two before we stared on a pipe .gxbxc
Reply:Thanks good to know.
Reply:Just Doug a 50# box of Lincoln 5p the old red stuff. Never been opened. Bought it back in the 90s at a real good price then so really good price now.
Reply:Originally Posted by johnrbauerJust Doug a 50# box of Lincoln 5p the old red stuff. Never been opened. Bought it back in the 90s at a real good price then so really good price now.
Reply:67 as200 so 3/16 should make it bark. Can't wait to hear her. Will let you know
Reply:Nice. On my phone the pic is so small.Teach Ag Mech - Mike At Home:Lincoln Electric AC225Miller Challenger 172Gas AxeWork:eclectic bunch of 90's vintage blue boxes
Reply:Yes but not sure if that is my machine. To long ago.
Reply:Ram some 3/16 Lincoln 5p red today with as 200. Temperature was in the high 40s and didn't have the machine real worm so first rod bulked a little. After that ran the rod great was fun running a bigger rod.