An engine-driven welder that won’t start, won’t make power, or won’t weld clean is a machine we know inside and out — because we run them all day and we fix the engines, generators, and hydraulics on everything else. Ames Hydraulics does welder repair in Ames, IA on engine-driven welder/generators and shop welding machines. Free pickup within 60 miles of Ames.
Engine-Driven Welders Are Our Wheelhouse
A Miller Bobcat, Lincoln Ranger, Trailblazer, or Vantage is really a small engine turning a generator — and both of those are things we service constantly. When one won’t start it’s usually fuel, spark, or a carburetor gummed from sitting; when it starts but won’t weld or won’t power tools, it’s often the generator side, brushes, or connections. That combination of engine and power-generation work is exactly why welder repair fits our shop so well.
What We Repair
- Engine problems — won’t start, runs rough, no power under load: carburetor, fuel, ignition, tune-ups
- Generator / weld output — no weld output, weak or erratic output, auxiliary power problems
- Leads, clamps, connections, and switches
- Cooling, fuel systems, and controls
- Cracked skids, trailers, and mounts — welded and reinforced (we are, after all, a welding shop)
- Basic service on shop MIG, TIG, and stick machines
Keep Your Iron Working
For a welding contractor or a farm that depends on its machine, a down welder is a down day. We turn welder repair fast and keep common engine parts on hand. We’ll diagnose whether it’s the engine side or the generator side before you spend money, and quote it before we start.
Free Pickup Within 60 Miles
Trailer-mounted or skid units can be a pain to move — we’ll come get it, free within 60 miles of Ames, and deliver it back running. Text a photo and the model to 515-292-2599 and we’ll tell you the same day what it needs.
Engine Side or Generator Side — We Find Out
The first question on any engine-driven welder repair is whether the problem is the engine or the power-generation side, and we test for both. No-start and runs-rough problems are engine work — carburetor, fuel, ignition — the same small-engine work we do daily. No weld output or weak, erratic output with a healthy engine points to the generator, brushes, or connections. Diagnosing which before throwing parts at it is what saves you money.
Built to Keep Working Iron Running
Welding contractors and farms can’t afford a dead machine, so we turn welder work fast and keep common engine parts on hand. And since we’re a welding and fabrication shop ourselves, if the skid, trailer, or mount that carries your welder is cracked, we fix that in the same visit — engine, output, and steel, all in one stop.
Before the Next Job or Season
The smart time for welder repair is before you need the machine, not the morning of a big job with a welder that won’t start. A pre-season service — carburetor, fuel, plug, and a check of the weld output — heads off the no-start-after-storage problem that strands so many engine-driven welders. Text a photo and the model to 515-292-2599 and we’ll tell you the same day what it needs. And because we run these machines ourselves, we fix them the way we’d want ours fixed — right, fast, and tested before it goes back to work.
Get Welding Again
See our full hydraulic repair, hydraulic cylinder repair, and hydraulic hose repair services. Call or text 515-292-2599 or bring it to 210 Freel Dr in Ames. Open Monday through Friday, 7AM to 5PM.
Written by Josiah Ragsdale
Owner, Ames Hydraulics — Ames, Iowa
Josiah owns and operates Ames Hydraulics. He has worked on hydraulic and heavy equipment since he was 18, and every hydraulic cylinder his shop rebuilds is pressure tested before it ships back to the customer. More about Josiah →
Got something broken? Call or text 515-292-2599