Ranger 250 engine-drive

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I feel the need, all of a sudden, to report my experiences buying a Lincoln Ranger 250, about a year ago.   Don't know why, this is only the second brand new Lincoln I've bought in thirty years, the first was a basic AC 225 machine I bought back in high school.  Note, I have not been paid by, encouraged by, or bribed with consumables by, Lincoln, my LWS, or anybody else to post this review.  IF, any of the above, wish to reward me, I'm all ears.I'm easy.  I did the research, I wanted a propane-powered machine.   At the time, last year, the only one available from Lincoln was the 250 Ranger.   Two reasons for the propane engine, first, the ability to run indoors, and second, since this wasn't planned to be my #1 welder (I generally use one of a couple 500 amp diesel drives), might sit for a while, I got tired of bad gas in my other 250/300 amp class engine drive machines.   I even emailed my old Lincoln rep here, he was since promoted, and is now working out of Ohio.   He assured me, the 250 as I had it spec'd out, was the same as the 305G, less the meters and approx. 50 amps of top-end power.The lws called me two days after I placed the order, the machine was there.   I went down and picked it up.   After bringing it home, I carefully inspected the box and packaging before removing anything, all was fine.   No forklift rips, no nothing.    After taking the box off, inspected the whole machine, all over, no dings, dents, loose or cross-threaded screws.   I was gonna pull the cover off, and look inside, but then I figured, why bother???"   It's supposed to run as is, I mean, when was the last time anybody here stripped down a brand new automobile, just to be sure it was assembled correctly, right?   So I just took it on faith, checked the oil, it was fine, hooked up the butane hose, started running it.   I can tell you, I am just absolutely delighted with this machine, after using it for a few hundred hours.   Whether running stick or wire (tig I generally run thru my TA), it's never given me a bit of problem.   I've never contacted Lincoln about this, why?????  The machine has done what it was supposed to.    I did email my old local rep, thanking him for the valuable information and advice he gave me.   I can also say, running it as a standby generator, this machine is better by far than the last small air-cooled machine I had, at least it hasn't blown the magnetron in my expensive built in microwave.   I think the skewed rotor makes a difference, cleaner and more consistent power.  We loose power here sometimes for two-three days at a time, I become the power company, I can provide 40 KW to me and the neighbors, light up the whole street.  Used to be 45 KW, but gave a 5kw generator to my brother.    I have found the continously adjustable arc-force/inductance control helps greatly in working out-of-position either wire or stick.   In addition, I ran some 1/4" 7018 off it one time, put a clamp-on DC ampmeter on it, ran 294 amps, consistently.   Had my wife take a picture of the amp reading, if I can find it I'll post it.Just looked, can't find the 294 amp reading.    Take my word for it.  Will run 1/4" carbon-arc rods no problem. Attached Images
Reply:Did the Lincoln rep mention if you loose a little power by going with the propane option over gas?Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Not a concern, CEP, I been using engine drives for thirty years, in business for 20+ years, not one of those guys becoming experts one week after buying a machine.
Reply:I read somewhere that supposedly you loose a little power with propane. Just wondering if that is an old wife's tale, or a fact. I would imagine the Lincoln rep / friend would have warned you if it is true. Never ran a Ranger, have run a 305G, very nice machine!Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Yes, the 250 LPG engine is somewhat bigger displacement than a 250G, probably why Lincoln held off on making a 305 lpg machine until this year.
Reply:You lose about 11% power for a direct carb/condensor swap. but if the engine is built for propane, you can built equal amouts of power. the benifit, besides cost of fuel, is elevation doesnt effect the performance, and it burns real clean. This is based on my truck engines. I have had an '80 Chevy Blazer with a 350, built for propane (425Hp), and a '91 Chevy 3+3 454 4x4 on dual fuel propane/gas. its nice with 80 gallon tank, and $0.45 /liter Lots of pawer, and can go 1000km with 2 quads on the back, and pulling a 28 foot travel trailer trailer. I will be doing a little tuning in the spring on the 454 to get a little more torque, but the prpane systems are great if you ask me. Oh yeah, the oil always looks clean, so don't use that as an indicator as to when to change your oil.