keiths
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2021
Posts: 22 
|
Post by keiths on Jan 19, 2024 20:56:56 GMT -5
Last season, my UV10 motor quit. This season, my Lot-O double quit (bearings). Today, my UV18 still runs but the shaft is loose and it doesn't vibrate enough to move rocks in the barrel-at all (shaft has play, so bearings). Of course, no replacement motors have been available (for months/years). I am aware of the concrete table replacement motor for the Lot-O. When they worked, they did a really good job and used far less grit and time. My rotaries (9) have not failed, not even the belts. I guess I need to buy a few more, just for stages 2 through polish. Quite the disappointment in the vibe manufacturers. Not doing the sonics with the limited capacity and high price. Rant over.
|
|
geoff59
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2022
Posts: 288
|
Post by geoff59 on Jan 20, 2024 5:50:10 GMT -5
Yeah! I know how you feel, as last summer I decided to add a vibe over this winter. Fast forward to now, and aI’ve found the same situation at hand as you have. It wasn’t going to be my first choice, but it looks like the mini-sonic is the only contender left from my original list of vibes I was considering. So, mini-vibe it’ll be, late winter I guess. Or, maybe I’ll just add another QT 😅
|
|
jimmie
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2021
Posts: 233
|
Post by jimmie on Jan 20, 2024 6:38:37 GMT -5
My uv10 motor quit, I bought the closest replacement motor I could find, lasted one week. Then I installed the concrete vib motor, that thing runs like a top. They are inexpensive motors that are built pretty good, a very sturdy piece of equipment.its well worth the effort and works good.
|
|
stefan
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
|
Post by stefan on Jan 20, 2024 9:33:49 GMT -5
There is a reason the mini-sonics are expensive: THEY LAST! The problem with vibes is that the motors are purposely forced to run unbalanced. Back when motors were made in USA with real hardened steel bushings (most small motors are bushing supported, not bearing supported- not that it would matter either way) they lasted. Now with the cheaper motors made out of country with cheaper softer steel, well you see the results. Probably the best solution would be to use a belted motor connection and have the tumbler drive shaft unbalanced. This would still most likely cause wear, but not to the motor.
|
|
|
|
Post by chris1956 on Jan 20, 2024 13:33:19 GMT -5
Yeah! I know how you feel, as last summer I decided to add a vibe over this winter. Fast forward to now, and aI’ve found the same situation at hand as you have. It wasn’t going to be my first choice, but it looks like the mini-sonic is the only contender left from my original list of vibes I was considering. So, mini-vibe it’ll be, late winter I guess. Or, maybe I’ll just add another QT 😅 I really like my mini-sonic. The single is less capacity than the Lot-O so you might want one of the double units if you do a lot of material. |
|
arentol
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2023
Posts: 20
|
Post by arentol on Jan 20, 2024 17:45:13 GMT -5
Go to Harbor Freight and buy their two Chicago Electric vibratory tumblers (5lb and 18lb) and replace your bases with theirs. Should work just fine.
|
|
dbotte
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2022
Posts: 18
|
Post by dbotte on Jan 21, 2024 13:14:38 GMT -5
Go to Harbor Freight and buy their two Chicago Electric vibratory tumblers (5lb and 18lb) and replace your bases with theirs. Should work just fine. That doesn't seem productive price wise lol |
|
dbotte
off to a rocking start
Member since May 2022
Posts: 18
|
Post by dbotte on Jan 21, 2024 13:33:12 GMT -5
Yeah! I know how you feel, as last summer I decided to add a vibe over this winter. Fast forward to now, and aI’ve found the same situation at hand as you have. It wasn’t going to be my first choice, but it looks like the mini-sonic is the only contender left from my original list of vibes I was considering. So, mini-vibe it’ll be, late winter I guess. Or, maybe I’ll just add another QT 😅 I really like my mini-sonic. The single is less capacity than the Lot-O so you might want one of the double units if you do a lot of material. I love my MT-10! I wasn't sure when I was deciding on a high end Vibe between the Mini-Sonic and the Lot-O. At the time Lot-Os we're still out of stock and the Mini had like a month lead time but could still buy one and wait till they made some more. The pros of the Mini were that they had vibe intensity and that they don't have motors to burn out. One con was that the Hoppers had less capacity than the Lot-O barrel but it was only by half a pound, so that didn't dissuade me. Lot-O motors had already been transitioned over to a new company and a Lot-O people (pun intended) were reporting motor failures. You also don't have to mount a Mini to a effing cinder block to keep it from walking all over lol After getting a good recipe, I get just as good polished stones as people get in Lot-Os. |
|
arentol
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2023
Posts: 20
|
Post by arentol on Jan 23, 2024 16:22:37 GMT -5
Go to Harbor Freight and buy their two Chicago Electric vibratory tumblers (5lb and 18lb) and replace your bases with theirs. Should work just fine. That doesn't seem productive price wise lol Yeah, if you are comfortable with the motor replacement process, and can find the parts, then its not the best to do this. But if not, those are still very cheap compared to buying a whole new tumbler, especially when they go on sale, and they are a heck of a lot more available than a new Thumler as well. |
|
|
|
Post by Mel on Jan 24, 2024 11:33:32 GMT -5
I feel you on this. Every time I've gone to work on my rocks lately something's broken. Argh.
I've never had motor problems with my tumblers, but my old RayTech 5 ate through bowls so I got rid of it because I was fed up. Then was trying to find a Thumler UV-18 for about the last year or so, came up empty. Lot-o's are too expensive for me and I couldn't find one of those either! Finally caved and bought a RayTech 10 when I found one in stock since I have a massive, massive backlog of rocks I want to finish up.
Sometimes you just can't win.
|
|
waterboysh
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2021
Posts: 386
|
Post by waterboysh on Feb 12, 2024 11:23:44 GMT -5
The new IMESA motor for my Lot-O has been going strong for about 2 years now, but definitely not continuously. The Fasco motor relies on spring washers to keep the bearing spacing right and they are just not made for the constant flexing the offset weights on the motor cause. Now the issue I keep having is that the springs on my Lot-O keep breaking. I bet I'm not getting more than 3-5 batches out of them before one of the rear pair breaks.
|
|
