Lincoln ranger 305???

[bonez10]

looking into buying a lincoln ranger 305 what do you guys think?
what is the difference between the gas and diesel is it wirth spending the extra $5000
ill be working with mostly stick, and wire feed , arc gouge, plasma cutting and useing a a generator?
is there any beniefet to the diesel?
ill be working on everything from logging equiptment to railings
thanks

[DesertRider33]

The diesel will last longer and is probly more fuel efficient. I doubt any increase in fuel efficiency will offset the high cost of the option though.

If you intend to put ALOT of hours on machine while you own it, the diesel may be worth the investment, but if you plan to sell it and upgrade it say half way through it's full life expectancy, then the investment in the diesel wouldn't be worth it.

Even if the gas model only lasts half as long as the diesel, it also costs only half as much. You can either buy one diesel and use it twice as long, or buy one gas, use it, wear it out, buy another and wear that one out, and spend the same amount of money in the end. Going with the gas machine, you'd be able to upgrade to the newer model when you replace the machine, rather than stuck with the same old machine for twice as long with the diesel.

I'm not all that familiar with Lincoln machines, but on Miller Bobcats and Trailblazers, the diesel versions are usually a little heavier and slightly bigger than the gas version of the same machine. This can be somewhat of a consideration if you're carrying it on a small truck with limited space and weight carrying ability. Both gas and diesel versions of the same machine usually have the same weld and generator output, duty cycle, features and arc quality, so it's just a pure difference of gas versus diesel engine.

If your truck has a diesel engine, a diesel welder will make it more convenient to fuel them both up at the pump. Same for a gas truck and welder.

Diesel is safer than gasoline to store and use, as far as fire/explosion/fume hazard goes.

If you let the machine sit for long periods without using it, gasoline likes to gum up inside the carb and make starting difficult and idling rough. Diesel will absorb water if left sitting for long periods. There are stabilizing additives you can use for both diesel and gas to help them last longer when sitting. For an occasional-use machine, LP propane would be the best fuel choice since it doesn't go bad or gum up from sitting. Propane is also safer to use inside a building.

On bigger machines, the diesels run at a low rpm and are quiet and smooth, but on these smaller machines like Rangers, Bobcats and Trailblazers, both the gas and diesel engines operate at the same 3600 rpm and neither are quiet or smooth, so there really isn't an advantage either way as far as noise or vibration goes.

On the bigger machines, the diesels are usually water cooled and don't overheat running all day in the summer. On these smaller machines though, both gas and diesel have air cooled engines so there isn't an advantage either way as far as ability to run long periods in hot weather. The small machines are more for intermittent use than for running all day long constantly. The noise will drive you crazy after awhile running constantly too. If you want a machine to run all day every day, get a bigger machine than the small Rangers, Bobcats and Trailblazers.

My personal opinion is, on these smaller machines, the diesel isn't worth it, it costs far too much more money and doesn't give any of the typical advantages that the diesels in the bigger machines offer. On the bigger machines, I would definately want the diesel instead of the gas.

[Greyhorse]

I think the Diesels in the smaller machines are liquid cooled. Another thing with the gas engines is that if you wear it out you can drop a replacement in fairly easily from what I understand.

[gtmpsgt]

I have the 305G and love it. I get 12+ hours on a tank of gas.

[Turbot-bird]

Mine sat for 3 years before I bought it and I charged the battery and it fired right up on the same tank of diesel. I like it.