Looks great! One thing, every welder on every service truck ever faces backwards. One thing you might want to consider with trailering it is all the rain, snow, and rocks that will be kicked up and thrown at the face of your machine.
FYI that thing you called a fuse is known as a shunt. current flows through it and at a certain point (the smaller wires) you can measure a voltage across the shunt which is proportional to the amount of current flowing through it. exactly how the old charge and discharge meters work in old cars and trucks and also some lawnmowers and tractors
Shunts are low resistance links used for measuring high currents with small volt meters. As current passes thru them a voltage proportional the current flowing appears on the measuring terminals which is read by a volt meter. Simple ohms law arrangement.
@@ayitsyaboiThey are usually physically big, but very small value resistors.. You put them in series with your output and because they are such small value, they don't affect the output by much, but they still need to be physically big to carry all the current. Their resistance value is usually very small fractions of a Ohm, but when multiplied by the potentially 150-200 Amp current that the welder can source, will still develop a volt or two across the resistor that can be accurately measured as an indication of the actual current flowing...
I absolutely love how you built this thing. “Sometimes you can engineer somethin till your blue in the face “ I 100 percent agree. Some of my best builds have been “on the fly”. Thanks Rich
The second computer is the the one with the big red capacitors mounted to the giant heat sink on the other side of the center baffle. The one that was replaced is the control board or basically the low power brain of the welder. The other one is called the chopper assembly and does all the high power grunt work of the weld power. The chopper assembly can be thought of basically like a simple inverter welder.
@@stevenberg1903 that's just one bill. Auto manufacturers have a loophole that all diagnostic data is transferred wirelessly so it doesn't fall under any current bills.
The one they replaced on the center divider panel is completely potted in about 1/2" of rubber/resin. There's no feasible way to get to the components to probe test points or de-solder/soler on new components.
Lincoln sets those boards in a plastic tray and then encases them in potting material about 1/2 an inch thick for moisture resistance. There is no simple way to just replace components on those boards
What you were playing with there was the current shunt, the two wires measure the voltage drop across the shunt to determine the current. They're in a twisted pair "squiggly" to reduce induced voltages from adjacent wires -interference.
Lincoln probably does as well, but talking to customer service doesn’t make for very good video. Some of us also like to poke at it ourselves before calling just because we like to tinker, I do agree Miller makes a great machine my multimatic 220 ac/dc is an awesome machine.
Lincoln will try to assist as well. I could call up three different weld suppliers in my area and they would all do what they could. I run Miller and ESAB.
Needs some sort of flap to put over the welder controls so that if it's being pulled on the cart and it rains that water doesn't get into the electronics. Also some reflective strips would be a good idea.
Rich , that was cool that you thought to test the welding lead after you had turned the machine off and it was winding down. You got awesome troubleshooting instincts.
The computer is actually “repairable”….our shop had similar model but bit smaller, same issue. We repaired it for $340.00. Took it apart, shunt short fused a couple of resisters. Always a pleasure…cheers from the Limestone City…(Kingston)
Nice job. The only thing I might have suggested is a hinged rain cover bolted to the frame, then you don't have to worry about sudden storms soaking your welder or going down the exhaust pipe.
Suggestions Get some trailer hitch sized tube and put some receivers in convenient places around the frame to place a detachable vice and work bench. If you use trailer hitch material you can also move the vice and bench to other vehicles.
Thats a bloody awesome setup. Very jealous of having the space and the forklift to be able to swao stuff over like this so easily/quickly without breaking backs
Rich - that welder is multiprocess and can do wire MIG, stick, as well as TIG (just need to add a spool gun and TIG torch), so you should have left space on the cart for two gas bottles (Ar and Ar/CO2) to do the other processes.. Makes it much more versatile than just a stick welder...
The other processes are usually pretty poor outside where this thing will most likely operate for most of its life. There are better machines to use inside where you have access to AC power.
Due to various things I was busy with, I had to have a shop change the water pump on my truck. That's the only time I've ever had anything fixed...I didn't even know what to expect! I felt so dirty handing over my keys...
That being an older unit, I would bet the computer is repairable. Judging by that capacitor and the rest of the unit, likely just a surface mounted component. Even the boards with all the potting compounds can be dealt with and repaired, if you have the tools time and know how to do the diagnosis and repair. The more modern stuff is a whole other bag of cat lady crazy, way to many micro components and multilayer PCBs to even begin a trace. Things get better with technology but get worse at the same time. I would bet the old school Hobart with a Willies jeep engine still runs to this day, didn't really run the best down low but for dragline repair it got the job done. Good on you for helping the football clubs.
Hey Rich, can we see some updates on the VW square back conversion? That looked like a start to a great street rod build, would love to see more of it. thanks in advance
Guy had a few trailblazers and two bobcats on Craigslist. Tbs were 400 and the bcs were 300. I obviously wanted the diesel one even though they were clearly missing parts and needed some money input but by the time I got there there was only 1 bobcat left. Didn't even look at it, just threw it in my moms minivan and off I went. Annold timer told me once to spin a corded drill backwards and itll remagnitize something in somewhere so i did it. It worked. I haven't put a dime into that bobcat aside from gas. Same battery since like 04. That little thing starts every time, welds great, a/c works. Case is a bit banged up but I love that old bobcat. Probably have more hours on that than my pipe pro 400!
@@Cantthinkofahandle117 i don't even remember if it had to be backwards. I think it re-excites the field windings? I think it only worked on old generators and welders
The capacitor should have probably been the first thing you repaired. They are ultra cheap, ultra easy to change out just a little solder, and it sparkling as it winds down but not when running seems indicative of a capacitor not being able to discharge it's stored charge to start the weld. Of course, that capacitor was on the board you replaced. And yeah, they would do everything in their power to sell you some proprietary horse shit for big bucks rather than replacing a cap that costs probably $0.60 retail and about three minutes of labor and consumables.
That board is potted and a proper pain to do any servicing on. Hence the "proprietary" fault seeking (it basically involves bending over and asking Lincoln how to put it in).
That turned out to be a pretty nice setup. I enjoy watching you take some old things and making things out of it. Nice part it always turns out looking great.
Also as somebody else mentioned, and don’t know about Lincoln but in my experience Miller tech support has been excellent. They don’t give you to a customer service person, put in a ticket, etc, I’ve gotten right through to tech who gave me tips on what to check and what readings should be etc. I’ve always run Miller gear, blue all the way for me, FWIW
Hey Rich I bought site unseen a 1943 Hobart welder for next to nothing, the engine needed top end work but the gen welder is awesome, they don't make em like that anymore, 👍
I'm 50. When I was little, my grandfather had a welder that was older than dirt. I don't know what brand it was because all the paint and any labels were long gone. It was shaped like an old icebox, about 4' tall. I never used it but my dad said it welded super nice. The quality of old equipment like that is hard to beat.
I’d say this video is def taken more then a few months of time to put together, that or winter is coming faster then I realized 🤣 and then summer showed up in record time 🙃🙃🙃
That capacitor looked suspicious on the old circuit board.... It looks like it leaked and damaged other components or traces. Damn, that spray can is impressive.
People can laugh all they want, my daily driver is a 97 mercury villager van and I love it. They got comfortable captains chairs, plenty of room to fill the back with whatever shit needs hauled, and you can generally pick up minivans really cheap cause nobody else wants them anymore 👍
aw man i have this same machine with the onan powerplant and absolutely love it. its a straight work horse. your gonna love that thing my friend. this will be very helpful if i ever have to peform surgery on mine
The onan engines work great, until they don't. Then they're super expensive to fix, if you can even gets the parts in the first place. Kohler and Honda are all I'll trust in equipment any more
Mini vans really are the handiest of vehicles, and somehow no matter how many time I break my truck the wife’s van is always in good working order lol she tells me it’s because she doesn’t do burn out with it like I do with my truck, but it’s gotta be something else.
Rich who doesnt love making something out of nothing really enjoyed this one ,not a real fan of the Kohler air cooled motor they dont like the heat here in Australia,hope you left a big enough gap between the cabinet and the welder for air intake ,my experience is if they dont get enough air they fuel vapourise probably not any worries in your colder temps.But really enjoyed this one Cheers kym Adelaide
The rpms should drop after it fires up, you got something drawing keeping the idle too high. It should only Rev high while you're welding or running a hand tool. Ours done that n the board was shot.
Rich ive spent the last few months fixing up a old miller trailblazer302 that had same symptoms as your ranger. Ended up being a messed up circuit board. Send them to a fella name frank heizler he fixed them up just as good and cost 1/3 as buying new boards. I recommend not jump starting yours as it caused damage to my boards and what caused the issues.
Lovely dog, it's lucky the welder did work when you where trying, because your dog would of got a flash in the eyes, love the video, keep up there good work👍
sweet also, your house band has come a long way....James Brown himself would praise that "funky drummer" version of theirs, ask them if I'm right ...I'm sure they're proud of their accomplishment! Talk about them some time!!
Cool rig. But you may want to flip it around. I built one like this and had to flip it because the truck was always throwing stuff al over the front of the welder.
You’re exactly correct. That’s why it amazes me that Lincoln chose to build the new Ranger 330 MPX with a non-rotatable exhaust elbow that points straight out the back of the machine so when mounted properly on a trailer or truck, the elbow is pointed straight into the weather and the bugs and road grit. Extremely poor design. I love my Lincoln Ranger 305G’s and currently own my third one but I only kept my 330 MPX for one month. It was riddled with poor design from one end of the machine to the other.
I hope you got the old computer board. It was probably just a few resistors and things that needed replacing and they hit you up for a whole new board, I am sure a electrical technician could of found the issue and fixed the old board, be handy to have as a spare.
@@MarcAmbrose-BrownJohn Deere is really bad for allowing owners/operators access to repair information for their equipment. They only want you to bring your machines to the dealer to get fixed.
Might wanna put a door across the front to protect the front of welder from debris kicked up from truck tires while towing. Thanks for sharing your talents and adventures!!!
I really wish he still uploaded videos of doing engine jobs, transmission, clutches and such on big rigs and the like. I would binge watch that stuff so much. But now I watched it too much. I’m talking 5-7 years ago or so.
Haha I picked up my first generator welder in my then girlfriend now wife's jeep Cherokee like that. Had to cut the lifting eye off the top to slide it in too. Good times lol.
💯 I'm neither a Ford guy but that truck looks great and is really bad-ass with the CAT. I used to be a GM brand loyalist. Everything else was shit, but then I grew up. I now appreciate that every brand has good and bad. I really don't like Dodge but I drive a RAM 1500 for work. Ugly as sin but runs and drives really nice. If you like the way it looks and it does what you want, more power to you.
Need fire extinguisher, grinder, extension cord, small ladder, vise, and welding rods. Soon to add torch, chop saw and sunshade, ice chest. A good start for this endeavor.
The curse of absolutely proprietary electronics. A "repair" is an entire circuit board swap when often the broken component costs cents and the labor cost of a board repair tech is like 10% of that new circuit board. Something I hope will become more popular with time is to repair equipment like this welder by replacing the proprietary electronics with open source alternatives.
I bought a surplus Miller inverter multiprocess machine a few years ago. I don’t know anything about this machine but what they call computers are probably just circuit boards with components and a few basic IC’s on it. In my case it was a resistor that had failed, had a fried contractor and I went ahead and changed out the big caps since those can be a common failure point. Side note, it always scares the hell out of me working on electronics with capacitors as they can store quite a bit of energy for a while and can knock you on your ass even with the machine off and unplugged. I always discharge the caps through a resistor before poking around.
Rich, I love the channel! As well as your main channel! Anytime anybody doesn't want to show you how they fix stuff means they're pulling crap out of their ass and just guessing. I've been in electronics for over 50 years, and part of that board when you pointed at it initially showed a capacitor that was definitely leaking, and electrolytics are known to go bad especially in extreme heat and cold conditions. If you'd known some electronics kind of dude that likes to work on old stereos, he may have been able to bring that old board to life by just recapping it.
I think you did good at 2500 for that welder I have a similar with the better subaru robin engine and I'd want something like 3500 for it of course every thing worx had amsoil in it since first oil change and the hours are low like 700. B acknowledged when these were new they were 5000 to 5500 I think now a new one is like 7000-8000 something to consider. Not to mention quick cash your trailers prolly worth 500-600 bucks so yeah ide say you did real good coming in under three grand painted and all. Flex coat makes a epoxy rubber paint if you buy a quart white and a quart black you can mix any color gray you want. Works great for the sheet metal.
In reality mini vans can be great utility vehicles. They just don’t inflate the ego like a big macho truck. Always funny to me since so many modern trucks have dinky little beds.
You know what though for 1500 Canadian and I know you got a smokin' deal on the welder, as you said, I'll bet you still are way WAY ahead even on any other used of the same welder because the computers go in those. That's what happens.. Great video and now you have an excuse to build that welding truck!!
Yup, it looked like a "control" problem the way you could draw current as the machine shut down. The only thing I didn't understand was - less than 5 mins in, you point to a faulty capacitor but you didn't change it. Electrolytic caps fail all the time and the liquid electrolyte comes out making a mess - the classic electronics fail.
