lookatthat
Cave Dweller
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360
|
Post by lookatthat on Jul 31, 2017 17:07:25 GMT -5
My therapist says I need to practice "selective engagement" so I haven't been on the board for a while, but now I've got a new old thing on my back porch. I had asked at a meeting of the local Gem & mineral club if anybody had an old vibe tumbler they were looking to part with for a small price. Specifically, I was looking for the 4-Lb Lot-O, but some of our members don't hear very well... anyway, to make a long story short, it's a Gy-roc B with the three stackable bowls, each of which has been labeled for the different stages, and knowing the guy who had it, I expect he did follow his own instructions. He thinks it needs a new motor, looks like it needs a few clips if I run all the bowls at once. It has the two belts for the 2 pulley speeds, one looks new. Since I had been looking into the Lot-O, this was a bit of a surprise, but I recognized the Gy-roc name right off and figured it had to be worth the $20 he was asking for it. (He even threw in some grits). But it's got to be faster than the 2 plus months it took to tumble my first lot in the Lortone 3A... right? What do I do with this thing?
|
|
lookatthat
Cave Dweller
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360
|
Post by lookatthat on Aug 3, 2017 12:13:14 GMT -5
Anybody on here actually use this type of tumbler?
|
|
|
Post by wigglinrocks on Aug 3, 2017 12:23:31 GMT -5
I use the GY ROC vibes , work fantastic . Kingsley North sells them and has a lot of the parts for them . You can get operating instructions from them also . I might be able to answer some of your questions . Here is a link to Kingsley , www.kingsleynorth.com/
|
|
lookatthat
Cave Dweller
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360
|
Post by lookatthat on Aug 4, 2017 16:10:17 GMT -5
Thanks, Rich! Walt told me about Kinglsey, but he doesn't have a Gy-roc, and i was starting to think nobody on here did. Do you tumble in a rotary first? Do you stack yours?
|
|
|
Post by wigglinrocks on Aug 4, 2017 18:19:54 GMT -5
I get the flaws out by rolling , then its off for a ride in the vibe . I haven't stacked the model B , but it runs pretty wild without the extra weight . The owner of the company said it should be stacked , that is what they are designed for . I just run the B on low speed when I use it . Have two model A's that I use mostly . Did you buy that one yet ? Might want to check on the price of a replacement motor first . They are pricey from the company . If you get it going , check back and I will give you any help and advice I can . Not many Gy Roc users here but I wil vouch for their abilities to put on a great polish .
|
|
lookatthat
Cave Dweller
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360
|
Post by lookatthat on Aug 6, 2017 9:11:48 GMT -5
Yes, I bought it, it was a "take it or leave it" proposition, and I figured the $20 was worth a chance since it came with the 3 bowls.
|
|
|
Post by wigglinrocks on Aug 6, 2017 9:39:55 GMT -5
Yes, I bought it, it was a "take it or leave it" proposition, and I figured the $20 was worth a chance since it came with the 3 bowls. You probably didn't go wrong . DO NOT RUN IT EMPTY , you will break the springs . Can try it with a bowl full of damp rocks to see if the motor is ok . Watch ebay , see the mod B listed from time to time usually reasonable . They look kinda weird and with all the hype over other brands , not a lot of interest in the Gy Roc . If there is an obo price , by all means go low on the offer . Could get a lot of parts cheap . I got two mod A and a B with a total of less than half the price of a new Model A . They all work fine .
|
|
lookatthat
Cave Dweller
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360
|
Post by lookatthat on Aug 6, 2017 14:01:53 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice! Now I'm really glad I didn't "just plug 'er in and see what she'll do." A little trepidation is a healthy thing!
|
|
lookatthat
Cave Dweller
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360
|
Post by lookatthat on Aug 6, 2017 19:46:06 GMT -5
well, I cleaned it up, added a bowl of rocks, and it hummmed. And that was all. So obviously it needs something.
|
|
|
Post by pauls on Aug 6, 2017 21:27:31 GMT -5
The springs will eventually break anyway, they can be replaced with original parts or springs from your local bolts and bearings type shop. If you go the non original springs replace all of them as they probably wont be exactly the same as the originals.
|
|
|
Post by wigglinrocks on Aug 6, 2017 21:38:54 GMT -5
well, I cleaned it up, added a bowl of rocks, and it hummmed. And that was all. So obviously it needs something. Check and see if the pulley on the motor is turning . Motor might just need a little oil and a spin when you plug it in . If the motor is junk , take the specs and see if you can find a replacement . Spiceman has mentioned a place that has all kinds of different motors .
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
|
Post by jamesp on Aug 7, 2017 6:55:50 GMT -5
Spring force effects vibration. Weight of rocks .... Amount and thickness of slurry....
I like the idea of adding a bowl. Gentle seems best in the vibe process. Even if you add a bowl of trash rocks in your stacked container. If the spring breaks running empty then likely the spring lasts longer with more weight(2 bowls stacked). If I turn on my Vibrasonic with no rocks in it it seems to want to self destruct. Let's assume vibrating machinery is designed for a load.(it is) Loaded with low density obsidian it shook more violently. Loaded with very heavy garnets it shook much more gently. Loaded half full(not recommended) it shook more violently. Loaded to max(suggested by manuf.) it runs very smooth.
Ever driven a stiffly sprung pick up truck with no cargo load ? Bouncy hard ride. Put 3000 pounds on back and it rides like a Cadillac. Same principle.
I say run 2 containers. For quality of polish and spring life.
My Vibrasonic has adjustable counterbalance and I run it towards the gentle side. Doesn't the Gy Roc have adjustment ? I'd go gentle.
|
|
|
Post by wigglinrocks on Aug 7, 2017 8:17:57 GMT -5
Spring force effects vibration. Weight of rocks .... Amount and thickness of slurry.... I like the idea of adding a bowl. Gentle seems best in the vibe process. Even if you add a bowl of trash rocks in your stacked container. If the spring breaks running empty then likely the spring lasts longer with more weight(2 bowls stacked). If I turn on my Vibrasonic with no rocks in it it seems to want to self destruct. Let's assume vibrating machinery is designed for a load.(it is) Loaded with low density obsidian it shook more violently. Loaded with very heavy garnets it shook much more gently. Loaded half full(not recommended) it shook more violently. Loaded to max(suggested by manuf.) it runs very smooth. Ever driven a stiffly sprung pick up truck with no cargo load ? Bouncy hard ride. Put 3000 pounds on back and it rides like a Cadillac. Same principle. I say run 2 containers. For quality of polish and spring life. My Vibrasonic has adjustable counterbalance and I run it towards the gentle side. Doesn't the Gy Roc have adjustment ? I'd go gentle. Gy Roc has a concentric weight on top and bottom of the shaft that can be adjusted to get the action you want . Also has a two step pulley on the motor for speed adjustment . I usually use high speed , depending on material , for coarse and switch to low speed for the pre and polish stages . Very gentle and much easier than adjusting the weights .
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
|
Post by jamesp on Aug 7, 2017 8:23:33 GMT -5
Spring force effects vibration. Weight of rocks .... Amount and thickness of slurry.... I like the idea of adding a bowl. Gentle seems best in the vibe process. Even if you add a bowl of trash rocks in your stacked container. If the spring breaks running empty then likely the spring lasts longer with more weight(2 bowls stacked). If I turn on my Vibrasonic with no rocks in it it seems to want to self destruct. Let's assume vibrating machinery is designed for a load.(it is) Loaded with low density obsidian it shook more violently. Loaded with very heavy garnets it shook much more gently. Loaded half full(not recommended) it shook more violently. Loaded to max(suggested by manuf.) it runs very smooth. Ever driven a stiffly sprung pick up truck with no cargo load ? Bouncy hard ride. Put 3000 pounds on back and it rides like a Cadillac. Same principle. I say run 2 containers. For quality of polish and spring life. My Vibrasonic has adjustable counterbalance and I run it towards the gentle side. Doesn't the Gy Roc have adjustment ? I'd go gentle. Gy Roc has a concentric weight on top and bottom of the shaft that can be adjusted to get the action you want . Also has a two step pulley on the motor for speed adjustment . I usually use high speed , depending on material , for coarse and switch to low speed for the pre and polish stages . Very gentle and much easier than adjusting the weights . So you can adjust both speed, counterweight, and stack containers. Sweet. 2 speeds X 3 possible containers = 6 combinations with those two variables alone ! Then add counterweight adjustments. Lots of variations with that machine.
|
|
|
Post by wigglinrocks on Aug 7, 2017 8:31:55 GMT -5
Gy Roc has a concentric weight on top and bottom of the shaft that can be adjusted to get the action you want . Also has a two step pulley on the motor for speed adjustment . I usually use high speed , depending on material , for coarse and switch to low speed for the pre and polish stages . Very gentle and much easier than adjusting the weights . So you can adjust both speed, counterweight, and stack containers. Sweet. 2 speeds X 3 possible containers = 6 combinations with those two variables alone ! Then add counterweight adjustments. Lots of variations with that machine. Model B has the stacking options . Since B uses the same springs the A uses , the B is a little more tricky to get the action right with just one bowl sittin on it . I should play around with weight adjustment but switching to the low speed pulley works for me . I think having 3 bowls stacked , it would be sort of a pain to check on what is happening in them .
|
|
lookatthat
Cave Dweller
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360
|
Post by lookatthat on Aug 7, 2017 9:03:28 GMT -5
Oooh, this is complicated, isn't it.... This is the "B" model.
Observations: When plugged in with a bowl of rocks, it hummed, but no smoke. Nothing turning that I can see. Belt "looks" OK, and is intact. I can turn the little wheels by hand, and can see that it turns something in the motor when I do so. Springs look OK, with some surface rust. I've got the bowls soaking (separately)right now. Good news is they hold water fine. Bad news is they are crusted with dried grit. I'll have my father look at it tonight. Maybe it just needs a drop of oil? Yeah, I know, probably not...
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
|
Post by jamesp on Aug 7, 2017 9:08:54 GMT -5
Load em up with pea gravel and run them to clean out the incrusted grit lookatthat. Gaurentee you will loose the incrusted grit.
|
|
lookatthat
Cave Dweller
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360
|
Post by lookatthat on Aug 7, 2017 9:13:30 GMT -5
A good idea! ...if the motor was running
|
|
|
Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Aug 7, 2017 9:15:46 GMT -5
A good idea! ...if the motor was running Take the belt off and turn it on. That will tell you if you have a motor issue or something seized up somewhere else. I always start at the motor and work my way along from there. Chuck
|
|
|
Post by wigglinrocks on Aug 7, 2017 9:41:27 GMT -5
A good idea! ...if the motor was running Take the belt off and turn it on. That will tell you if you have a motor issue or something seized up somewhere else. I always start at the motor and work my way along from there. Chuck I agree with what Chuck said . If the motor runs with the belt off , check the shaft the bowl sits over to see if that spins free . Those are the only things that could seize up . I can PM the manufacturers phone # , good guy and will take the time to talk over any issues you have with the vibe .
|
|