Very Disappointed with my Trailblazer

[wronghand]

I have a TB302 that just turned over 250hrs. In that time I have had to pull all the side panels twice to fix loose wiring harness.
Tonight I go to do a "15 minute job" for a friend only to find that all of the engine mounts have come loose-- One is even missing. So tomorrow instead of going to the jobsite first thing, I'm going to be tearing panels off my "new" TB302 AGAIN.

Piss poor boys, piss poor.

I wonder what the new Ranger 305g is like?

Might try one soon......

[bayweld]

I have had good service from a couple ranger 250s with around 1000 hrs ea and a Ranger 305g with around 300 hrs so far....

[HayFarmer]

I dont think the performance you've gotten is typical. Have you tried talking to Miller about this? If not I would.

[Doughboyracer]

I have a TB302 that just turned over 250hrs. In that time I have had to pull all the side panels twice to fix loose wiring harness.
Tonight I go to do a "15 minute job" for a friend only to find that all of the engine mounts have come loose-- One is even missing. So tomorrow instead of going to the jobsite first thing, I'm going to be tearing panels off my "new" TB302 AGAIN.

Piss poor boys, piss poor.

I wonder what the new Ranger 305g is like?

Might try one soon......

It might be helpful to describe the conditions this unit "sees" during it's daily use/abuse... Does it sit in the back of a truck going down the iterstate all day? does it travle country roads, or off road all day? Do you drive it like you stole it? Sounds like it may live in extream conditions if you have had the many problems with "loose" internals. Do you ever check your tools or just wait for them to fail? Pi$$ and moan all you want and call me bad names but I think I may have some valid questions....(fellow wrong hander)

[jbmprods]

in my opinion, even if Wronghand carried it in a Conestoga wagon crossing the Oregon trail or dragged it through the Outback behind a team of Kangaroos it shouldn't come apart like that with only 250 hrs of operating time on it since it is a fairly new machine and not a 30 year old machine that has only seen 250 hours use.

[greenmachine]

in my opinion, even if Wronghand carried it in a Conestoga wagon crossing the Oregon trail or dragged it through the Outback behind a team of Kangaroos it shouldn't come apart like that with only 250 hrs of operating time on it since it is a fairly new machine and not a 30 year old machine that has only seen 250 hours use.

I guess every now and again there has to be one lemon out of the many they have built mine has done 2970 hrs and i had to replace mounts at about 2500 hrs which was about 120000 km of roads in outback queensland where sometimes the dirt is smoother then the bitumen. I am extremely pleased with it it lives in dirty and wet conditions on the back of the ute and keeps on keeping going

[wronghand]

Thanks a lot for the replies everyone. It's always informative to get other tradesmen's opinions-- good and bad.

A little more info on the welder:

It has seen "mostly" pavement in its career. In 100,000 miles on the truck, probly 25,000 has been gold mining roads. A fresh oil change (as per manufacturers advice) at 100 hrs and will get another one this weekend (now at 260 hrs). I like to do them every 250 and the easiest way to do that is to line up on the 250/500 hr mark on the hobbs meter. I can swear that it has only gouged for 25hrs it's whole life. All in all it has burned more 1/8" 7018 than anything else.

Bottom line is that it hasn't been used very hard (in my humble opinion of course). The problem is that I have talked to other local guys that seem to be having the same types of problems.

So the new Ranger 305g showed up today along with 200 feet of 1/0 cable and an ESAB torch kit. It's going on a second truck and I will keep everyone posted on how it works out for me.

The big deciding factor was actually the duty cycle for the new machines.
The Ranger is rated for 305 amps at 100% whereas the TB302 is rated at 280. The generator power is less with the Ranger at 9500 watts continuous, but I bought it to weld with-- not power my house.

Thanks again for all the replies,

WH

[Daniel]

My last trailblazer had over 650 hours when I left the company it, with not a problem ever. I feel for you, for getting this lemon.
When everything is coming loose from an engine, there is a heavy vibration problem, reminds me of and old panhead I use to own.

[wronghand]

My last trailblazer had over 650 hours when I left the company it, with not a problem ever. I feel for you, for getting this lemon.
When everything is coming loose from an engine, there is a heavy vibration problem, reminds me of and old panhead I use to own.

Wow a panhead. You must be hardcore! I bet you still carry a set of 5" needle nose vise grips in your pocket. The only tool you needed to work on a panhead

[Daniel]

I might have to dig them out for my old 45ci i'm putting back on the road.

[HayFarmer]

Left unanswered: Did you ever contact Miller about the problems you were having? If not why? I would have given them an opportunity to make it right but then thats just me. In the past, w/ problems considerably more trivial than yours, they've been well more than willing to help and/or make it right.

[Doughboyracer]

in my opinion, even if Wronghand carried it in a Conestoga wagon crossing the Oregon trail or dragged it through the Outback behind a team of Kangaroos it shouldn't come apart like that with only 250 hrs of operating time on it since it is a fairly new machine and not a 30 year old machine that has only seen 250 hours use.

Then you sir have unrealistic expectations. 250 hours could mean 1,000,000 miles on the Oregon Trail for all we know. The hours on the timer mean nothing about the use/abuse of the machine. With thinking like that you will, and probably are, never satisfied.

[captkipp]

Tb 302

I have 2 of them. Fixing to get a 3rd. The TB Airpac. EVERY time I asked for help from MILLER I got it!! I am about to call BS on this post. I'm never very negative but this doesn't seem like something Miller would pass up. How old is this machine? I know Miller doesn't like lemon in it's drinks. I gotta say "Call them!" first. I KNOW they will work on the issue. PERIOD.

[wronghand]

Haha nice. I'm lookin at scratch building a heritage softail in the next year or so. My cousin (also a welder) has some pretty nice plans that he sent me.. Looking at maybe going with the 1200 cc S&S to stuff into it.

Unless of course you have a better suggestion...

[jbmprods]

Then you sir have unrealistic expectations. 250 hours could mean 1,000,000 miles on the Oregon Trail for all we know. The hours on the timer mean nothing about the use/abuse of the machine. With thinking like that you will, and probably are, never satisfied.

gee "Sir" and to think all these words of such great wisdom on unrealistic expectations and talk of never being satisfied are emanating from the mouth of a self proclaimed hobby home welder. my question to you "sir". are you truly satisfied with the quality of welding your auto set has bestowed upon you? i expect when you reach the 250 hour mark you should be able to remove the training wheels.