welding machine

[lunbrjck]

Howdy all I'm in the market for a gas powered welding machine and have it narrowed down to 2 machines. The Lincoln Ranger 305G and the Miller Trailblazer 302. Has anyone or does anyone own or use either of these and what to you think of the machines. Thanks for all the help

 

[AlanB]

Own a trailblazer (older model though, I think mine is a 251) and close freind reps for Lincoln and runs a Ranger (on a Ranger buggy at that )

Kind of a Ford Chevy debate, I own both miller and Lincoln, Fords and Chevrolets.

They are all pretty good from my vantage point.

Here is my hotrod

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...-cart-gas-vs-electric-2006_0415welder0001.jpg

 

[George2615]

I have the Miller Bobcat 250NT. 20HP engine, 10KW, 250 amp, welder / generator. It cost a little less than the 302. At the time I needed to replace my old Sears buzz box welder and a 5KW generator so I bought one unit to serve both my needs. I like my 250. I use it several times a month and its portable. I mounted big 6" diameter wheels to the shipping crate it came on so I can roll it around. I can load it in my pickup with the tractor or on my trailer for off site jobs. I think it was a good investment.

 

[allengentry]

What will you be doing with your welder?

How versatile do you need it to be?

 

[tommu56]

I have one a little smaller but its fine for me a hobart champion 4500

http://www.hobartwelders.com/pdf/spec_sheets/champ4500.pdf

tommu

 

[lunbrjck]

have 37 acres and a couple tractors to take care of something always breaking do alot of fabrication for others in the area weld anything from light gage metal to heavy steel just trying to get a feel for the 2 welders problems likes and dislikes and so on

 

[JESSE1]

I have a Miller Trailblazer 302. So far I've been very satisfied with it. I'm currently building pipe fence and using 6011 rods. It's hard to stick a rod with this machine. If I can weld reasonably well with it I can only imagine what a pro could do with it.

 

[afish]

I too am interested in a 302 trailblazer. Looks like you can get it with a onan or kohler egine. Anyone have any opinions on which is better?

 

[AlanB]

Onan is more the welding industry standard, Kohler is more the world Standard.

I have the Onan, but would rather have the Kohler when I have problems.

 

[JESSE1]

I too am interested in a 302 trailblazer. Looks like you can get it with a onan or kohler egine. Anyone have any opinions on which is better?

My Trailblazer has the Onan/Robin engine. The dealer I use prefers this engine over the Kohler, says they have had fewer problems with the Onan. I think either engine would work fine.

 

[lunbrjck]

I have a Simplicity tractor that has the Kohler engine. It is 13 years old and have had no problems with the motor at all. I will go with the Kohler engine.

 

[skidsteer.ca]

I have a miller 280 which grew into the 300 a year or so after I bought it. (5 years old now) We have 380 hours on it and the only problem has been the fuel guage, believe the float sunk as it no longer moves. Otherwise vary happy with it and the Kohler. At the time the onan was not a ohv engine and the Kohler also had hydrauic valve lifters and would never need a valve adjustment.
I bought ours online from a dealer out in Maryland and had it shipped to Minnesota. Imported it into Canada. About a month and 100 hours later Millers call me up, says they are having trouble with the armature coming loose on the crankshaft and mine is one of the affected serial #. They wanted it back for updates. I was too busy using it. So they said keep using it and shipped me a new machine. When it came I put mine on the truck and returned to them and kept theirs. I have never heard anything bad about Lincoln, but all my undewear is Miller blue now.
They seem to be a great company to do business withI don't think you can go wrong with Either engine or either manufacturer.
Our first 200 portable ( Canox, built by miller) was new in 86 and the onan on it still runs geat. Other then a muffler and throttle solinoid and one rusty wire connection that overheated and needed cleaned its been great too.
Ken

 

[4shorts]

I purchased a new 2008 Miller 302 Trailblazer a few months ago and love the thing. You can choose from two engines. They offer the Kohler and the Subaru/Robin engine now. Onan hasn't been used in Millers stuff for years now and I think there were purchased by Subaru. I did all the research on both engines and found that the Subaru/Robin was the one that had hardly any problems. There were reports of the Kohler having gasket problems.
I really like the 302 Trailblazer. Good investment in my opinion. I built a custom trailer for it as well if you want to take a look.

New trailer for the Trailblazer - WeldingWeb™ - Welding forum for pros and enthusiasts

 

[Stampeder]

Gary Davis contributes on this forum a fair amount. He has the Trailblazer 302 and he does excellent work with it. He also hangs out on the Miller forum as well. He has built a drop dead beautiful trailer for it....it's on this forum, with his Trailblazer 302.
If I could afford it I would by the 302 no question.

Good luck with your decision.

Glenn.