Sa-200 Control Handles

[DGB]

Hi Everyone, I spent the last two days in glorious weather working on the old SA-200s I bought to fix up. These babies have suffered a lot of abuse over the years, not the least of which is exposure to the elements. I of course expect to replace the face plates or at least put decals on, I noticed that I need to pull the handles on the range and fine adjustment controls. I sprayed them down with a generous dose of penetrating oil and waited about an hour before attempting to remove them. I did get one set off but the hex socket set screws were so rusted out that the hex key just turned inside them as the rust crumbled away on the other machines. I can get these handles off but they will be destroyed. My question is, does anyone know of a source for replacement handles that won't cost a king's ransom? I haven't checked with Lincoln yet but I doubt the will have them. Of course they may have a slightly different replacement. I would be interested in hearing from anybody out there that has replaced these. Possibly someone knows of a supplier of this sort of hardware that is generic.

[classiclincoln]

Dave I would check with www.lincolnelectric.com but the control handles [i.e.adjustment knobs]will only be plastic.You can also order sa 200 lincoln parts through red ball oxygen and request info.

Also http://www.weldmart.com carries obsolete sa 200 lincoln parts.

http://www.redballoxygen.com/request_info.php

You can also take a drill bit the size of the set screws in the adjustment knobs and drill them out and take a small propane torch and put some heat on the adjustment knobs and take a set of vice grips and turn them and they will come right off.Re-tap the drilled holes and go to napa or your nearest part store and get some new allen head set screws to reinstall them.I prefer the original knobs my self and before you reinstall them you can clean them up and repaint them.

Hope this helps.

God bless.

Steve.

[DGB]

You can also take a drill bit the size of the set screws in the adjustment knobs and drill them out and take a small propane torch and put some heat on the adjustment knobs and take a set of vice grips and turn them and they will come right off.Re-tap the drilled holes and go to napa or your nearest part store and get some new allen head set screws to reinstall them.I prefer the original knobs my self and before you reinstall them you can clean them up and repaint them.


I have done the drill out procedure before but it's rather tough to do without scraping and scratching up the face plate. The particular set I am refering to is partially rusted away and in my opinion not worth saving. I tend to refer to them as handles as they are not really knobs. I keep thinking there is a better term for them. I guess I ought to look at the parts break down in the manuals to see what Lincoln calls them. I just looked it up, they refer to them as selector switch handles. I agree with you that the old steel handles are better than plastic but sometimes you gotta take what you can get. If I could find some that weren't rust pitted as all mine are, I would send them to my Son who has a friend that does chrome plating. I think that would protect them as well as look great. I don't remember what they looked like new because it's been a long time since I saw a new machine. I believe they were electroplated with cadmium but I can't say for sure. That stuff is a lot easier and cheaper to do than chrome but it doesn't handle the exposure to weather as well. Hot dip galvinizing would have been the best and cheapest protection but it isn't very attractive. Thanks for the tips on the sources. If I get up against the wall and have nothing else to do during the business day I will start calling around. Eventually I will be forced to that point.

[classiclincoln]

Dave I did not realize your handles were in such bad shape.I will try and remove a couple from one of my part machines and if successful I will net you know.I could ship them by my wife UPS Ground.

Have a blessed day.

Steven.

[DGB]

Dave I did not realize your handles were in such bad shape.I will try and remove a couple from one of my part machines and if successful I will net you know.I could ship them by my wife UPS Ground.


Thanks Steve

[lincolnwelderboy]

Hey, I just seen that stumpf has original metal knobs on their website for sale... http://www.stumpfweldingsupplies.com/200parts_2.html

[Hammack_Welding]

Hey, I just seen that stumpf has original metal knobs on their website for sale... http://www.stumpfweldingsupplies.com/200parts_2.html

That's where I got mine from.