gerard
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2011
Posts: 218
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Post by gerard on Nov 5, 2011 14:03:41 GMT -5
Broke a belt on my thumler Model B this morning. First thing I did was order three more. BUT it is Saturday morning - that means my unit will be down for a least 4 to 5 days unless I want to pay for overnight (never). I tried multiple work arounds, the first being supergluing the belt back together - that worked for 15 minutes. Then I looked in the closets for a vacuum belt - none came close. Then I tried cutting and gluing some plastic hose - that wouldn't hold. I tried some 12 ga shielded copper wire - twisting the end - joint was too big to go under the pulley, BUT the diameter of the shielding was close to the diameter. So I cut a bit of shielding off to expose the copper then put the end in a vice and carefully pulled (twisting helped) the shielding off the copper interior. I then cut a piece exactly the correct length by dry fitting over the pulleys. I found a piece of weed eater line that was about the same diameter as the 12 ga copper and sanded it till it fit tight. I cut points on both ends of the trimmer line and super glued it into the shielded wire exterior. IT WORKS!!! Photos of the process follow. PARTS HOW I DID IT UNIT IS RUNNING I think it will work till I get my replacement belts delivered. PS - I just looked at my last photo and somehow I managed to get the glued together ends in the middle of that photo with the machine running.
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grayfingers
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on Nov 5, 2011 14:53:24 GMT -5
Now that's some good old fashioned western ingenuity at it's best!! You should leave it on to see how long it holds up.
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rockhound97058
freely admits to licking rocks
Thundereggs - Oregons Official State Rock!
Member since January 2006
Posts: 760
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Post by rockhound97058 on Nov 5, 2011 20:01:35 GMT -5
Never knew Mcguyver was on the forum! - Good idea, hey if it works, use it! Heck this will probably last longer than those cheesy belts do!
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shermlock
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2011
Posts: 612
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Post by shermlock on Nov 5, 2011 21:09:01 GMT -5
Nice job!
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Nov 6, 2011 3:15:25 GMT -5
good fix
I like the Idea
jack Yorkshire uk
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gerard
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2011
Posts: 218
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Post by gerard on Nov 6, 2011 11:27:58 GMT -5
Update - Ran well for about 8 hours. Then the original fix started to slip so every hour or so I had to go give the barrel a hand to start it tumbling again. So I made a new belt and it is working on its own again - we will see how long it takes for this one to heat up and stretch out. The batch in the barrel is full, so it is heavy and contains some big slabs that may catch up and get the barrel out of balance once in a while, putting extra stress on the belt. But the tumbler is tumbling while I wait for my replacement belts, and it appears that there is no undue stress on the motor. I am about to leave it for 8 hours (i sometimes work for a living) - I think it will make it.
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Post by rocklicker on Nov 11, 2011 12:31:46 GMT -5
Nice fix. MacGyver would be proud. In a pinch, large O-rings make fine belts. Actually they last for quite a while. They eventually streach out, but will keep you going. Steve
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gerard
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since April 2011
Posts: 218
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Post by gerard on Nov 11, 2011 21:06:20 GMT -5
I got my new belts today and they work much better than my fix. I did get a few days tumbling - but it was labor intensive as i had to keep giving the tub a nudge every once and a while.
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mp166
starting to shine!
Member since March 2011
Posts: 30
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Post by mp166 on Nov 14, 2011 13:16:59 GMT -5
Heres a fix that may help for future problems, machine shops sell belts for small lathes, they are straight, you just cut them to length then hold the 2 ends on a hot knife before pushing together, we use them in my clubs workshop and they last for ages.
MP
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