Trouble shooting Lincoln ranger8 welder

Raul5452 · Feb 6, 2019

Need help , my Ranger 8 has quit. I've had it for 10/12 years. Regular maintenance on it. No problems until August 2017. After hurricane Harvey hit us I used it as a generator for about a week. Running 24/7 to power our refrigerator and freezer. On day 8 it was not putting out enough power to run refrigerator or freezer. I hooked up the welding leads and it barely creates a spark but will not burn the rod. Brushes didn't look that bad but I've replaced them with new ones. Still not working. Any help is greatly appreciated. Engine is running great.

RNeumann · Feb 6, 2019

Have you checked voltage with a meter?

boomer1025 · Feb 6, 2019

Might want to post your problem over on weldingweb.com.

Raul5452 · Feb 7, 2019

No RNeumann I have not checked voltage. Will this be across welding lead connectors ?

Raul5452 · Feb 7, 2019

Neumann, no have not checked voltage. Will this be across welding connectors ?

Raul5452 · Feb 7, 2019

Thank you Boomer I'll try welding web.

RNeumann · Feb 7, 2019

If it’s not putting out enough power to run frig I’d start on the 240v side. I assume that unit makes “standard” USA power which is split phase. So verify both phases have 120v. It sounds like you dropped a phase and or have a bad connection on one phase.

The welder, I assume, works the same as a shop welder. In that it drops voltage and increases amps from the “standard” 240v power. So checking that would be way “down stream” of what I assume is the root issue.

These are my assumptions having not worked on that machine. But I’ll go it on a limb and say you will find one phase is near normal at 120v and the other phase will be much lower.

Stimw · Feb 7, 2019

Not sure if it applies to your welder BUT, some oder welder/generators had an "Exciter Wire" .
If it breaks or gets disconnected it will cause your problem.