|
Posted by SteveB on February 26, 2008, 12:39 pm
Please log in for more thread options
I'm looking at buying a portable welding machine. I am considering
something like a Miller Bobcat or Miller TrailMaster, or Lincoln Ranger 250.
I am concerned about the motors. I have heard some negative about the
Kohler, or was that the Onan?
Do any of you have any of these machines, and if so, which do you prefer and
why? Which motor is the best for lasting?
I'm going to use this for portable light repairs, and know that I could get
by with a smaller machine (and may opt to do so) but I don't like being
limited when someone wants something thicker welded, and I have to decline
the money because of a wimpy machine, even though it's a brand name.
Input appreciated.
Steve
|
|
Posted by Grant Erwin on February 26, 2008, 3:00 pm
Please log in for more thread options
SteveB wrote:
> I'm looking at buying a portable welding machine. I am considering
> something like a Miller Bobcat or Miller TrailMaster, or Lincoln Ranger 250.
>
> I am concerned about the motors. I have heard some negative about the
> Kohler, or was that the Onan?
>
> Do any of you have any of these machines, and if so, which do you prefer and
> why? Which motor is the best for lasting?
>
> I'm going to use this for portable light repairs, and know that I could get
> by with a smaller machine (and may opt to do so) but I don't like being
> limited when someone wants something thicker welded, and I have to decline
> the money because of a wimpy machine, even though it's a brand name.
>
> Input appreciated.
>
> Steve
>
>
All motor parts are expensive. All small gas engines wear out after what
2500 hours? If you want longevity you need to buy diesel but now you're
talking HUGE dough.
What guys were saying was that Onan parts are expensive, and to avoid newer
Onan motors.
Grant
|
|
Posted by SteveB on February 26, 2008, 9:19 pm
Please log in for more thread options
> SteveB wrote:
>
>> I'm looking at buying a portable welding machine. I am considering
>> something like a Miller Bobcat or Miller TrailMaster, or Lincoln Ranger
>> 250.
>>
>> I am concerned about the motors. I have heard some negative about the
>> Kohler, or was that the Onan?
>>
>> Do any of you have any of these machines, and if so, which do you prefer
>> and why? Which motor is the best for lasting?
>>
>> I'm going to use this for portable light repairs, and know that I could
>> get by with a smaller machine (and may opt to do so) but I don't like
>> being limited when someone wants something thicker welded, and I have to
>> decline the money because of a wimpy machine, even though it's a brand
>> name.
>>
>> Input appreciated.
>>
>> Steve
>
> All motor parts are expensive. All small gas engines wear out after what
> 2500 hours? If you want longevity you need to buy diesel but now you're
> talking HUGE dough.
>
> What guys were saying was that Onan parts are expensive, and to avoid
> newer
> Onan motors.
>
> Grant
Guess I had a good one. All I did was change oil and spark plugs and air
filters. About '88 IIRC. Put an ad in the local rag for a used one, and am
going to look at the dealers and talk to them re: new ones. Just wondering
if anyone had any preferences. Would like one that burns 1/8" rod without
heating up too much. But most of the work would be light welding, and power
for tools. Portable repair type of thing.
Steve
|
|
Posted by Ernie Leimkuhler on February 28, 2008, 1:45 am
Please log in for more thread options
> > SteveB wrote:
> >
> >> I'm looking at buying a portable welding machine. I am considering
> >> something like a Miller Bobcat or Miller TrailMaster, or Lincoln Ranger
> >> 250.
> >>
> >> I am concerned about the motors. I have heard some negative about the
> >> Kohler, or was that the Onan?
> >>
> >> Do any of you have any of these machines, and if so, which do you prefer
> >> and why? Which motor is the best for lasting?
> >>
> >> I'm going to use this for portable light repairs, and know that I could
> >> get by with a smaller machine (and may opt to do so) but I don't like
> >> being limited when someone wants something thicker welded, and I have to
> >> decline the money because of a wimpy machine, even though it's a brand
> >> name.
> >>
> >> Input appreciated.
> >>
> >> Steve
> >
> > All motor parts are expensive. All small gas engines wear out after what
> > 2500 hours? If you want longevity you need to buy diesel but now you're
> > talking HUGE dough.
> >
> > What guys were saying was that Onan parts are expensive, and to avoid
> > newer
> > Onan motors.
> >
> > Grant
>
> Guess I had a good one. All I did was change oil and spark plugs and air
> filters. About '88 IIRC. Put an ad in the local rag for a used one, and am
> going to look at the dealers and talk to them re: new ones. Just wondering
> if anyone had any preferences. Would like one that burns 1/8" rod without
> heating up too much. But most of the work would be light welding, and power
> for tools. Portable repair type of thing.
>
> Steve
I picked up a cherry Miller AEAD200LE a little over a year ago.
It was made in '86, but has seen little use, mainly as a generator for a
mountain cabin.
It runs smooth as glass.
I just had to do some cosmetic cleanup and replace some old wires inside.
It has an Onan engine, but I have yet to have any trouble from it.
I paid $650 and count myself lucky for being the first to respond to the
Craigslist ad.
There are some new small import diesels from China.
They seem to be OK.
|
|
Posted by Drew McEachren on February 27, 2008, 1:31 am
Please log in for more thread options Steve:
Trailblazer, hands down. Bobcat second choice. Ranger 250 last but not
least.
You'll get the best bang for the buck, and if you are already considering
the price of the Bobcat, for a little bit more you get a huge jump in
machine. It will do anything you need short of running 3/8 gouging rods. I
have an older bobcat (no problems at all, and I have punished it hard) that
was my main portable machine and upgraded to/added the Trailblazer. One
thing that I looked at was price (heavily influenced by the fact that
another friend of mine/competitor runs six of them for his portable
business) The other was warranty (also influenced by aforementioned friend).
If you can't make it pay for itself in the warranty time, then the chance
is, if your machine "lasts 2500 hours", then it may well outlast you.
I only say Ranger last but not least because I just seem to prefer the blue
to the red for a portable welder. Some guys are vice versa, but really for
the best money see above paragraph. Don't get me wrong, I also run
lincolns in my fab shop. There are some things that I do prefer red to blue
for and some of thier wire machines are unbeatable. They just leave
something to be desired unless you move up the model ladder to a Vantage
Diesel and those are as mentioned before....... "huge dollars"
Just my $.02 worth.
Drew
> I'm looking at buying a portable welding machine. I am considering
> something like a Miller Bobcat or Miller TrailMaster, or Lincoln Ranger
> 250.
>
> I am concerned about the motors. I have heard some negative about the
> Kohler, or was that the Onan?
>
> Do any of you have any of these machines, and if so, which do you prefer
> and why? Which motor is the best for lasting?
>
> I'm going to use this for portable light repairs, and know that I could
> get by with a smaller machine (and may opt to do so) but I don't like
> being limited when someone wants something thicker welded, and I have to
> decline the money because of a wimpy machine, even though it's a brand
> name.
>
> Input appreciated.
>
> Steve
>
|
| Similar Threads | Posted | | Welder Choice for Newbie? | April 18, 2008, 3:53 pm |
| cheap+safe+fast=your choice ==www.topowerlevel.com | May 20, 2007, 10:01 am |
| rich welder - sell Welding Equipment & Machines & mask,Power Tools,Motorcycle & Welding helmet,CUT,TIG,MIG,MMA,BX welder | June 30, 2008, 2:20 am |
| spot welder attachment for arc welder? | December 1, 2007, 2:55 pm |
| F/S ARC welder | June 16, 2007, 7:39 am |
| Looking for a TIG welder | July 13, 2007, 11:28 am |
| O/A or Mig for first welder? | February 14, 2008, 12:07 pm |
| Teledyne MIG welder? | April 10, 2007, 11:12 pm |
| Question on Tig welder | May 12, 2007, 8:42 pm |
| Type of welder? | May 16, 2007, 2:58 pm |
|
|
Yahoo! 
Google 
Windows Live 
del.icio.us 
digg 
Netscape 
XML Sitemap
> something like a Miller Bobcat or Miller TrailMaster, or Lincoln Ranger 250.
>
> I am concerned about the motors. I have heard some negative about the
> Kohler, or was that the Onan?
>
> Do any of you have any of these machines, and if so, which do you prefer and
> why? Which motor is the best for lasting?
>
> I'm going to use this for portable light repairs, and know that I could get
> by with a smaller machine (and may opt to do so) but I don't like being
> limited when someone wants something thicker welded, and I have to decline
> the money because of a wimpy machine, even though it's a brand name.
>
> Input appreciated.
>
> Steve
>
>