Brand new Rebel 17 problem

As my high speed Rebel 17 gets a bit older (1.5 year), it starts to make some rickety noise but the noise comes and goes. I don't remember having this issue in the beginning though. My overall experience with Rebel 17 is great. One thing to note is for the first several batches the barrel kept leaking due to the lid being pushed out by gas build up. After I filled the barrel with hot water and stopped adding sugar to the water, the issue was resolved.

My major concern for my Rebel 17 is the barrel is always pushed to the opposite side of the motor, and one of the drive shaft bulge rings (don't know the exact term) gets thinner and thinner by the abrading action from the barrel



I will eventually need this drive shaft kit: stainlesstumblingmedia.com/rebel-17-driveshaft-rubber-kit.html

Also, the center area of the rubber lid gasket gets thinner and thinner and I will sooner or later need a replacement: stainlesstumblingmedia.com/lid-gasket-for-model-b.html

Thanks for your reply! I haven't even put the barrel on actually. I just turned the power on after putting the base together.

I see what you mean about that plastic part on the shaft wearing out. I think I see it rubbing on mine too.

Hmm I don't remember hearing this sound and seeing this type of movement. I will take a look and take a video once I get home.

This is how my high speed Rebel 17 rotates. I muted the sound because with the rocks rolling you can hardly hear anything else. I will check tomorrow once I unload the barrel to see how it rotates when there is no barrel.

Ok, I removed the belt, and found that the rickety sound stopped (video below). Listening closely, it seems like it is coming from the plastic pulley or vicinity.

I also compared this pulley with the one on my QT66. I bought my QT66 used, and it had been heavily used and looks to be rather old. Despite that, its pulley still runs truer than this brand new Rebel 17's. Video below.