Hey Gary,
Seems like this is really getting more confusing as we go. You keep referring to a 4 wire/4 pole plug or receptacle on your unit. Is there a 4 prong twist-lok receptacle on your unit? If there is, do you use it and have any equip. that has a 4-prong MALE plug? If you don't use it, then just eliminate it and replace it with a 3-prong FEMALE twist-lok receptacle. Ok...let's start at the beginning again and see if you can follow me and Aevald to get you where you want to go......
(1) Two BLACK WIRES are HOT= 110VAC each
(2) Two WHITE WIRES are NEUTRAL/GROUND.....They should be common as all generators have these connected to the frame so in case of a shorted circuit, the current flows to GROUND directly. OK so far??
(3) Your plug on your welder is MALE and has either straight blade prongs, or angled blade prongs, or is a 3 prong twist-lok. Which plug (MALE) is on your welder? Look at the photo of my generator. Which receptacle would your welder plug into?
(4) Just remember that the 2 BLACK wires are your 110v HOT leads and will connect to one each of the straight blades, angle blades, or curved L blade and longer curve blade on the twist-lok. The "hole" on the FEMALE recept. is always the GROUND/NEUTRAL. Look for the GREEN screw on the twist-lok to be sure of the ground slot.
(5) Take an Ohmmeter and do a continuity check on both the generator WHITE wires. They should both have continuity to GROUND on the chassis.
(6) If you are going to set up for 3 prong/blade wiring, then you will use the 2 BLACK for your HOT blade connections on your 220v FEMALE recept., and one WHITE wire can go to this FEMALE "hole" or GREEN screw, and the other WHITE wire can go to one of the 110v receptacle screws...usually the SILVER one. Then you only have to run ONE hot (BLACK) jumper lead from one of the blades on the 220v FEMALE recept. to the BRASS screw on the 110v recept.
This should have you set up, hopefully.
PLAY IT SAFE.....Before you start up the generator, have an electrician just look at the connections to be sure you're gonna be good to go. He can do a quick check to make sure there are no wrong hook-ups.
Sorry if we got you more confused, Gary. Don't feel ignorant. Wiring can get complicated. Give us an update.......Denny
Sorry 'bout the "hole" pun......