Hobart Portable Welders

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Government Liquidation has 23 slightly used Hobart Model DCC-353-P, 350 amp, Perkins diesel powered machines ready to go for auction beginning 12/2/08.They can be found by logging in on Government Liquidations web site at:http://www.govliquidation.com/The items are located in Mechanicsburg, PA at the Navy Depot.  The machines range in usage hours of 42 up to 119.7.  Most machines look almost new, in the pictures.  They are ALL without sheet metal top or doors, which leads me to believe they were pulled from no longer in use Contact Repair Vehicles, or ship board units.  Just a guess, don't know for sure.They are listed within Event# 3771,  Lot #'s 5063 thru 5086.Just so you all know,  I DO NOT work for Gov Liq.  I do participate in their auctions from time to time.
Reply:These welders may have been removed from Army welding shop trailers.  I found a web site that mentioned that.
Reply:I tried the numbers. They must be hiding the welders .[SIZE="5"Yardbird"
Reply:Oops.  Should be Event # 3771,  Lot #'s 5065 (not 5063) thru 5086.If that doesn't work, try typing in the search block  "welder"  should come up with all machines available for auction, world wide.
Reply:Can anyone check their Nostradamus book... see if he predicted how much the welders are gonna sell for? Where the arc-light shines brightest,Fueled by lamp oil, and burning of carbon.... Looks like the oil and fuel filters are pulled.No rain caps on the exhaust, and they're stored outdoors; I wonder if they took a drink?Last edited by denrep; 11-30-2008 at 05:20 PM.
Reply:If the oil and fuel filters are removed from all the machines, I wouldn't be too concerned.  However, the "rain" cap is another issue.  Units are required to remove all fuels and lubes prior to items being sent to auction.  At least they left the fuel filler and oil filler caps in place.  I have seen machines come in with those removed.  A few months ago GovLiq had Heidelberg printing presses listed.  I contacted a buyer of that equipment (I dabble in printing equipment also) and he said the machines could be worth up to $45,000.00 each (what he would pay).  I visited the site and took pictures of the machines.  Idiots had stored them outside, Ruined.  What could have been a good buy for me and very profitable with resale, turned in to nothing more than "boat anchors".  Whoever did buy them, never inspected them.I have to make a trip near the auction location, I may stop and check the machines out.  I'll post more info when I do.  Here's a pic of one of the machines. Attached Images
Reply:Talkin' about the rain  cap.  I could not stand the noise & racket the rain cap made on my Lincoln S A 250 ( when running ) , so i always use a oxygen cylinder cap on the exhaust pipe ,( muffler ) then remove it before starting up . always has worked good. It's heavy enough that high winds won't blow it off , like might happen to a tin can.[SIZE="5"Yardbird"
Reply:Hmmm, only 2405 lbs each.  Not 2000, not 2200, not 2400, but 2405 lbs.  You're not going to pick that up by hand or put it in a car!  The 'original' price on the units (at least some that I glanced at) was about $16k.  Each.I'm interested in any info paweldor comes back with on the units.  I -hate- when some idjit ruins something that could have had use or value by improper storage or transport.  Grrrr.  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:Oh, and those machines look like they are ~25 years old (per the nameplates).The usage seems to be about 2 to 4 hours per year over that 25 year span, give or take a little.  Or 50-100 hours of use in the first year and nothing since then.    The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:Wheres the sense in selling them when they arent even broken in ?? My Hobart portable is 68 years old and I would take it to a job any time with no second thoughts about reliability. Moonrise do they have a big ac generator built in to command that high of an original selling price?
Reply:I'm heading there tomorrow at 9 a.m. to get a look see at these machines.  I plan on getting some more pictures also.  Machines appear to have been mfg in 1983.  I wonder where these have been sitting for all these years.  I'd almost bet in some National Guard or Reserve maintenance unit that never got called to active duty.  Would explain the low hours.  If they were removed from a trailer, they should have been covered to prevent water from entering the exhaust.  However, they've been outside for awhile now, and, we've had lots of rain lately.It's a shame, but the way they store some of the stuff going for auction (outside) really leaves a lot to be desired.  Government liquidation receives a 10% buyers premium for everything they sell for the U.S. Government.  You'd think they'd take better care of it.  I've seen almost new stuff turned to junk by leaving it exposed to the weather.Even if you never buy from them, it's amazing the amount of our invested tax dollars that's going for auction throughout the year.  If one is looking for shop equipment, or vehicles, sometimes this is the place to look.  Even had a manure spreader on there once.  The best one I discovered was "Portable Mine Field Marking Kit".  Now there's something every man needs.  Can't even count the number ofnights sleep I've missed wanting one of them things.  Or, how about the "exam table w/ stirrups"  Whoa hoa......Hmmmmmm
Reply:Gee makes me wish I was back up at my farm in NY. I have boughts lots of stuff at that depot before.And your right about inspecting the stuff before you bid. Manytimes there pictures do not acturately show the item. Nothing like bidding on an item and showing up to pick it up and find out its pile of rust. Or there's no way without spending a fortune to restore it to operating condition.TomCo-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:Originally Posted by lars66Wheres the sense in selling them when they arent even broken in ?? My Hobart portable is 68 years old and I would take it to a job any time with no second thoughts about reliability. Moonrise do they have a big ac generator built in to command that high of an original selling price?
Reply:Paweldor, You should take a screwdriver with you; try to paddle the engines over by the flywheel.Looks like they haven't been hot enough to burn the olive drab paint off the exhaust systems yet. The trouble is, the engines are sort of worth more than the complete welders. Time will tell.Good Luck
Reply:Checked the welders out today.  They "seem" to be in real decent shape.  I didn't turn any of the engines over to check for seizure.I did look down the mufflers, all had water laying in the bottom of the elbow that goes back up to the exhaust ports.  Because of the design of the manifold and that elbow, it is lower than the ports.  I pulled a couple of dipsticks to see if any water was in oil pan (remember, they drain all fluids).  No water found.  As one poster mentioned, these machines haven't been run long enough to burn the paint off the manifolds.  All the wiring is in great shape.  Even if one has to tear the engine down, clean and regasket, it would be worth the effort.The engines are Perkins 4-236 models.All in all, they look in real decent shape.  They're 25 years old, so I'd bet a months pay they were Guard or Reserve owned prior to being upgraded.Good Luck, if you intend to bid on one or more.  Bring a truck as these babies are heavy.
Reply:The race is on!About $2500 and climbing.
Reply:Lowest winning bid was $1500.   Highest was $3100.Did anybody from this forum buy one?