SA-250 Restoration...

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Well guys I been on the hunt looking for a Shorthood everyone I found was out of my price range or located too far away.  My dream is to be a Pipeliner and I been building a Rig and practicing like a mad man!  But Monday my buddy was heading to a Junkyard over in NJ and I tagged along.  Old Peterbilts and Macks, classic cars, tankers, excavators, bull dozers and everything else.  So I'm looking for a crusty Shorthood.  On the way out I open the door on this Reefer trailer and I see it a SA250....  Heart is pounding and I'm like a little kid in a candy store.  I jump over to the other Trailer next to it and walk in the back and guess what?!?! Another SA250!!  I find the owner of the yard and ask him how much he wants for them.... He says "I forgot about them there full of copper". I said don't scrap them! I'll be back in a few weeks with my trailer.  He hesitated and said OK....  I couldn't sleep knowing they were a few hours away in NJ and might be scrapped.  So today I went back and bought both of them.  When I asked him what he wanted for them I thought he was gonna say about $800 each.....  He said "give me $250 each or $400 for both.  So I got both for $400.Now the plan is to take both and make one.  The one without the sheet metal is complete engine wise. Starter, alternator, armature and has 3,000 hours on it.  The one with the hood on it is missing a few things but the sheet metal is rusty but no rot and is clear if dings or dents and has 9,000 hours on it.  So the hood is going on the other one.  Now I gotta figure out what years they were made.  It may take me awhile but stay tuned a full restoration is going to happen.URL=http://s1144.photobucket.com/user/dieseldon16/media/SA-250%20Build/1120131604.jpg.html][/URL]Last edited by DieselDon16; 11-20-2013 at 09:18 PM.Some Blue , Some Red & Some GreyProverbs 16:2-3.2 "All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
Reply:That's a hell of a deal! Good luck with the resto. You could always build a short hood look alike ! To bad you arnt closer id take one of those perkins off your hands, lookin at doin a diesel conversion on my sa-200.
Reply:Very lucky find and great deal!  Looking forward to the resto thread on these.KevKevin / Machine_Punk from The Aerodrome Studio - Lincoln PowerMIG 210 MP - Meco N Midget w/custom welding station - Vintage Victor 100Current Projects: The Aerodrome Studio
Reply:Originally Posted by spooled05That's a hell of a deal! Good luck with the resto. You could always build a short hood look alike ! To bad you arnt closer id take one of those perkins off your hands, lookin at doin a diesel conversion on my sa-200.
Reply:Awesome deal you got there. Did you get the running gear too or leave it behind?  If you left it behind because you didn't want it, you could have sold it to make back part of your investment. 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:Originally Posted by duaneb55Awesome deal you got there. Did you get the running gear too or leave it behind?  If you left it behind because you didn't want it, you could have sold it to make back part of your investment.
Reply:I did the same thing , unbolted that **** and left it there! lol
Reply:So its Snowing like Hek today and Im going Stir Crazy in the house so I still havent got The 2 Welders off the Trailer yet.  I threw a Tarp over them last night.  So I jacked up the one welder and slid it over a foot just so I could get to the Battery.  The Battery is old and just rough looking.  I take a better look at the battery.  The Mongaloid who had it before me had the Positive Cable hooked to the Ground and the Ground going to the Starter....I pull one of the Yellow Otima's out of my truck and hook it up.....Im thinking "These machines are pretty rough and aint gonna start"  I hit the starter button and it Cranks over!!!!  I Cranked it for 30 Seconds and it was Puffing Smoke.  I cracked the Fuel Bowl and Bled the air...  I Cranked it again...  Fired right up for about 5 seconds!  then shut off.  The Fuel in the tank is rough, Once I get it off the trailer Im gonna start ripping it apart!  Im getting 60PSI for Oil Pressure too. Of Course I take a video after it starts!  Last edited by DieselDon16; 11-26-2013 at 02:53 PM.Some Blue , Some Red & Some GreyProverbs 16:2-3.2 "All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
Reply:Do these SA250's have a Glow Plugs or a Grid Heater set up for Cold Starts?  The "Diesel Start" switch is froze up and I tried to pull it out and I snapped the cable.  I put the Tiger Torch on the Block and Oil Pan for a few seconds and it cranked easier but still no start..... Some Blue , Some Red & Some GreyProverbs 16:2-3.2 "All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
Reply:Originally Posted by DieselDon16Do these SA250's have a Glow Plugs or a Grid Heater set up for Cold Starts?  The "Diesel Start" switch is froze up and I tried to pull it out and I snapped the cable.  I put the Tiger Torch on the Block and Oil Pan for a few seconds and it cranked easier but still no start.....
Reply:Thanks Mike!Anyone know exactly where to look for the Serial Number? Im trying to put a year with these machines...  Im laying between them on the trailer with a flashlight and the only number I have found is a Stamping on the block "98" .....Last edited by DieselDon16; 11-26-2013 at 03:54 PM.Some Blue , Some Red & Some GreyProverbs 16:2-3.2 "All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
Reply:I have no idea but I bet that machine has murphy switches and you need to override them to start it
Reply:Originally Posted by cd19I have no idea but I bet that machine has murphy switches and you need to override them to start it
Reply:Originally Posted by DieselDon16Splain this a little more......  Murphy Switch?
Reply:Grid heater right where the rubber hose attaches to the intake. Under the freezing point i think  Lincoln had a"cold start" option which was a hose to squirt ether into.  If it fired once out will go again. The type of Murphy switch depend on the year.  Looks like you have the pull to stop machine, mid 80s to early 90s ish, the Murphy switch is on the injector side of the motor. It has two terminals and is threaded into the block. Connect the two wires to bypass. Sent from my DROID RAZR using TapatalkLong 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:Looks like you got a good machine , you been getting anything done on it the past few days? Whats all that white stuff all over the place? LOL
Reply:That white stuff is the horrible precipitation of Winter getting close.  I hate snow and ice, don't mind working in 10* weather but snow and ice suck.Haven't tinkered with the machines since the video but I got my buddy coming over next week hopefully to pull them off with his excavator.  Gotta build a skid on neumatic casters now.Some Blue , Some Red & Some GreyProverbs 16:2-3.2 "All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
Reply:Damn that's going to be a sweet project!A Liberal is someone who lives in a gated community with private security,  but says that a boarder fence won't work and people don't need guns for self protection.
Reply:Figured since it was Freezing Rain all day I'd tinker in the shop....Just removed the front panels, face plate, and upper frame holding the fuel tank and air cleaner...Also figured out a Paint Scheme.Pulled the Valve Cover and was very pleasantly surprised.  It's clean super clean, everything looks in tact.Some Blue , Some Red & Some GreyProverbs 16:2-3.2 "All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
Reply:I still can't figure out when it was made...  Serial Number is A-993348...  Any help is appreciated.Some Blue , Some Red & Some GreyProverbs 16:2-3.2 "All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
Reply:http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-us...of_machine.pdfLooks like 1982.
Reply:Its raining here today So I figured Id work on the Machine...A few days ago I started sanding and Wire Wheeling the Hood and sheet metal down to bare steel.  I gotta give it to the boys at Lincoln the primer is some good stuff.  It took me about 2hrs to do 1/4 of the hood.  So I got some Paint Stripper and put a generous dose on all the sheet metal.  I know the Stripper wont get 100% of the Paint/Primer off but it has to help.Some Blue , Some Red & Some GreyProverbs 16:2-3.2 "All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
Reply:Just finished all the Sheet Metal.   Brought it down to Bare Steel. Next Im gonna Ping out a few little Dents and get the Frame and Cowl's ready.Some Blue , Some Red & Some GreyProverbs 16:2-3.2 "All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
Reply:Lookin good! Cant wait to see it done and burnin rod!
Reply:Originally Posted by spooled05Lookin good! Cant wait to see it done and burnin rod!I got tired of tryin to figure out what the previous owner did to mine so I just ripped it all out and followed the factory schematic and it works like a champ , even built my own ditch box and wired it all up, its really not that bad.
Reply:Man Don, you suck!!! I wish I could get an SA250 diesel for a good price!!!"Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Originally Posted by Stick-manMan Don, you suck!!! I wish I could get an SA250 diesel for a good price!!!
Reply:Took the back Shroud and radiator off today and Cleaned them up.  I cut the existing Expanded Metal off, gonna replace it with 5/8"-3/4" Flattened Expanded Metal.Sure as hek, I got two 5 gallon buckets ready to go to drain the Anti-Freeze into and I get it everywhere except the buckets...  On a Good note the Coolant was bright green and free of rust or toxins...Before...After...Some Blue , Some Red & Some GreyProverbs 16:2-3.2 "All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
Reply:Just a little FYI for anyone that doesn't know this - antifreeze is glycol, which is sweet. Animals, meaning dogs and such, WILL drink it, and IT WILL KILL them dead. Unfortunately, many years ago, my boss called me on Christmas morning, he couldn't lift his dead Rottweiler."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Originally Posted by Stick-manJust a little FYI for anyone that doesn't know this - antifreeze is glycol, which is sweet. Animals, meaning dogs and such, WILL drink it, and IT WILL KILL them dead. Unfortunately, many years ago, my boss called me on Christmas morning, he couldn't lift his dead Rottweiler.
Reply:Thanks for sharing and recording your progress Don, I don't have that kind of patience or fore-thought...or fotography skills...or vocabulary.....or, never mind. You get the idea.Every once in a while a 250 will show up around here for a good price, and it's sure tempting, but damb those are heavy machines.Lincoln SA 200Esab Caddy 160Thermal Arc 201TSMiller Dialarc HFI don't like making plans for the day because then the word "premeditated" gets thrown around the courtroom....
Reply:me and my dad are trying to get a lincweld sa-180 dc welder runnin
Reply:Big day today.  Took the Engine/Armature off the frame.  Gonna bring the frame down to bare steel tomorrow.  Then its a little bit of pinging small dents and a little bondo.  Then priming and paint. Some Blue , Some Red & Some GreyProverbs 16:2-3.2 "All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
Reply:Some Blue , Some Red & Some GreyProverbs 16:2-3.2 "All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
Reply:Looking good Don!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:Did a little work yesterday, Started stripping the frame, gonna have to build a new Battery Box.Primed/Painted the Idler Board Support. I got the Shroud all ready, Welded in new Expanded metal. Some Blue , Some Red & Some GreyProverbs 16:2-3.2 "All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
Reply:Frame is stripped completely down and Primed. I had to Ping out a couple dents, and I believe I had the Old Time Welders rolling in there graves, I had to Weld a few Seams on the Lincoln Frame with a Miller Welder Buddy of Mine is gonna bring the Radiator to his work and flush it all out, get between all the fins and really clean all that grease out.Some Blue , Some Red & Some GreyProverbs 16:2-3.2 "All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
Reply:Nice Work! Thanks for the link to your website enjoyed looking at itAmerican by birth Southern by the Grace of God
Reply:Looking good Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkWill   Supports Autism Awareness                            My ToysBobCat 225 PLusMillermatic 130Miller Spectrum 300 CutmateEverlast Power Tig 185 Micro April is Autism Month .
Reply:Coming along awesome Don! Sweet man! I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Thanks guys, I appreciate it.  Gonna do the fuel tank support Monday than its on the engine the rest of the week.Some Blue , Some Red & Some GreyProverbs 16:2-3.2 "All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
Reply:Originally Posted by DieselDon16...... I believe I had the Old Time Welders rolling in there graves, I had to Weld a few Seams on the Lincoln Frame with a Miller Welder....
Reply:The original face plate was paint on aluminum. Reproduction plates are everywhere and stampable for the code and serial #. You can customize the background and colors.Sent from my DROID RAZR using TapatalkLong 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:Please bare with me fellas.  Photobucket wants me to upgrade my account, gonna cost me $30.  I say Screw you Photobucket I'll just make another account.  Im moving all "Important" pics over there.But This week the Frame and Shrouds will be painted.Been keeping busy with Intake Manifolds, Exhaust Manifolds and the Valve Cover.  Gonna hopefully get the engine and armature done this week as well.Wet sanded the Fuel Tank Bowl so its clear again. De-greased it and cleaned it up. Some Blue , Some Red & Some GreyProverbs 16:2-3.2 "All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
Reply:Frame and back shroud are finalized with paint!!Radiator is at my buddies shop getting cleaned with some sort of hot cleaning agent.Some Blue , Some Red & Some GreyProverbs 16:2-3.2 "All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
Reply:Hey Don I think you're still having pic problems, I can't see any of 'em now.Lincoln SA 200Esab Caddy 160Thermal Arc 201TSMiller Dialarc HFI don't like making plans for the day because then the word "premeditated" gets thrown around the courtroom....
Reply:hey diesel don, hows the project going? I to have an sa 250 I picked up recently, that serial number and code number should have been stamped on the front of the face plate, it looks just like my sa and mine is a 1984. I called up Lincoln electric with the numbers and they told when it was built... I have heard of people having troubles with that murphy switch, I know the oil pressure switch is tied into the circuit, and probably the coolant temp also...I recently bought a oil pressure switch for mine and I know you can order different variables for the pressure it shuts in at. I bought an aftermarket block heater that fits into a glow plug.. this looks like fun to install.. looks like I will have to pull the hood to have some room to work.. this machine is opposite oil fill/check as my rediarc 300..so I had to have a slider rear window put in the chevy 3500 im throwing the sa 250 in... I think I will probably get that adapter kit from cables control to run my remote.. looks like your sheet metal is good.. that's a plus..
Reply:Hey man! Killer deal and nice work! But, I have to say something about that Ford truck in the back ground out side! Haha, looks like a good project!
Reply:Haha that Ford was the old mans, hes been saying he's gonna get it road worthy again but he got a new truck so I don't see that happening.  If it was a Powerstroke I'd run it but a 1500lb welder plus boxes and bottles in a F250 with a 300I6 under the hood I'm not so sure....Circa - Thanks for the info.  I may have asked you before but where in NEPA do you live?Some Blue , Some Red & Some GreyProverbs 16:2-3.2 "All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."