rydersrocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
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Post by rydersrocks on Jan 25, 2024 1:58:00 GMT -5
Bob, Im not sure! I'm using the orange belts and they all just keep breaking. Im starting to think the belts are the issue. They might just be making bad belts. Can you send a picture of the belt you are using? I've never seen orange ones for a QT 12? The ones I've gotten are black or tan. Is it one of these:  Try the black one. Hi! I had been getting the orange ones of their website but they have now sent me their black ones. |
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rydersrocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
Likes rocks of all kinds
Member since January 2024
Posts: 109
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Post by rydersrocks on Jan 25, 2024 2:00:01 GMT -5
Get a Rebel 17, you will be glad you did! Tony Trust me, I'm considering it! I think I'm close to betting this thing to work though. But I'm considering buying one of these Rebel 17's when I have the money. |
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rydersrocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
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Member since January 2024
Posts: 109
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Post by rydersrocks on Jan 25, 2024 2:02:06 GMT -5
I have a Lortone QT12 that has been running almost constantly for just under three years. I bought it new in February 2021, plugged it in, and started using it. I didn't need to adjust anything. I haven't had any problems with it and I am sill using the original belt. I oil the sleeve bearings around once a month, but that is really the only maintenance I have done (besides maybe a little bit of surface cleaning). Hopefully this helps you get an idea on how the QT12 should perform. Hopefully you can get yours running soon; the QT12 is a great tumbler. Ok! That actually gives me a good idea now. I throw ugh you might have had to adjust it but I guess not. Yea I heard it was great tumbler but I'm disappointed with what has happened to me. Thanks, I hope I can get it running again too! |
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rydersrocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
Likes rocks of all kinds
Member since January 2024
Posts: 109
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Post by rydersrocks on Jan 25, 2024 2:04:12 GMT -5
Bob, Im not sure! I'm using the orange belts and they all just keep breaking. Im starting to think the belts are the issue. They might just be making bad belts. I bought a QT66 (same unit as the QT12) in December and it came with an orange, toothed belt. It has been running fine. I think there's an issue with the pulleys or the weight of the barrel. When you install the next belt maybe try running it for a few days without any load on there? Maybe that will give you time to see where the belt is rubbing or wearing before it breaks. Same as me! I bough it in December and it came with the orange belt. With these last few belts I have ran it without anything on it and after about 2 hours, I notice they start to split. I just got two new old style belts for free from lortone today! Ill update you and everyone else tomorrow morning. |
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Post by Bob on Jan 25, 2024 11:52:04 GMT -5
I have 2 QT12 tumblers. I find a belt lasts about 3-4 years. I've never seen a segmented or orange belt. Last time I bought new belts maybe 2 years ago, probably from Rock Shed.
This belt breakage issue is very weird to me. The drive pulley is aluminum and I would think there would be belt slippage long before enough tension to break a belt.
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rydersrocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
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Member since January 2024
Posts: 109
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Post by rydersrocks on Jan 25, 2024 12:38:35 GMT -5
That's a long time! Yea they sent me an orange belt with the tumbler and for all the replacements. Is too much tension the only way the belt could break?
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Post by Bob on Jan 25, 2024 14:22:22 GMT -5
I have segmented belts on some other things in my life and no problems with them, but I've never seen a segmented belt that tiny. I use segmented normal size v-belts on my large 90 lb tumbler in a couple of places because I've found them to be quieter, and they can wrap around a smaller pulley than a non-segmented. So I have no opinions one way or another as to which is better on this small tumbler.
I have had the QT12 jam up a few times, but never a belt break. By jam up I something go wrong. I've come home from work and found the drive shaft running even though the barrel had stopped turning. Once was due to the lid blowing off due to pressure, slurry and rocks tumbled out of the lid, and jammed up the barrel. Another time was when pressure in the barrel from tumbling obsidian got to be so great that the bottom end bulged out so much that it pressed against the tumbler base a lot and stopped the barrel. I think this happened also because the barrel bottom was thin from lots of use and easily bulged out. In none of those cases did the belt get damaged.
I can only think of two things. One is if the belt is defective to begin with. Or maybe if you aren't loosening the motor and forcing the belt into place over the pulleys the hard way, the sharp edge of the steel driven pulley might harm the belt. I never do this but loosen the motor screws first to create sufficient slack in the pulleys to enable the belt to go on w/o having to do that, then after adjust the motor screws to have tension in the belt. I used to tighten the belt just slightly more than factory suggestion, but I stopped doing that.
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rydersrocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
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Member since January 2024
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Post by rydersrocks on Jan 26, 2024 16:40:22 GMT -5
UPDATE: The old style belts are MUCH better and have been working great! However, I just found where the skidding noise was coming from. It was coming from the motor. whenever it's shaft is horizontal with the ground, it makes the skid noise. I noticed that the shaft pops out a tiny bit from centrifugal force. I don't know for sure what in the motor is causing it. Just contacted Lortone and they say it might have been damaged during shipping.
Pretty sure it is either the fan or the bearing that is making the noise. Any recommendations? I'm totally considering returning it. I'm getting really tired of fixing it and waking up to here that horrid sound. What do you all think? I mean, when I checked the motor for the first time, it had a dent in the side! I'm just upset and I feel scammed.
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rydersrocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
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Member since January 2024
Posts: 109
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Post by rydersrocks on Jan 26, 2024 22:04:45 GMT -5
I have segmented belts on some other things in my life and no problems with them, but I've never seen a segmented belt that tiny. I use segmented normal size v-belts on my large 90 lb tumbler in a couple of places because I've found them to be quieter, and they can wrap around a smaller pulley than a non-segmented. So I have no opinions one way or another as to which is better on this small tumbler. I have had the QT12 jam up a few times, but never a belt break. By jam up I something go wrong. I've come home from work and found the drive shaft running even though the barrel had stopped turning. Once was due to the lid blowing off due to pressure, slurry and rocks tumbled out of the lid, and jammed up the barrel. Another time was when pressure in the barrel from tumbling obsidian got to be so great that the bottom end bulged out so much that it pressed against the tumbler base a lot and stopped the barrel. I think this happened also because the barrel bottom was thin from lots of use and easily bulged out. In none of those cases did the belt get damaged. I can only think of two things. One is if the belt is defective to begin with. Or maybe if you aren't loosening the motor and forcing the belt into place over the pulleys the hard way, the sharp edge of the steel driven pulley might harm the belt. I never do this but loosen the motor screws first to create sufficient slack in the pulleys to enable the belt to go on w/o having to do that, then after adjust the motor screws to have tension in the belt. I used to tighten the belt just slightly more than factory suggestion, but I stopped doing that. Yea, that is the one they gave me. I believe that these segmented belts are similar to a flywheel belt. I have almost never had problem with the barrels not turning. Yea, the non segmented belts would be a lot better. Omg! I'm so sorry that happened. Coming home to an open barrel is the worst! With the belt, it has got to be what you mentioned, or something wrong with the equipment, or my mistake at tightening it. Yea, re loosening the motor would help a lot with preventing the belt to stretch. |
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rydersrocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
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Member since January 2024
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Post by rydersrocks on Jan 26, 2024 22:06:33 GMT -5
Well I think I'm going to return it for a new one. I think this is just a lemon. Something is now wrong with the motor. I have given up and have decided it would be a lot better to get a new one. Ill update you guys soon!
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Post by Bob on Jan 27, 2024 12:33:02 GMT -5
Dented motor that sounds damaged for sure. That had to be hit hard as the motor housing metal is thick.
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rydersrocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
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Member since January 2024
Posts: 109
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Post by rydersrocks on Jan 27, 2024 13:11:33 GMT -5
Dented motor that sounds damaged for sure. That had to be hit hard as the motor housing metal is thick. Yea, sucks for me since now I have to return it and I have already spent $30 trying to fix it :/ |
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Post by Bob on Jan 27, 2024 18:46:50 GMT -5
I would not have plugged in a dented motor, but would have immediately pursued a return or replacement.
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Post by Starguy on Jan 27, 2024 19:43:45 GMT -5
Well I think I'm going to return it for a new one. I think this is just a lemon. Something is now wrong with the motor. I have given up and have decided it would be a lot better to get a new one. Ill update you guys soon! I agree. It sounds like a lemon. One of my QT-12s is over 30 years old. It’s on it’s third belt. |
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rydersrocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
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Member since January 2024
Posts: 109
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Post by rydersrocks on Jan 28, 2024 1:25:10 GMT -5
I would not have plugged in a dented motor, but would have immediately pursued a return or replacement. I only found the dent a couple weeks ago but thought it wasn't a big deal. I was dead wrong. Yea, I don't know why I plugged it in. |
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rydersrocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
Likes rocks of all kinds
Member since January 2024
Posts: 109
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Post by rydersrocks on Jan 28, 2024 1:26:24 GMT -5
Well I think I'm going to return it for a new one. I think this is just a lemon. Something is now wrong with the motor. I have given up and have decided it would be a lot better to get a new one. Ill update you guys soon! I agree. It sounds like a lemon. One of my QT-12s is over 30 years old. It’s on it’s third belt. Wow, that's older than me! Every 10 years? Wow, you got a sweet fruit instead of a lemon! Yea I'm going to return it. How many do you have running? |
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Post by Starguy on Jan 28, 2024 1:56:42 GMT -5
I’m running two QT-12s and a 33B. I’d like to have another 12 pounder.
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rydersrocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
Likes rocks of all kinds
Member since January 2024
Posts: 109
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Post by rydersrocks on Feb 12, 2024 21:51:45 GMT -5
Update: New unit came but, it sounds odd. What do you all think?
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Post by southernlakehuronguy on Feb 13, 2024 8:11:11 GMT -5
Did you lubricate the shaft bushings?
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Post by Bob on Feb 13, 2024 10:51:48 GMT -5
Sounds and looks to me a little like the belt might be a bit too tight.
On Lortones of these sizes with these tiny v-belts, of which I have several, it seems best to have the belt a bit loose, and then tighten it some only if it slips. Do that rather than the other way around, which is to tighten it using past experience one might have with full size v-belts, and then loosen some only if problems happen.
So have that belt guard off while you watch how it behaves under the first full load for a while, maybe 5 mins. Touch the barrel a bit with your fingers to increase the drag a bit. If the belt slips some, tighten it but only a little. Do again if necessary.
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Nov 14, 2024 18:17:57 GMT -5
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