Gage Wheels On My Rear Blade…Woo Hoo!

[Henro]

Hazmat,

I lusted for a Miller Dynasty 200 DX but ended up buying a ThermalArc 185TSW.

The ThermalArc came in at about $1,000 cheaper than the Dynasty, when you added the cost of the contractor's kit, which is needed to end up with a ready to weld package.

I am really happy with the TA 185. I looked at the syncrowave 180 but decided that I would rather have a lighter weight inverter welder than a heavy transformer unit. The price I paid was about the same as the syncrowave was going for at the time, about $1,600.

I can easily carry the TA down to the shed to use it for stick welding, and back to the house for use inside during winter for TIG welding. I highly recommend an inverter unit. They also draw a lot less current. I think the TA draws a max of 40 amps when running full 185 amp output, whereas the transformer units of similar size may draw close to 70 amps, when at less than full output (and at full output too...charastic of a transformer unit).

I love the beauty and simplicity of magnetic cicruits...but still favor the advantages of solid state electronics...which are better control and lighter weight.

So in the end, after a lot of thought, I ended up with the TA 185...

I still think the Dynasty rules though...too bad it is SO EXPENSIVE!

Hope this helps... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue"> Is there any adjustment on the guage wheels for height? </font>

Yes, if you take another look at the photos above, you will see the fixed tube piece with the grease fittin in it. Above and below it are 2" pieces of tubing that can easily be positioned on the caster shaft, so the effective height of the wheel can be adjusted with respect to the blade.

If I remember right, I have one 2" spacer on top and two of them below. If I put two of the spacer on top, the wheel would ride 2" higher than it does in the picture.

Minor height adjustments are made by changing the length of the top link. Making it longer raises the blades cutting edge, making it shorter lowers the cutting edge...

 

[Henro]

FredS,

Who made that rear blade?

If it is KK I have learned to pay close attention to how things are welded together before taking an implement home. To the extent that I wonder if KK knows what jigs are for use when fabricating things...

Still, KK does provide a good value for the dollar spent. I don't regret any of my KK purchases, now that I think about it...

Hope you get a good, sqare blade the second time around! Whomever the manufacturer is! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Freds]

It's a Woods. I never thought to check for squareness THE FIRST TIME /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. That won't happen with anything again. Still waiting to hear back from them...

 

[PineRidge]

Freds don't beat yourself up too bad, I don't know many people that would even think to check a blade for squareness as they were making a new purchase from a dealer anyway.

 

[bellweather]

I have the flip-down blade on my LandPride rake with gauge wheels. Wonder if it could work for snow?

 

[Freds]

Yeah, but I wanted to start on MY guage wheels. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I picked up a few pcs. of iron yesterday and can't believe the price. I paid $62 for drops that I used to throw away. Unbelievable. That must be the reason that the dealer gave me more for my 6 ft blade than I paid for it 2 years ago. Either that or he knew about the twisted 7 footer. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[srs]

Brought the brackets back into the shop, ground the primer off, and welded the tubing on the ends. Also made a weld that I forgot to make on the bracket.

Henro, great looking welds. Your rear blade and rake will look good on your new B3030 cab tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[sassafraspete]

As always, Henro is an inspiration to us all. He can be my mentor any day. Is it true that his tractor is going to be featured in that new Batman movie...... or was that a new madmax movie....I forget which?

sassafraspete

 

[Henro]

Thanks to everyone for thier kind compliments! Feels good! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Now if I could just get the wife to...hummmm...just joking... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif ... she's a good one... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif