1956 SA-200 Rebuild

[Wascator]

Hi, I am new to this forum and have found a lot of great information here already. I have a 1956 SA-200 Short Hood, which I am rebuilding. I have the engine in a local shop for some work I could not do at home, meanwhile I have removed the exciter and armature from the welder. Because I need to clean the frame up for paint, I am going to remove the generator frame and the end cap with all the controls on it. I made a sketch of the wires and where they go; not too hard to get right, seems like.
I have a question: someone broke out some of the bars on the fan screen to get access to the flywheel, as is typical, and I want to fix this. Has anyone ever cut bars out of a junk machine and welded them in? This is what I plan to do. If someone has a junk machine they could cut some bars from and sell to me, I would be glad to hear from them.Also if someone has made this repair, let me know any advice you have.
I plan to polish the commutator bars some; none are loose or raised up. I will check with a meter as described elsewhere on this Forum.The center bearing looked good and turns very freely and smoothly.
How can I get the battery compartment door off? Is the hinge pin braded or?
Just need some general information as this is my first Lincoln SA 200.

[CEP]

I Think it was my 48 that I had to replace some bars in the fan screen when I tore it down to paint. Seems as I remember using 3/16 inch key stock. I Tig welded them in, and I kept the ground clamp right next to the bar I was welding on.

[hobohilton]

I don't have any "hinge" on any of my short hood battery box doors. Can you send us a photo?

[Wascator]

OK, I will. My unit's door has a steel, piano-type hinge on the bottom, both halves welded. I will get a photo later when I get home.
Otherwise, my machine looks like yours in the photo (without the nice new paint but it's coming).
Another item I willneed info on: location of the radiator-end controls. The choke and starter button I pretty-much know; the on-off switch, I think, should be on the mag side, no?
Thanks!

[CEP]

My unit's door has a steel, piano-type hinge on the bottom, both halves welded.

Somebody added that, here is the back of my 48, same as my 54. Well the grille is different.

[Wascator]

I can take a grinder and eliminate the hinge easy enough. The photos are great, can't be too many. Thanks! I picked my engine up today. I wonder how many can be reassembled with standard-size bearings and rings after 56 years? If it had not been for the rain getting into #1, it would have been in nice condition. I hope the generator is as healthy.