Post by clickn55 on Apr 13, 2008 23:19:30 GMT -5
A bit of set up--
I won an auction on ebay for a HF vibe tumbler. I knew that it wasn't a "pro" tumbler but I figured that it couldn't hurt. I used it for 2 loads of rock -- it was a lot faster than the rotary tumblers I have and I was pleased with the results.
I put in a third load in one morning and forgot to check on it that night -- it went unattended for about 22 hours. When I unlocked my shop I didn't hear it running and saw that it had walked across the floor and unplugged itself ( a good thing!). I also saw that the top had come off and all the rocks, dust and grit were now spread in an even layer across my sons freshly milled cylinder head and most of the tools in my shop.
It seems that at some point during the night the centerpost that holds the top on had stripped and then vibrated loose.
What follows is the fix that I implemented and I hope will last for a while.
It was obvious that I need to replace the centerbolt and I figured that I would put in a bigger bolt so that this doesn't happen again. I had a 1/2" piece of threaded rod laying around -- about 9 " in length.
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture014.jpg
If you look close you can see the stripped portion on the smaller bolt.
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture008.jpg
This is the tumbler apart -- remove the center nut and the bolw comes off --and then the next nut etc.
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture006.jpg
Various nuts,bolts and washers that are attached to the centerbolt.
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture007.jpg
The bottom portion without the bowl.
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture009.jpg
The bowl and bottom plate.
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture016.jpg
The underside of the bottomplate. The center portion -- "the boss" is too thick and needs to be removed. If it is left intact the new 1/2" bolt will contact the motor and it will not work right. I also had to take about a 1/4 " of the nut -- leaving the nylon portion intact to combat the vibration.
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture021.jpg
The offending boss removed.
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture023.jpg
The bottomplate with boss removed.
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture019.jpg
The new nut ( on right) is much thicker than the old (on the left) and if left intact will rub on the motor preventing movement. The bottom 1/4" of the nut on the right was removed -- leaving the nylon intact.
I used a 1/2" bit to drill out the washers, bowl, bottomplate and cover so that the new 1/2" threaded rod would fit. Assembly is the reverse using the same order of components.
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture026.jpg
The assembled bottomplate attached to the base -- without the rubber pad.
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture030.jpg
This was a bit difficult -- needed needlenose vicegrips to hold the nut while the screw was turned. These bolts/springs hold the bottomplate, bowl and motor assembly to the base.
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture027.jpg
Completed assembly ready for the rubber pad and bowl.
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture031.jpg
This took a while ;D
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture032.jpg
Tools needed-- not showing beverages
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture035.jpg
All done!
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture036.jpg
This was a bit of overkill -- you could get away with a smaller bolt -- I just used what I had on hand.
In use the vibe motion seems less violent. I get to load it soon and hope it stays together.
I won an auction on ebay for a HF vibe tumbler. I knew that it wasn't a "pro" tumbler but I figured that it couldn't hurt. I used it for 2 loads of rock -- it was a lot faster than the rotary tumblers I have and I was pleased with the results.
I put in a third load in one morning and forgot to check on it that night -- it went unattended for about 22 hours. When I unlocked my shop I didn't hear it running and saw that it had walked across the floor and unplugged itself ( a good thing!). I also saw that the top had come off and all the rocks, dust and grit were now spread in an even layer across my sons freshly milled cylinder head and most of the tools in my shop.
It seems that at some point during the night the centerpost that holds the top on had stripped and then vibrated loose.
What follows is the fix that I implemented and I hope will last for a while.
It was obvious that I need to replace the centerbolt and I figured that I would put in a bigger bolt so that this doesn't happen again. I had a 1/2" piece of threaded rod laying around -- about 9 " in length.
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture014.jpg
If you look close you can see the stripped portion on the smaller bolt.
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture008.jpg
This is the tumbler apart -- remove the center nut and the bolw comes off --and then the next nut etc.
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture006.jpg
Various nuts,bolts and washers that are attached to the centerbolt.
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture007.jpg
The bottom portion without the bowl.
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture009.jpg
The bowl and bottom plate.
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture016.jpg
The underside of the bottomplate. The center portion -- "the boss" is too thick and needs to be removed. If it is left intact the new 1/2" bolt will contact the motor and it will not work right. I also had to take about a 1/4 " of the nut -- leaving the nylon portion intact to combat the vibration.
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture021.jpg
The offending boss removed.
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture023.jpg
The bottomplate with boss removed.
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture019.jpg
The new nut ( on right) is much thicker than the old (on the left) and if left intact will rub on the motor preventing movement. The bottom 1/4" of the nut on the right was removed -- leaving the nylon intact.
I used a 1/2" bit to drill out the washers, bowl, bottomplate and cover so that the new 1/2" threaded rod would fit. Assembly is the reverse using the same order of components.
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture026.jpg
The assembled bottomplate attached to the base -- without the rubber pad.
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture030.jpg
This was a bit difficult -- needed needlenose vicegrips to hold the nut while the screw was turned. These bolts/springs hold the bottomplate, bowl and motor assembly to the base.
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture027.jpg
Completed assembly ready for the rubber pad and bowl.
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture031.jpg
This took a while ;D
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture032.jpg
Tools needed-- not showing beverages
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture035.jpg
All done!
i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/clickn55/family/vibe%20tumbler%20project/Picture036.jpg
This was a bit of overkill -- you could get away with a smaller bolt -- I just used what I had on hand.
In use the vibe motion seems less violent. I get to load it soon and hope it stays together.
