Your last generator Maintenance Run

[Richard]

Speaking of generators.... my brother in law currently has a Miller 400 welder (diesel engine) and it's on a trailer. I understand it can also duplicate as a generator.

He's asking $2,500 and if I recall, It has 5,733 hours on it.

Runs smooth as a watch, starts "right now" and welds like a champ (been using it on my backhoe)

What I'm wondering is..... would that be a worthy purchase for someone who:

a: Would like to possibly get a welder for himself (but has NEVER done any welding and would need some training/education)
b: Would like to get a generator (but currently has NO provisions in the house to easily plug this in)

He bought it at an auction, it was originally owned by...SunBelt if I have the correct name.... it was originally painted green and someone painted over the green to make it Miller Blue.


Edited to correct hours to what's on machine and add picture. (it's GREEN under the blue pain)

It's a Miller Big Blue 400-D, BIL is asking $2,800

Thoughts? (should I buy it, have my generator and figure out how to weld later?)

 

[3930dave]

I'd say it depends how badly you want to learn to weld, and need that capacity.....

considerations....

What is the rated hour lifespan on that engine, it's getting up there......

What are your intended uses for the generator....... do you need something more portable or quieter ?

That kind of money can buy you a really nice brand new generator, and if you don't need to regularly weld very thick steel, new welders (OK, non-Miller) aren't big $ today.

Just one example..... if you don't need/want ultra-quiet, this Generac has decent household capacity, and is EFI.

Generac Power Systems - Best Portable and Inverter Generators

Rgds, D.

 

[dragoneggs]

Richard,

No question in my mind... if you are toying with welding and could use a generator for very occasional use... I would buy a new portable 110v/220v welder and a new somewhat portable gas powered generator for the same money. Now you have options vs. that big tired and unwieldy unit. As Dave mentioned, NOISE... that gets old quick.

 

[Richard]

That's interesting (about the noise) as every time we fire it up (to work on the backhoe) I am amazed at just how quiet it is.

I presume that means:

1. There are other models out there that are REALLY REALLY low in noise
2. Maybe since 90% of what we've used it for on backhoe was simply a 110 volt power source for cutoff wheels.... it hasn't really flexed its muscles, therefore sound (??)

I understand the advice and appreciate it. A small matter, but I would specifically prefer to stay away from something that is gas powered....I'm trying to keep everything that I can diesel (went so far as to buy a diesel lawn riding mower).

When we borrowed the generator that was stolen, yes....I get loud..... it was outside screaming its lungs out at us and yes, was downright annoying.

This isn't anything like that with regard to making noise.

Still.... I get the hours thing and portability thing with a welder too....

 

[dragoneggs]

I get the wanting to stick with diesel. I guess I am spoiled with a Honda 3kW invertor generator. Super quiet, and when the power is out and it is peaceful outside, it keeps us going just fine.

Welding wise... I find a 110v/220v MIG machine the ultimate in flexibility and simple to use. I can easily take it with me and do light work but also some heavy duty welding (there is where you need the training/practice) for serious structural joints.

Seems to me you would be locked in to a bit of a dinosaur. Good luck with your decision.

 

[LouNY]

That Miller is an excellent welder and a decent generator,
depending on the age they have used several different engines.
I believe that they only turn 1800 rpm to make 120/240 volt power.
If needed you can have power while welding.
They can be equipped to perform most types of welding including TIG and wire feed as well as stick.

As far as portability its trailer mounted so it can go most any where it's needed.
It is not a real noisy welder/generator

 

[johncanfield]

I was considering a welder-generator instead of a generator but I don't need to do much welding away from the shop. I had to weld on a gate a couple of times (we have over a mile of fencing with several gates) but that's about it. I have a small Esab inverter DC stick machine that my Honda easily powers when I need to do welding outside the shop.

From what I've read, the fuel injected Millers are highly desirable over the carb engines (there I go again promoting EFI!)

 

[3930dave]

That's interesting (about the noise) as every time we fire it up (to work on the backhoe) I am amazed at just how quiet it is.

I presume that means:

1. There are other models out there that are REALLY REALLY low in noise
2. Maybe since 90% of what we've used it for on backhoe was simply a 110 volt power source for cutoff wheels.... it hasn't really flexed its muscles, therefore sound (??)

I understand the advice and appreciate it. A small matter, but I would specifically prefer to stay away from something that is gas powered....I'm trying to keep everything that I can diesel (went so far as to buy a diesel lawn riding mower).

When we borrowed the generator that was stolen, yes....I get loud..... it was outside screaming its lungs out at us and yes, was downright annoying.

This isn't anything like that with regard to making noise.

Still.... I get the hours thing and portability thing with a welder too....

Current Miller spec sheet shows that as a 10kw (continuous) generator.

https://www.millerwelds.com/-/media/miller-electric/imported-mam-assets/spec-sheets/1/9/0/ed57-big-blue-400-pro--english.pdf

Also listed as 1800 rpm. db specs out (different engine options) under 70db, so just spinning up a hand held grinder, it would pretty much have just been idling. (note that light duty gens often spec sound in dba, not db, so it's not quite apples/apples when comparing - "a" is weighted to follow the human hearing curve). General FYI - most light-duty gens run at 3600 rpm, so dropping to 1800 buys you quieter right there.....

Interesting specs...... you can weld @ 300A and still also pull 4500 watts out of it. No idea if/how specs have changed since yours was built though.

If you are sold on going diesel (I can guess some of the motivations...... here I can still access EFree gasoline), then consider doing a load test in at least the 8-9 kw range, and also draw an oil sample for testing. Guys in this thread and others have done amazing rebuilds, but it would suck to drop that kind of money into something to find out later it's got a cracked head.....

You may already be far enough down this road to know, but modern diesels and ULSD are often way more finicky than the squeeze-bangers of olde......... (maintenance and prompt attention to any fault light are critical).

The unit you are considering may be old enough to be pre-emission, and therefore simpler.....

When buying used, I always compare new prices. Some examples from the Canadian market.

https://www.yamaha-motor.ca/en/power-equipment/generator/diesel/edl11000sde/EDL11000SDE

Diesel Generators | AURORA

Not sure what Yammy ships into the USA market, looks like Aurora ships both sides of 49'th.

Given what that 400 was designed for (structural welding) and that it's a Miller, I can't envision you exceeding it's capacities. But, I'm not a welder......... matching up new equipment (Everlast on here seems to get reasonable reviews from seasoned welders) with what you actually need is way beyond my direct experience.

Silence is Golden....... if you are dead-set against gasoline, then don't waste your time........ but if you may consider using gas, try and find somebody running a Honda EU series generator. If nothing else, try a tool rental place - bring 'em a box of donuts and coffee mid-morning if they have one in the rental fleet - fire it up in their yard with a couple of space heaters on it - I think you'll be impressed.

Yamaha and even Champion make quieter units today (and I don't hear anything bad about either line), but Honda has been doing this so long that it is much easier to find Red examples live-in-the-wild......

Finally, if you win a lottery/marry an heiress etc..... there's Whisper Watt diesels.......

WhisperWatt Super-Silent

IIRC, one of their original customers was the Movie industry years back....... willing to pay the $ it took to get "QUIET on set" in remote locations.

Rgds, D.

 

[johncanfield]

I've been thinking about a home standby generator for several years. I keep coming back to the idea of a liquid cooled 1800 rpm LP fueled gen set but you're into $10K plus. I see where the less expensive models have valves that need to be periodically adjusted for lash, the more expensive models have hydraulic lifters with no adjustment required.

 

[dragoneggs]

I've been thinking about a home standby generator for several years. I keep coming back to the idea of a liquid cooled 1800 rpm LP fueled gen set but you're into $10K plus. I see where the less expensive models have valves that need to be periodically adjusted for lash, the more expensive models have hydraulic lifters with no adjustment required.

Me too. I have a Honda 3kW w/mechanical interlock that gets us by. Ever since I bought that we don't lose power as often. I figure if I go to a whole house LP automated unit, we would then never lose power! :laughing: