Ranger down

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I've been lurking here for several weeks and have reviewed many of the comments about Ranger 8/9 series problems with idle up, cleaning the wire etc.  Mine started doing that several years ago, and I cleaned everything and not much happened.  When I was welding, it acted like the arc started getting weak.  I could restart and everything was fine.  I quite service welding and went into something else.  Now, I am back  After cleaning the cobwebs out of the old Kohler and cleaning the contacts, it is running fine.  But when I try to strike an arc, it looks like a cheap chinese sparkler and just barely fizzles.  It won't even burn the metal.  I tried different and short leads.  Same thing.  Test meter shows about 3 volts and I can't get much out of the power plugs either.  I noticed the  area around the generator part where the steel plates are, the plates have lost their coating and most are rusty, from rain seeping in I guess. But I wouldn't think this to be a major problem since their function is pretty much static.   There are three melted looking places on the  board with the center two square blocks out of the four on the lower right hand side of the board are scorched. So is a long heavy,resistor? above it.Does anyone think that I may have a problem other than the PC board?  I would go to my local Lincoln repair guy but he has a major problem with his personality and I don't trust him.  The local distributors usually bypass him and send their warranty items another 150 miles down the road.Any and all help is appreciated.  Particularly in testing the individual items like the rheostat, or anything else that may be helpful.  Thanks
Reply:Contacts, what contacts, never the less, clean your sliprings, replace the brushes and replace the control board, you'll be of to the races.
Reply:Thanks.Slip rings look like a new gold coin, after a little rubbing with some fine paper.  I'm thinking a rebuild on the PC board.  2 and a half big bills for new.  Innovat is around 117.   I was wondering about the brushes but also wondering about the $$,  Times are hard here.  It does look like the choke cable cam into contact briefly with the top of the aluminum transformer? or whatever that thing is behind the face plate.  It burned the choke cable outer sheathing in two and only slighty scarred the cooling fins.   Do anyone think that it could have fried other things besides the PC board as a result of a momentary contact problem?
Reply:The choke cable can contact the stator all it wants too, won't matter. You have other things going on there. A new board will run you $150 US from me.The slip rings when run should have the black lines from the brushes
Reply:So, that (stator) is the tech name for the aluminum transformer like thing behind the face panel?  I thought it was what encircled the rotor.Last edited by lugweld; 11-02-2008 at 07:45 PM.
Reply:lugweld, what part of south GA are you located?  Not many of us South Georgians on here.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:North of Tifton at FitzgeraldEsab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:The rectifier sits on top of the reactor/ choke assembly, the actual engine choke should have come no where near there. Though if it did manage to short out on the reactor or choke, I can't see there being any real damage to these units, but you never know.Last edited by Cruizer; 11-03-2008 at 01:24 PM.
Reply:Well,Thanks to a little clarification of the wiring from Innovat this a.m.  I welds fine but the circuit board is shot for the idle up sensor.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:Whats an "Innovat"
Reply:Repair company based in VA.  Authorized Lincoln dealer too with service as well.Diagnosed problem on the phone.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:Anybody know where I can find a aftermarket muffler for my CH18 Kohler?Lincoln wants 170 bucks.  I found one OE from kohler that my local service company swore that they had used to replace on Lincolns, but it was heavier and about 1/4" too low to clear the top of the fields, because it was about 1/2" bigger around and had a mounting bracket on the bottom that bolts to another bracket that bolts to the block.  It wasn't specified for that app though.  It was less than 100 dollars but I think will interfere with the idle-up because it looks like it may block its full operation.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:Update:Finally ordered the right muffler and paid $$ for it.Sent my board off and had it repaired.Painted outside covers with a 4 year old can of Plasticote Fire Red paint.  100% perfect match.  Followed up with 3 coats of clear enamel.  Looks better than it did plus the clear enamal revived the face plates to make them clear and legible in bright light.Put new fuel pump on.  Kohler no longer has original mikuni Fuel pump. Sub a B&S pump that bolts right up.Cranked and ran after a little adjustment.  Went to idling up and down correctly right away.  Plus now, on cranking when it is warm, no choke is needed.The remaining issue is that at times you can hear loud ticking from the lifters.  A kohler mechanic told me to buy a 350 chevy lifter for a 70's model vehicle and they would interchange.  I don't know if this is worth it. I was told to change the oil. I even used Kohler High Detergent and I think it is worse. Otherwise it is nearly flawless in its performance.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT