Reply to Thread

Re: Round top Idealarc 250 AC/DC

Originally Posted by jones6780

I am just a hobby welder fixing stuff for myself on the farm. This is an older Idealarc with the transformer bolted to the floor pan and has the AC in the middle position, no PF capacitors. Not looking to restore it just clean it up, lube and use. Couldn't pass it up for $30.16 and a 1 1/2 hour one way ride. They even loaded it on my trailer.

Jeez, I thought I stole mine at $60 with over 100' of good leads on it.

Re: Round top Idealarc 250 AC/DC

This is my 1990 era machine. This one was was assembled in Canada.

Re: Round top Idealarc 250 AC/DC

Originally Posted by FlyFishn

The welder made the move OK. I haven't unloaded it. This weekend has been crazy. I will see how the next couple days go.

Numbers:
Serial: AC 200838
Model: 250-250
Code: 5591

I'm not having a whole lot of luck searching those numbers. All I have found in documentation is a manual that has a note dated June 1989 that lists "codes" that include the 5591, but the note looks like a digital text overlay on top of the scanned original documentation. Link here:
https://www.lincolnelectric.com/asse...oln3/im206.pdf

1989 doesn't correlate to the early 70's that I was under the impression of based on the polarity switch having AC in the center position.

EDIT:

I found a service bulletin from 1993 (#9301) that appears to show serial number breaks in welders prior to 1993 when the formatting of the SN's changed. Link below:
https://m.lincolnelectric.com/en-us/...of_Machine.pdf

From this article - the SN I have is north of 1966 but south of 1967. So I take that to mean it was made in 1966. That would correlate to pre-early 70's.

don't fret if your new to you idealarc takes a few minor bumps during unloading. iirc the one (i had 2) pictured above rolled down a flight of terrazzo stairs without losing even an amp of output.

Re: Round top Idealarc 250 AC/DC

If the number listed is the beginning of the year then it indeed is a 1966. Good year for Lincoln. I have a 1966 SA200 I have restored. Great machines


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Re: Round top Idealarc 250 AC/DC

Originally Posted by Welder Dave

Like most serial number charts, they list the starting serial number for the year.

Bold added.

That was my thought - so it would be a 1966 because the starting SN for 1967 is higher than what mine is. That answers the question. Thanks!

If the SN's listed were the ENDING SN for the year then it would be a 1967 because my SN is higher than the SN for 1966. That does not look correct based on what Welder Dave states.

Re: Round top Idealarc 250 AC/DC

You might be able to get a specific build date if you called Lincoln, I'm not sure. The code makes more of a difference for parts, much more than serial number. Hobart has the best records on old machines. I restored a 1952 AC transformer machine and they told me not only its build date but the original purchaser. It was sold to a sheet metal shop in St Louis. I found it in St Louis, it didn't move much after it came from Troy, Ohio. I don't think Miller wrote anything down prior to the mid sixties, hard to get info on their older units.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Re: Round top Idealarc 250 AC/DC

Like most serial number charts, they list the starting serial number for the year. They aren't going to make a list of every single serial number and the year it was made. The list would be as long as an encyclopedia.

Re: Round top Idealarc 250 AC/DC

That’s what I’m looking at also


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Re: Round top Idealarc 250 AC/DC

Originally Posted by Sparkie1957

AC 200838 shows 1967 on my Lincoln information

What information are you looking at? Can you link to your reference here so I can compare?

Here is a screen shot from the document I referenced in the edit to my last post.

Attachment 1713831

Re: Round top Idealarc 250 AC/DC

AC 200838 shows 1967 on my Lincoln information


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Re: Round top Idealarc 250 AC/DC

The welder made the move OK. I haven't unloaded it. This weekend has been crazy. I will see how the next couple days go.

Numbers:
Serial: AC 200838
Model: 250-250
Code: 5591

I'm not having a whole lot of luck searching those numbers. All I have found in documentation is a manual that has a note dated June 1989 that lists "codes" that include the 5591, but the note looks like a digital text overlay on top of the scanned original documentation. Link here:
https://www.lincolnelectric.com/asse...oln3/im206.pdf

1989 doesn't correlate to the early 70's that I was under the impression of based on the polarity switch having AC in the center position.

EDIT:

I found a service bulletin from 1993 (#9301) that appears to show serial number breaks in welders prior to 1993 when the formatting of the SN's changed. Link below:
https://m.lincolnelectric.com/en-us/...of_Machine.pdf

From this article - the SN I have is north of 1966 but south of 1967. So I take that to mean it was made in 1966. That would correlate to pre-early 70's.

Re: Round top Idealarc 250 AC/DC

Originally Posted by FlyFishn

Thanks for the info. I am aware of the wiring change already, if need-be.

I don't know the whole story yet but I am hoping to get more of it when I pick it up.

It is from a rural community. The current owner acquired it from the shop where it was in service for trailer repair type work. He was in the right spot at the right time when they upgraded equipment and was able to take it home. He has not had a chance to learn how to weld and does not have the wiring in place for it at home.

Having been around that part of the state before, there are a lot of businesses there that have been "stuck in time". You drive around town and go in to a lot of places seemingly as if they haven't changed for generations. So it would not surprise me in the least if the shop the machine is out of was its original home straight out of the factory.

And that could also explain why the machine is in such good shape - if it rolled around the same shop for the past 60 years or so and didn't relocate then I can see it never getting banged around in transit, so to speak.

I can start another thread on it once I get it and can get my own pictures.

Speaking of pictures....

Does anyone have a picture, or can reference one, of what the early versions of these machines looked like out of the factory? I have seen a lot of restoration pictures and I am not sure what labeling and colors (like of the big crank knob) are "correct" for the generation machine it is? I suppose some of that will come down to the serial number break down on what year it was made also.

you wanted pics so here are a couple. i'm not sure how old this idealarc is. i believe it was made in the 1960's so taking the big picture into account it's not really an early model. the d.o.c. had about a dozen or so in it's shops where i worked;all banged up but every one welded like new. as you can see the original current adjustment wheel is missing and shows my "restoration".

Re: Round top Idealarc 250 AC/DC

The serial number will give you the year but the code number in important for parts ordering and wiring diagrams. The old versions are easy to tell as they have a plate around their on/off switch similar to what is around the polarity switch. Also the plates are green not black. The hoods are one piece not two like the newer ones with the separate side panel above the power cord entrance.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Re: Round top Idealarc 250 AC/DC

Originally Posted by Sparkie1957

Good luck Fly, don’t let it hurt you! Did you say it came out of a school? If so it could be wired at it’s on/off switch for 460 volts. It can be changed back to 230 by moving one wire. It’s no big deal. Let me know and I can tell you what to do

Thanks for the info. I am aware of the wiring change already, if need-be.

I don't know the whole story yet but I am hoping to get more of it when I pick it up.

It is from a rural community. The current owner acquired it from the shop where it was in service for trailer repair type work. He was in the right spot at the right time when they upgraded equipment and was able to take it home. He has not had a chance to learn how to weld and does not have the wiring in place for it at home.

Having been around that part of the state before, there are a lot of businesses there that have been "stuck in time". You drive around town and go in to a lot of places seemingly as if they haven't changed for generations. So it would not surprise me in the least if the shop the machine is out of was its original home straight out of the factory.

And that could also explain why the machine is in such good shape - if it rolled around the same shop for the past 60 years or so and didn't relocate then I can see it never getting banged around in transit, so to speak.

I can start another thread on it once I get it and can get my own pictures.

Speaking of pictures....

Does anyone have a picture, or can reference one, of what the early versions of these machines looked like out of the factory? I have seen a lot of restoration pictures and I am not sure what labeling and colors (like of the big crank knob) are "correct" for the generation machine it is? I suppose some of that will come down to the serial number break down on what year it was made also.

Re: Round top Idealarc 250 AC/DC

Good luck Fly, don’t let it hurt you! Did you say it came out of a school? If so it could be wired at it’s on/off switch for 460 volts. It can be changed back to 230 by moving one wire. It’s no big deal. Let me know and I can tell you what to do


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Re: Round top Idealarc 250 AC/DC

Originally Posted by Sparkie1957

The Idealarc 250 came out in around 1956 and stayed with the round top look until around 1989. The new square bodies are virtually the same welder in different sheet metal. My guess is they stack better in school welding labs or industrial settings.
There is a serial number break on the changed polarity switch with AC in the middle to DC+. I think that happened in the early 70’s
They are wonderful welders and are worth the bargain prices you guys paid. Ask yourself, wouldn’t you rather pay $100 for a extremely well respected and heavy duty AC/DC stick machine or $300+ for a new AC225 buzz box? Not a close call for me but to each his own

Thanks for the info. From the pictures I've seen this unit is in as good of shape as anyone could hope to find one from the outside. All the cables are in good shape - they aren't cut, kinked, not wrapped with tape. The power cord is in good shape with no visible stress/strain at the connector. Nothing is frayed. The work clamp and electrode holder have some wear/use - but I've used worse ones fine. The paint is worn and there is some surface rust. The machine is pretty dirty (shop dirt/dust, no rats nests that I can tell and it is in a really clean and well-kept garage). For $100, even if the diodes are bad or something else wonky, I'd say the machine is in as good of shape as anyone could hope to find one in and well worth the cost.

The machines I've seen on Ebay are going for close to $1000 shipped (truck freight included in that).

Saturday is "moving day". I'll get my truck tomorrow mid-day and then do some figuring out of how the hoist will work. This ought' to be fun!

Re: Round top Idealarc 250 AC/DC

Originally Posted by Oldendum

My Idealarc with the tricycle cart is 39" tall to the top of the lift ring.

I will have to measure the opening in the truck bed, but I think that will fit. I want to say I have 42 to 48 inches, somewhere in there, to the window frame when opened. The hard part is the height of the set up with the hoist above from which to lift from - can I "reach in" underneath the window frame to set the machine down, or will I have to set it down outside on the tailgate? I will cross that bridge tomorrow when I get my truck back. I might set up a platform of some kind.

Can these machines be laid down on their side or back without damaging the cabinet much under the weight?

Re: Round top Idealarc 250 AC/DC

My Idealarc with the tricycle cart is 39" tall to the top of the lift ring.

Re: Round top Idealarc 250 AC/DC

The Idealarc 250 came out in around 1956 and stayed with the round top look until around 1989. The new square bodies are virtually the same welder in different sheet metal. My guess is they stack better in school welding labs or industrial settings.
There is a serial number break on the changed polarity switch with AC in the middle to DC+. I think that happened in the early 70’s
They are wonderful welders and are worth the bargain prices you guys paid. Ask yourself, wouldn’t you rather pay $100 for a extremely well respected and heavy duty AC/DC stick machine or $300+ for a new AC225 buzz box? Not a close call for me but to each his own


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Re: Round top Idealarc 250 AC/DC

I cant recall but sometime in the 60's if my memory serves me correctly. It has the capacitor in it.

Re: Round top Idealarc 250 AC/DC

Year doesn't matter as long it works, just like SA200's. Mind you older SA200's can bring big money and are preferred over the newer models...sometimes even when they don't work.

Re: Round top Idealarc 250 AC/DC

Originally Posted by N2 Welding

Nice machine. Sure wish the one that followed me home had the high frequency box that was on it before I found it. I've only used a handful of stick welders and this one made all others feel like wanna be welder toys.

I dont get to use it much either it just sits in the garage waiting to be used.

Attachment 1710523

What year is your Idealarc 250? From the cart frame I see that's the same as the one I have lined up. Just curious to see abouts putting another timeframe on it. It has the AC in the middle on the switch - so no newer than early 70's I gather. I'm not sure if the cart says anything more?

Re: Round top Idealarc 250 AC/DC

Originally Posted by FlyFishn

Not sure 2 guys can lift it to get on to my truck bed.

The welder alone weighs 360lbs. Cart adds at least another 70ish. I've done 3.5 men to load one and do not recommend it.

Re: Round top Idealarc 250 AC/DC

I assume the current adjustment is a variac of sorts?

Re: Round top Idealarc 250 AC/DC

Originally Posted by KC51

Mine measures 39" to top of lift loop. It's on a 4 wheel newer style running gear.
For a $100 I'd figure out a way to drag it home.
Lay it on it's back? Load with appliance hand trucks or ramp.
Good luck they are heavy but as others have said are great welders.

Yeah I thought about the tipping over idea. However, the hoisting point is from the top and I am thinking at that weight if I pull it off the cart and lay it over then throw a sling around it the weight of the unit will collapse the housing during the lift. Thats the last thing I want to do.

If the welder will lay over OK without damaging the housing I suppose I could lay it over on to a platform then use that as the hoisting point. That way the platform spreads the load out and the pressure on the slings can't cinch down on the housing (which is what my fear of collapsing the housing comes from).