My Weldanpower-It Runs!!!!!

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Decided to do some puttering around tonight with the Weldanpower I bought last week. Got it moved so I could get to the starter. Hooked up a jumper cable straight to the starter post, and it cranked. So I do have some issues in the starter system, but no biggie. Let it crank awhile, but no fire. So I pulled the spark plug to look for a spark. After using some emery cloth, got spark. Put it back together, still no fire. Then I realised I wasn't smelling any gas. I did put gas in the tank last week, so I knew there was gas there. Started looking around, found a fuel shut-off valve on the bottom of the tank. Yep, it was closed. Opened it up, gave it a minute, noticed a leak coming from the carb. Yay, getting gas. Decided it wasn't that big a leak and cranked it again. It started! Ran for about 30 seconds or so, lots of backfiring at first, but eventually that slowed up. It started slowing down just about the time I decided I should shut it off, no muffler and it was LOUD. I am sure I need to clean the carb. the gas leak stopped once the engine was running. It really needs a new air filter. I ran it without the one it has now. I didn't adjust the choke once it was running either. I was thrilled that it actaully ran.So now I need to work on the starting system. Got cheap jumper cables and it was getting very warm when I cranked it for more than a couple of seconds at a time. Besides, much safer using the starter button instead of a jumper cable. :-)I did not check to see if it was generating any electricity. will do that once I get a muffler on it. The slip rings do look unbroken, but do need a good cleaning. And then the final test, does it weld? I have a line on some cables. I had given a guy at work a bunch of 1/0 cable that I had gotten from a previous job. I was going to use some of them for a trunk mounted battery, but didn't think I was going to ever get it done. Anyway, he says he still has about 30 feet of it left, along with an electrode handle(can't remember the name) that I can have no charge. It will be enough to give this welder a good workout, eventually I will buy longer. Speaking of which, being broke like I am I have a question. I am about to take the exhaust off of my project Pinto. The muffler on it is in decent shape. This is a 4cylinder engine. Can I use this muffler on the welder? I know there would be some adapting, but I think it would make it quiet. But would there be any issues using a car muffler on this engine(B&S 16hp)? If there is no performance issue, quieter would be better.I also went to the Lincoln site and requested any information they could give me on this welder. Hopefully hear something back this next week. Thanks,RussLast edited by russ69coupe; 08-14-2010 at 08:57 PM.RIP Mallory, we miss you.
Reply:I now use a tractor muffler on mine but did use and oval car muffler for a long time on mine, It never hurt it and did quiet it down quite a bit. Might have to adjust the carb but should be fine."Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum"Lincoln Idealarc 250 AC/DCMillermatic 251   Syncrowave 300   30A spoolgunLincoln MP210Hypertherm 45(2) LN 25(2) Lincoln Weldanpower 225 CV(4) SA200   1 short hood    SA250    SAM 400
Reply:yeah, the carb probably needs to be rebuilt, so adjusting it is going to have to happen anyway. Just for fun I put the car muffler on the exhaust pipe. No clamp, just sitting there. It did quiet it down a little. I think it will work much better once I get a clamp to tighten it up. I am thinking about using some SeaFoam in the gas to see if that helps enough to not have to tear the carb apart for awhile. I have a 1979 Ford Pinto completely disassembled in the garage already, and there are parts all over. I can't even see the top of my workbench. I sort of feel like an idiot. I said that there was no voltage. There is a wire that is disconnected, that I even posted a picture of here, that I forgot all about. So I had better find where that goes before doing a whole bunch of other troubleshooting. And then I read about the possibility of needing to flash the brushes(and whatever all that entails). so I have two things to work on. I did get the wiring diagrams from Lincoln on Monday. Good thing I am an electronic tech already, or I'd be lost. :-) Probably won't get back to the garage until this weekend. Running the welder at 2am is not the most neighbor friendly thing I could do. Thanks,RussRIP Mallory, we miss you.
Reply:I think you will find that those engines are obnoxious no matter what you use for a muffler. Just the old technology."Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum"Lincoln Idealarc 250 AC/DCMillermatic 251   Syncrowave 300   30A spoolgunLincoln MP210Hypertherm 45(2) LN 25(2) Lincoln Weldanpower 225 CV(4) SA200   1 short hood    SA250    SAM 400