grit190
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2022
Posts: 2
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Post by grit190 on Nov 20, 2022 14:17:25 GMT -5
I’m new to rock tumbling. Found an old Thumler Tumble Model T I must have got as a kid and forgot about. Completed tumbling my first set of rocks recently and started on the next batch. Tumbler had been running fine up to this point. Started to smell like overheating recently. Does this model motor tend to overheat? Is it possible to replace the motor?
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Post by As I in does tries! on Nov 20, 2022 15:23:44 GMT -5
Greetings and Welcome from Bonnybridge, Scotland! Some older electric motors pre-2000 have oil ports and need to be topped with a few drops of 3-in-1 oil every quarter the motors generally have a yellow plastic cap thus it is easy to see them, normally one on each side near the brushes. Newer electric motors post-2000 have sealed bearings that cannot be lubricated. As for temperature they run hot 75C (167F). The Rock Shed in SD normally has replacement parts for both Lortone and Tru-Square Metal Products (Thumlers tumblers), however they are currently out of stock. See Lapidary Vendors Worldwide.
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Time
starting to spend too much on rocks
Making something positive out of COVID restrictions by learning to create jewelry out of stones.
Member since September 2021
Posts: 154
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Post by Time on Nov 20, 2022 17:21:29 GMT -5
I have an older Model T that basically did the same thing. The grease in the sealed bearings dries out over time. I used my drimel to grind off the rivets holding the cover and took the motor out. Their is no way to oil it and I tried taking it apart to see if I could lubricate the bearings that way, bad mistake. If I were doing it again I would try drilling small holes on each end, next to the bearing, and squirting some WD 40 in and letting it set and see if it softens up the grease.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Nov 27, 2022 15:24:23 GMT -5
My model T ran for 16 years before it died. Yes the motor is replaceable but they are out of stock everywhere. It takes a bit of drilling (the rivets) and replacing them with small nuts and bolts. THe motor swap is pretty straight forward once you get the cover off. You can also try cleaning and lubing the motor. I did that when mine first acted up and got 4 or 5 more years on it. THis time around it is just didn't perform after cleaning.
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