Question about purchasing my first welder.

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I found a 2001 Miller Bobcat 250 for sale locally.  Ive been searching for a generator for my house and I feel like I can justify a welder/generator so I can learn to weld and have a much higher quality generator for when the power goes out.  The add states that it has new exhaust, new fuel pump, new fuel filter, fresh oil change, new air cleaner and it runs great.  The problem is that it needs a voltage regulator.  The add states that it is a $125 part.  To me it sounds like the unit may have a lot of hours on it if it has all of those parts go bad recently.  I think the price is more than fair.  Is there anything i should check when looking at it?  Could something bigger be wrong and the seller is disguising it as a voltage reg?  How hard are they to change and where can you get them?  I'm mechanically inclined but this is my first generator and my first welder. Thanks for the help.
Reply:get the part number for the regulator and see if napa can match you up with something. Ive welded with a bunch of bobcats and they are light in the back of a truck,and weld fine with plate and some are good with pipe. IMO bobcats are hit and miss. All are good for plate but some are good for pipe. Some are just as smooth as silk and some are choppy as hell . I dont know what to tell you. Its up to .
Reply:ive never welded with a bobcat, but a couple of trailblazers i used the amp adj. knob (rheostat) melted. quick easy fix. not sure if its the same on a bobcat. the machines are easy to work on.. if you can wrench at all you'll be fine tinkering with one of these.Miller ab/p 330Hobart champ 16Miller 140Lincoln Power Mig 255Lincoln SA-250
Reply:How much and what comes with it ??? Check the generator output with a meter to verify voltage. Here's the Miller site if you wanna post there. http://www.millerwelds.com/resources...ng-Discussions
Reply:If you we're allowed to bring a couple of tools (welding helmet, gloves, chipping hammer, brush, screwdrivers, ratchet and voltage tester) to inspect the welder, I would then.  I'd look at the voltage output. I'd test every electrical outlet with a voltage meter.   However this is hard to do since the regulator is broke. Next, I'd remove the spark plug(s) and look at them.  Are they looking worn and hammered?  Is there heavy carbon fouling or unusual oil residue on them?   You want to look for obvious signs of hard use and lack of routine maintenance.  I would definately ask if you could do your own cylinder compression test too.  It's not hard to do. Next, I'd look at the carbon generator brushes to inspect wear.  Replacing them is easy, but it can give you an idea of the unit's current condition and "readiness" to operate.   Finally the obvious; testing its welding performance.  Running it on low through high settings.  Running it on all polaritiy settings. Burn several electrodes on your own supplied scrap (and prepped) clean steel.  (Then again, you can't do this test because the voltage regulator is broke).  This is just me and my own set of rules before buying a used piece of equipment.  If the seller bocks at your simple inspection requests, I'd look elsewhere.  It's used equipment, so BUYER BEWARE!!!!!  Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:Originally Posted by Biglurr54I found a 2001 Miller Bobcat 250 for sale locally.  Ive been searching for a generator for my house and I feel like I can justify a welder/generator so I can learn to weld and have a much higher quality generator for when the power goes out.  The add states that it has new exhaust, new fuel pump, new fuel filter, fresh oil change, new air cleaner and it runs great.  The problem is that it needs a voltage regulator.  The add states that it is a $125 part.  To me it sounds like the unit may have a lot of hours on it if it has all of those parts go bad recently.  I think the price is more than fair.  Is there anything i should check when looking at it?  Could something bigger be wrong and the seller is disguising it as a voltage reg?  How hard are they to change and where can you get them?  I'm mechanically inclined but this is my first generator and my first welder. Thanks for the help.