Dynasty 350 ... dead

[arvidj]

Well the LWS called today and have it running. They say it was a little under $2200 to repair. They say they had to replace the main power board [PS1 from memory], both modules and both of the main capacitors.

Now that it is running I'll be able to get the hours and starts information from it. I suspect the LWS put more time and starts on it testing it after the repair than I've put on it as the owner.

Any suggestions on how I might discuss this with someone from Miller before I pick up the machine from the LWS?

Thanks,
Arvid

[arvidj]

Now that it has power I can ask it for the hours and starts.

Hours ... 3 hours and 52 minutes.
Cycles ... 482

I do not think this is an excessive amount of time or cycles but someone may be able to offer alternative thoughts.

Anyway, at $2365 per hour [original cost of the TigRunner combination in February of 2008 plus this repair] it has turned into a rather expensive learning experience.

Arvid

[Tryagn5]

Now that it has power I can ask it for the hours and starts.

Hours ... 3 hours and 52 minutes.
Cycles ... 482

I do not think this is an excessive amount of time or cycles but someone may be able to offer alternative thoughts.

Anyway, at $2365 per hour [original cost of the TigRunner combination in February of 2008 plus this repair] it has turned into a rather expensive learning experience.

Arvid

that is less than a weeks worth of time.. for some less than a day. I would be on the phone with miller asap. As long as the unit did not fail from power surges or operating error it should be warranty.
Kevin

[cruizer]

I'm with Tryagn, for sure call Miller!!

[arvidj]

To save others who might be tempted to call Miller looking for some type of good will warranty extensions, don't bother.

They will refer you to the Miller District Rep as "the only person who might be able to resolve this type of issue". They will give you the name and phone number of the Rep so you can give him a call. If you are lucky both the name and phone number will be correct. If you are not so lucky ... which seems to be 100% my case with this machine ... the name will be correct but the phone number will be "out of service".

I eventually got the correct phone number from the LWS and was able to leave a message because the Rep was "in meetings from Monday thru Thursday and would not be able to return any call until ... possibly ... Friday".

Regretfully this is reality and not just a very very bad dream,
Arvid

[cruizer]

Really what we as MILLER CST techs generally do if the unit reads really low hours or maybe 6 months out of warranty is call Miller to see if there are any test boards available. If not then your hooped. The guys that have completed all the CST tests kinda know to call Miller first. Thats why in past posts It was a suggestion to only take machines to a shop with a CST Miller Tech.

Reps are pretty much useless, and another problem would have been that a credit for parts can only be made to a shop that did the work, NOT to the end user.

[arvidj]

Cruizer,

Thanks for all your support and insight. I do appreciate it.

The Tech was in the same Catch-22 I was in. He could not determine how low the hours were because the machine was dead. He only had 'my word for the low hours' and that may not have been enough for him.

He did tell me that he had to call Miller to discuss "what would be the best course of action" given that absolutely nothing on the machine worked. Miller's suggestion was to install a new "Kit, Power Module and Interconnect Replacement". They also suggested that the two associated electrolytic capacitors also be replaced, "just in case". Then 'light a candle' and hope that nothing else down stream was toast.

Given that no one had any way of knowing that there were less than 4 hours on the machine I am sure the "is there anything we can do to help this poor guy out" never came up from either the tech or from Miller support.

I am coming to the conclusion that "You can buy the best" but in the end "You are on your own".

[arvidj]

The regional rep just called and thinks he may be able to work something out. He is going to do some research and get back to me.

Maybe I an not "On my own".

[old jupiter]

Can't take the hassle much more so I'll be booking it from this job in a few months, so likely no more tech support from me.

That is terrible news for us!! You say, "from this job;" I had a notion that you had your own shop, and were doing very well with it, with lots of big serious customers who were happy to deal with you and paid well and on time.

"Say it ain't so, Joe!"

[cruizer]

I have my own shop, down turn in oil (which will likely last for a year) has caused many layoffs in oil country Alberta. And since I mainly repair rig welders may be a problem. I just don't want to be caught again like 2008. We'll see....

[MinnesotaDave]

The regional rep just called and thinks he may be able to work something out. He is going to do some research and get back to me.

Maybe I an not "On my own".

This is good news, good luck and I hope they hook you up

[arvidj]

The regional rep just called and thinks he may be able to work something out. He is going to do some research and get back to me.

Maybe I an not "On my own".

In the end this has turned into a perfect example of why you might want to purchase your equipment from a LWS and an well established manufacturer .

Going against me was "out of warranty", "machine is 5 years old", "the machine was dead".

The only thing I had going for me was "very little time on the machine"

I had purchased the Miller Dynasty 350 from LWS [Toll Gas in Plymouth Minnesota] in 2008. Yes I paid a little more than I would have on the Web but at the time this neophyte considered the extra to be an investment against the unknown.

This morning the Toll called and between Miller and Toll each providing some "Good Will Warranty Extension" they were able to bring the price of the repair down to what I though was a very fair and reasonable amount.

In the end I have a working 350 in the garage and yes, health issues not withstanding, plan to significantly add to the 4 hours that are already on it.

Thanks to everyone on this board for their help and guidance, and especially the team at Toll Gas and the local Miller Rep for making this work.

Arvid

[MinnesotaDave]

Excellent!

[Tryagn5]

Customer service..

In the end this has turned into a perfect example of why you might want to purchase your equipment from a LWS and an well established manufacturer .

Going against me was "out of warranty", "machine is 5 years old", "the machine was dead".

The only thing I had going for me was "very little time on the machine"

I had purchased the Miller Dynasty 350 from LWS [Toll Gas in Plymouth Minnesota] in 2008. Yes I paid a little more than I would have on the Web but at the time this neophyte considered the extra to be an investment against the unknown.

This morning the Toll called and between Miller and Toll each providing some "Good Will Warranty Extension" they were able to bring the price of the repair down to what I though was a very fair and reasonable amount.

In the end I have a working 350 in the garage and yes, health issues not withstanding, plan to significantly add to the 4 hours that are already on it.

Thanks to everyone on this board for their help and guidance, and especially the team at Toll Gas and the local Miller Rep for making this work.

Arvid

This is why we pay more for a miller welder vs an everlast or cheap china nock off. Miller stood behind there product and did what a manufactor should. This should be an example to anyone who makes a captial investment why buying a product with excellant service is so important. Now i do hope in the next 5 years you will put more than 4 more hours on the machine!
Kevin

[PlasmaGuy]

I have been following this thread hoping for some great news.
I just got some !!!