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Post by Noosh9057 on Jan 21, 2005 22:19:25 GMT -5
Hi there all. Just wanted to know if someone knows how long a Lortone Model 3A will last. I mean I have had mine for one year and it has been running 24 hours a day. I keep it oiled and do not over load it. Do I need to think about getting a new motor or will it go 1 or to more years.
Thanks Roger
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Post by sandsman1 on Jan 21, 2005 23:15:01 GMT -5
hey rodger i got a used lortone QT-66 it was the old color and its still runnin strong it had to be about 7 to 10 years old it has the old gold looking color on it not the blue,, if you take care of it who knows it might outlast you hahaha
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69beeper
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 377
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Post by 69beeper on Jan 22, 2005 13:34:35 GMT -5
Found this info online. From: "LORTONE, inc." Subject: Tumbler motors
Most of the small tumbler motors last longer than a couple years in service. The mean time between failures is approximately 40,000 hours or 4.5 years of 24 hour/day, 365 day/year use. Of course this is just an average.
It doesn't take much shaft wear for the bearings to become noisy, but when it happens the best solution is to reoil it as you have done. Unfortunately, using a lighter weight oil won't help the problem. Too thin an oil actually causes the bearing to run dry faster as the oil wicks out during running. Remove the bearing plates and soak them overnight in a 20 wt oil. This should help. If it doesn't, consider replacing the motor.
PS: Don't run the belt too tight as this can put a lot of side pressure on the bearing and cause early failure. The belt should be just tight enough so that it doesn't slip.
URL = users.frii.com/ajs/RockTumbling.htm#OilMotorJimmy
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Post by creativeminded on Jan 22, 2005 13:40:39 GMT -5
I have no idea, my Lortone 3A is about a year old as well. I have had to replace the belt, remove the housing (kept getting too hot and the belt would slip) and oil certain areas of it. Tami
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Post by Noosh9057 on Jan 22, 2005 14:13:10 GMT -5
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Post by krazydiamond on Jan 22, 2005 20:03:27 GMT -5
i have replaced all but one of my CE units with the Lortone 3A's. i oil them regularly (once a month) and have (to date) no problems. i did have to adjust two of them to get the belt alignment working better. but that was right off the get-go as they made noise.
i have noticed barrel wear and i need to stop someday and clean the rods on all of them. the other thing i have noticed is that sometimes the wear is particular to the tumbler, where one barrel won't turn on one but WILL on another..!!
i need to order a spare (yeh, right).
KD
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Post by connrock on Jan 22, 2005 22:19:55 GMT -5
Roger some of the Lortone motors have run for over 20 years and have only been shut down to tend to the load itself or for much needed maint. The main causes for motor failure are lack of lube and over loading.If you take care of these 2 items you're AOK for a loooooooooooooooog time. Tom
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Skipper
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 258
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Post by Skipper on Jan 23, 2005 19:18:03 GMT -5
I agree with all of the above. I am running two of this model. I did lose a motor on one after the first year, but this is highly unusual. I do regular oiling and cleaning and they are both running beautifully. Minimal belt adjustments as per above comments.
I have 3 other Lortones (different sizes) and all are still running well.
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