wheereul
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2023
Posts: 4
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Post by wheereul on Jul 4, 2023 13:07:12 GMT -5
I posted this message in my introduction post but thought perhaps I should post here? So sorry, I am new to this type of forum and I am a bit lost.
Hello. Thank you for adding me. I am a rock hound and primarily hunt in Colorado. I have never tumbled before. I bought a tumbler at an estate sale with no history on it. I don’t think it works but need help troubleshooting the problem. It is an ultra vibe 45 Thumler’s tumbler. When plugged in and turned on it humms. That’s it. Any advice where to start? Belt? New motor? Is it worth trying to repair? Thanks in advance for your help.
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Post by jasoninsd on Jul 4, 2023 13:19:18 GMT -5
You actually did this just right! Your "intro" thread may not get viewed by tumblers only going to the tumbling forum...so it was a great idea to post the questions in this forum! I don't have the technical skills with tumblers that others do...so I'm sure there'll be some of the knowledgeable folks chiming in soon!
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
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Post by tkvancil on Jul 4, 2023 14:00:58 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum. Yes that machine is worth repairing without a doubt. It is almost certainly the motor as there is really no other "moving parts". It's a motor mounted to a shaft with a counter weight attached.
Consider this...vibe tumblers are for steps 2 through polish. Rotary tumbler still needed for step 1. I have a UV-18 which holds roughly 12 to 15 pounds of rock . I run two or three twelve pound barrels at a time for stage one. That gets me about 8 to 10 batches a year in the UV-18. That 45 will take a while to fill so bear that in mind. Good luck, happy tumbling...
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wheereul
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2023
Posts: 4
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Post by wheereul on Jul 4, 2023 20:50:34 GMT -5
Thank you all so much for taking the time to respond! I thing we will contact Thumler. Sounds like I still need a tumbler, appreciate any suggestions on a good starter machine? I have tons of rocks and hope to start with pieces of petrified wood. Thank you again for spending your Independence Day answering my questions.
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chris1956
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2022
Posts: 1,233
Member is Online
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Post by chris1956 on Jul 4, 2023 20:56:51 GMT -5
Try searching "tumbler motor". I recall there was some discussion about lubing/oiling and blowing out the motor with air. You will have to look several pages deep but are a few suggestions to try. I haven't ever done any of these. Might check the electrical connections to make sure they are still connected but that shouldn't be an issue if you are getting a hum. Probably need a new motor. I have a couple Lortone tumblers (3A and QT12). They have been pretty trouble free so far.
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nursetumbler
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2022
Posts: 939
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Post by nursetumbler on Jul 4, 2023 22:07:27 GMT -5
Welcome I have a rebel 17 from Kingsley north. I run stricyly 46/70 in it. Lortone QT12 (I think) 1 barrel for 60/90 one barrel for 120/220, 3 Harbor freight duel drum machines for pre polish and a Lortone that has 3 1.5# barrels for polish. This forum is awesome for getting to know and love lapidary. It's not an inexpensive hobby, lol I sometimes think my husband encourages my addiction (that's what it becomes) so he can get rid of me for hours at a time.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Jul 4, 2023 22:14:16 GMT -5
I have seen numerous motors that would barely turn or not turn at all simply because the shaft bushings were dry. Do what you have to to get the motor clean {blow out with air is good} and lube the shaft bushings before springing for a new motor. As mentioned above check to see that all electrical connections are sound.
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,592
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Post by dillonf on Jul 5, 2023 6:04:57 GMT -5
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,095
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Post by stefan on Jul 5, 2023 6:05:04 GMT -5
Welcome. The UV 45 is a great machine. As mentioned it will hold A LOT OF ROCK. I currently run 6 Thumler's machines (rotaries) and after 20 years have only had 1 motor go bad. Usually if the motor hums but doesn't spin it is a seized bearing. If the motor itself were bad it would more than likely trip a breaker, or go up in smoke. I like penetration oil to free things up and then follow up with 3in1 oil to keep things moving. It is not recommended to run the course stage in a vibe ans you do not get a nice rounded off rock, plus the really course grit will eat away the barrel very quickly (and they are not cheap to replace, if you can even find one right now). With such a large barrel you are really going to want a large rotary to keep it fed. Just as an example I currently run a 15 lb, a 12 lb, and a 3 lb barrel all in course just to keep the remaining 6 lb, and 1 4lb barrel running in the other stages. I rarely have any backup of material and change out the barrels every other week (except my vibe which gets done every 5 to 7 days. Basically I process about 30 Lbs of rock every 2 weeks, just to get 7 lbs polished (man I have a lot of rock running in various stages lol)
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