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Up Topic Welding Industry / General Welding Discussion / SA200 on propane
- - By OxbowCS (*) Date 11-16-2008 03:17
Looking at a early 70's SA200,  motor has less than 100 hrs on rebuild, new brushes and windings, guy is selling it cheap.  The machiene is currently set up for propane.  Just wondering if anybody has any thoughts on pros and cons of this set up.  Buying regardless can swap back to gas later on if needed.
Parent - By uphill (***) Date 11-16-2008 03:27
Oxbow,
Engines run on propane can sometimes have trouble seating the piston rings so if it burns a little oil you might want to switch over to gas. I know propane is expensive to buy and a pain to carry spares(special racks that protect valves ect). Nice that it can be run inside if needed. Does it still have provisions for the fuel tank?
Good luck
Uphill
Parent - - By DaveBoyer (*****) Date 11-16-2008 05:02
Engines will last longer on propane because it does not contaminate the lube oil as much as gasoline.
Propane does not gum up over long periods of storage like gasoline does.

We didn't have ring seating problems with the propane fork trucks at the plant, but the other PITA problems Uphill mentioned might cause You to put a carb on it.
Parent - - By gshuma (**) Date 11-16-2008 19:45
DaveBoyer is right. At one time there were 1000s of those little 163s that powered forklifts. At 100 hours (think 100 x 50mph or 5000 miles) the gas trucks were long past time for an oil change. The oil in the propane trucks was still green. Propane and gas were about the same price so we ran propane to double or triple the life of the motors. By todays standards they had a very short life. A gas truck would require a new motor 1 shift 12 months or 2000 hours. Think 40 hours a week times 50 weeks times 50 MPH and you get 100,000 miles. With todays motors they easily get 2 to 3 years and 3 shifts. Think 120 hours a week times 150 times 50 MPH, that's almost a million miles.
If you need fuel in the field gas or diesel is the only way to go.
Parent - - By OxbowCS (*) Date 11-17-2008 02:41
Thanks for the replies to my question. checked it out today.  No smoke, oil looks good (as per your replies I assume), new mag, has all sheetmetal except sides and gas tank.  also got 200 ft of 2/0 lead.  Puts down a bead like a dream.  For $1000 I can aford to put it back on gas. 

also got paper work for the rebuild
Parent - - By chris2698 (****) Date 11-17-2008 05:09
cool sounds like a good deal
Parent - By OxbowCS (*) Date 11-18-2008 03:09
Looking forward to puting it to work. 
Up Topic Welding Industry / General Welding Discussion / SA200 on propane

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