Lincoln shorthood welder

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Have the chance to buy a Lincoln SA200 Shorthood for $800.00. The welder has not run for over a year but was told it did run and weld. Its a 1953 welder with a crank start not a starter. I was told a starter could be easily attached to the welder to make it an electric start unit. The overall condition of the welder and trailer is reasonable and the welder is complete with all its original parts. I was told the machine needs new sparkplug wires and other parts to run good. Just looking for some advice on the welder should I jump on this or what....Thanks to all who respond...
Reply:Welcome to the Welding Web Forum steamboat519. The SA200 Lincoln welders are legendary. Unless something is seriously wrong with the shorthood your looking at, it can probably be made into a reliable welding machine again. Does it leak oil or water badly, does it smoke? Are mice living in the generator and eating the wires? Does it have reasonably usable welding leads in suitable lengths. There are many questions to ask and things to look for. As for putting a starter on it, it has been done, some are easier to do it to than others. A well maintained SA200 will start easily with the hand crank.I learned how to weld on a 1953 Shorthood that had thrown a rod, the rod removed and put back to work as a three cylinder. It had a definite miss but welded like a dream. It never did get an electric starter either. Generally, the going price for an SA200, not running, not welding, w/o the trailer is $300. to $500.00. If the leads are there and usable, if you believe the folks selling the machine, $800. is not an unreasonable price, with the trailer. My 2 cents.Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.                                         -Cree Indian ProverbSA 200 LincolnVictor Torches
Reply:Thanks for the welcome and the information. To answer some of the questions. no leads.comes with a trailer.appears to be in reasonable condition.Last run about a year ago and then parked outside.Starting to think the $800.00 might be a bit on the high side. THe welder is currently in another state and I have to look off pictures that are being sent to me by the current owner.     steve
Reply:Leads are expensive, in the neighborhood of $2 per foot. If he won't come down or negotiate the selling price, I'd probably have to let him slide. Your call.If you want to post your location, show your personal avatar, or have a signature on each post telling fellow members where you are located; an avatar of you or your shop, and a signature telling fellow members what types of equipment you have, you can do it all by following these steps:1. Locate and click on USER CP2. Under YOUR CONTROL PANEL, YOUR PROFILE, click on EDIT YOUR DETAILS3. In the EDIT YOUR DETAILS, you can enter Optional Information and Additional Information such as your Location (an other info)4. While in USER CP you can explore some of the other functions - Avatar: you can have picture of you, your shop, your wife, children, dog, etc (keep it clean- no nudes)- Signature: you can list all your equipment, a link to your shop, or maybe some witty sayingOnly when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.                                         -Cree Indian ProverbSA 200 LincolnVictor Torches
Reply:gizzardgutz.Again thanks for the help on this, Forwarded you a message.
Reply:There was a shorthood on a trailer that ran and welded, here locally forsale in the last month. It had electric start, but was a rough looking ole machine, but it was 50+ years old. The trailer need two new tires from sitting, but other than that it could have been trailered off. It had about 50' of lead with it. The seller was asking $800.00 obo. This is just an example of whatelese is out there.
Reply:Talked to the current owner and discussed the possiblity of a lower price and was told he would not go down in price or add anything to the deal. I decided to pass on this welder and wait on one that is running, but needs some work. Kind of few and far between in Kansas City Mo, but something will show....Thanks to all who responded and the advice given.   steve