Used engine driven welder?

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What should I look for when looking at a used engine driven welder a guy has a used miller bobcat 225 for sale and I might go look at it what are some main things to check on the engine driven welders? What are these worth used? Bobcat 225g plus welding/power generator 8000watt Thanks James Attached Images
Reply:Look for overall condition. You can easly see if the owner has taken good care of it. Regular oil changes are the main thing you are looking for. Check the airfilter to make sure is farily clean. I  don't know much about the Bobcat specfic issues, you don't want a unit that has been abused. Oil should be changed every 100 hours, look to see if it is clean, same with airfilter. I would pass on units with over 2000 hours. A five minute conversation with the owner should give you a good idea of the care. A lite used machine that has been well cared for is great. Make sure they let you used the machine before money changes hands.Mountain MetalDynasty 200DXCoolmate 1Miller Trailblazer 302 W/ KohlerMiller Suitcase 12VS Wire feederWeldcraft 26 TIG TorchMiller 210 Spoolmate 3035Thermal Dynamics 51 PlasmaVictor O/AJet  7x12 L Cooled Band SawDelta Drill Press
Reply:Bring some one with you when you go to look at it. Have some one run a grinder while you weld. The bobcat I have on a service truck can only do one or the other. Not both at a time as advertised.
Reply:Agree, bring someone with you.  Check for any blue smoke from exhaust at idle and while under load while welding.  Make sure it idles up correctly when striking arc or placed under electrical load and then idles back down when its supposed to.  Check amp selectors to make sure that they do in fact change current output when changed by welding at different settings.  And most important, try out the machine to the point that you are either satisfied or disatisfied with it.  You are the final judge.  Good luck, I hope it works out for you.A few of my toys !LinuxMintManjaroMiller Roughneck 2E Lincoln WeldPak 100HTP MTS 160 Chicago Electric 80amp Inverter   Victor O/A
Reply:what would be the most /least someone would put down for a good used machine do alot of contractors trade out machines every coupla years or wait until the machines are absoulety used up and try and get rid of themmiller maxstar 150   hobart handler 210 w mig conversion hobart 250 arc force plasma cutter    boston ind cutting torch miller performance auto darkening helmet milwalkee 14in chop saw 10,000 watt generator huge drill press and industrial band saw
Reply:Most contractors or equipment rental companies that I know of tend to get rid of their units when they are either used up or the expenses for repair or upkeep of the units start to outway the units value.  There are exceptions, but that has been the experience in my area.A few of my toys !LinuxMintManjaroMiller Roughneck 2E Lincoln WeldPak 100HTP MTS 160 Chicago Electric 80amp Inverter   Victor O/A
Reply:someone near me has a Lincoln Ranger 9 low hrs, around 700, this new listing doesnt say the hours, & I dont remember, but he has been trying to sell for 1 to 2 months, has 25 foot leads, & a 100 foot remote, but it is extremely weather worn, panels are extremely faded. he claimes no problems but only used it 13 hours. but says come try it out, right now he still isnt selling it at $1,000 I myself dont know anything about them, or his, but noticed the price, which has been steadily dropping almost every week. he keeps on I may have to look if they are decent machines?Randy
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749That's a good machine. Very reasonable hours, lots of life left in it. Being he has a remote, that increases value right there. I had a Ranger 8 some years ago, got it from a retired rental fleet. It was the ONLY good experience I have had with a rental machine.Of course, I got it for $1100 repainted with 960 hrs. It worked flawlessly until I sold it a couple years later.That machine should sell for $1200-1800 depending on geographics & demand. Even machines like these & in rough condition can bring high dollar in areas catering to rig & cross country welding. The face panel can be replaced, the sheet metal painted. If it works good, no problem.If you got it & the accessories for under $1400, you're doing quite well.Good luck.
Reply:JamminFab,basically there's two components to check out: the "welder/generator" and the "engine".Regarding the engine, look at the oil and SMELL the oil.  the carbs usually have an electric float shutoff that can go bad and fill the crankcase with fuel.  Pull the plugs and run a compression test, and if you can find a vacuum port, check that as well.Regarding the w/g,  take leads if not available and several different kinds of electrode.  Run it on all frequencies, voltages and currents (hi, low ac, dc+, dc-, and anything in between). weld with it hot and cold to see how the gen reacts.   Take a small drill (low amp draw) and a grinder (high amp draw) to make sure the "auto idle" will kick on/off.  Basically, run it "through the mill" And remember, what doesn't work can be fixed if the price is right.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:JamminFab,basically there's two components to check out: the "welder/generator" and the "engine".Regarding the engine, look at the oil and SMELL the oil.  the carbs usually have an electric fuel bowl shutoff that can go bad and fill the crankcase with fuel.  Pull the plugs and run a compression test, and if you can find a vacuum port, check that as well.Regarding the w/g,  take leads if not available and several different kinds of electrode.  Run it on all frequencies, voltages and currents (hi, low ac, dc+, dc-, and anything in between). weld with it hot and cold to see how the gen reacts.   Take a small drill (low amp draw) and a grinder (high amp draw) to make sure the "auto idle" will kick on/off.  Basically, run it "through the mill" And remember, what doesn't work can be fixed if the price is right.Also, regarding what it's worth, I've paid $500 for gems and $1200 for POS's, so you don't want me answering that 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....