new old addition to the tool addiction

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I found an old Miller Bluestar series 1 engine drive on Craigs list today. The guy I got it from is a retired machinist and has a virtual museum in his back yard and sheds, I have never seen so many steam engines in one place before. He's currently building a steam engine powered saw mill. He's also got a 1942 Diamond REO 2 1/2 ton flatbed truck sitting back there that I would love to get my grubby little hands on as well.Anyways, I did a quick search of the serial number and found that it is a 1977 model with a 16 h.p. Kohler motor. For $200.00 I couldn't pass it up.Dragged it home, stuck a battery in it and some fuel, hit the switch and starter button and it fired right up. I will have to get a new solenoid for the throttle kick down, I can kick it down by hand but won't do it automatically as it should. I haven't tried to weld with it yet as I have to take the leads from my Bobcat to try it out.What's your opinion? Think I did good on this one? Attached ImagesI am what I am, Deal with it!If necessity is the Mother of Invention, I must be the Father of Desperation!
Reply:I have a friend who has one of those on his farm.  It's actually a pretty decent little welding machine.  Sounds like a good buy to me.  I never turn down a decent welder if I can find one for a couple hundred.  Just FYI, but you can still get all the parts from kohler for that motor.  We ordered everything to rebuild my friends engine a couple years ago.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:ford lawn tractors use the same motor all parts for engine are availible at ford farm dealer.
Reply:THAT is just too cool!  Nice score!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:The guy I bought it from called me a short time ago and said that he had found a spare fuel pump for it, he also told me he bought it new about 30 years ago but it doesn't have that many hours of run time on it for its age. He also told me that he last ran it about 2 years ago and it worked fine for him except for the idle solenoid (which I already found out about).I'm gonna hook up a set of leads to it in the morning and if all goes well with it I think I'll try and find some new decals for it, give it a nice new coat of Miller Blue and I'm thinking maybe a new cart as well. I think it will make a very nice back up unit. DaveI am what I am, Deal with it!If necessity is the Mother of Invention, I must be the Father of Desperation!
Reply:Originally Posted by dabar39The guy I bought it from called me a short time ago and said that he had found a spare fuel pump for it, he also told me he bought it new about 30 years ago but it doesn't have that many hours of run time on it for its age. He also told me that he last ran it about 2 years ago and it worked fine for him except for the idle solenoid (which I already found out about).I'm gonna hook up a set of leads to it in the morning and if all goes well with it I think I'll try and find some new decals for it, give it a nice new coat of Miller Blue and I'm thinking maybe a new cart as well. I think it will make a very nice back up unit. Dave
Reply:Heck Dave,With some of the work I've seen you do on POS trailers, restoring that puppy should be a walk in the park.Nice score!Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:I have found some good things on craigslist also. I really like the wheeled cart with the welder!
Reply:That is an awesome find and you cant beat the price. The cart is classic.
Reply:did you hook your leads up yet.. man 200.00 thats sweet!
Reply:Originally Posted by wd40prerunnerdid you hook your leads up yet.. man 200.00 thats sweet!
Reply:1977 Now that makes me feel old as we are talking about """RESTORING" something that old. And I am many years older than that???
Reply:For $200 you have a running engine and a (hopefully) working welder.  And a cart.Yeah, in fine web tradition, you suck.  Good luck with it.  Post pics when you fix it up.  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:I got to play around with it for about an hour earlier today and had both a drill and a grinder working from the outlets at the same time and I also ran a couple of beads with it. Seemed a little weak at first but after running for a few minutes it seemed to get going pretty good. When I tear it down for the resto, I'll make sure I clean / replace the brushes and all of the contacts. I'll post pics as I go on with it.I'm really happy that I didn't end up with a 200 dollar pile of scrap. DaveI am what I am, Deal with it!If necessity is the Mother of Invention, I must be the Father of Desperation!
Reply:And ain't that just one of the greatest feelings?!  I think I feel myself turning a little green.edit: Let me know if you want that decal.  If you do PM me with your address.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:Duaneb55, Thanks for the decal offer. If I can't find the original decals I might  take you up on it. I want to make it all original when I restore it, I may even paint them on if the proper decals can not be located. Thanks DaveI am what I am, Deal with it!If necessity is the Mother of Invention, I must be the Father of Desperation!
Reply:Originally Posted by dabar39Duaneb55, Thanks for the decal offer. If I can't find the original decals I might  take you up on it. I want to make it all original when I restore it, I may even paint them on if the proper decals can not be located. Thanks Dave
Reply:http://decalshoppe.com/home_pageWeldingWeb forum--now more sophomoric banter than anything else!
Reply:I got to take the side covers off of it today and found a broken wire twisted together but nothing else out of the ordinary. Spliced a new wire in and cleaned out a few Mud Dauber nests. I'll be replacing the brushes as they are about half or more worn down. The new idle solenoid should be in Wed. or Thurs. of next week. Changed the oil as well, it was mighty black but no signs of metal or debris in it. I'm gonna hit all the contacts with some Emory cloth and should be good to go. Next step is finding the factory decals for it and re painting it. Dave Attached ImagesI am what I am, Deal with it!If necessity is the Mother of Invention, I must be the Father of Desperation!
Reply:Only one funny connection and a few mud dauber nests? That's a lucky thing, too many of those mud daubers get in there and they start to rewire everything when nobody is looking! That will keep you busy for a little bit, nice catch!! City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny