|
|
Post by Hard Rock Cafe on May 4, 2009 21:57:50 GMT -5
This idea was spawned by a thread on CE tumblers in which somebody mentioned the belt life on their tumbler. I thought we might all learn something if we conducted a poll on your belt life for your tumbler(s).
I'll start with my Star Diamond 15 lb. tumbler, which is a lot like a Thumler's Model B. I get about 6 months of continuous tumbling out of a belt.
|
|
|
|
Post by johnjsgems on May 4, 2009 22:18:32 GMT -5
When I sold Thumler's I commonly heard 2-3 years belt life on AR-2, AR-1 tumblers. I sold a LOT of Model T belts for CE tumblers but never heard how long they lasted on CE's. The T belts are same diameter but thinner.
|
|
Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
|
Post by Saskrock on May 4, 2009 23:48:27 GMT -5
I generaly use o-rings for belts on my CE's. The thinner ones last longer than thick ones. I get about 2-3 months out of them. Should probably but a lortone or thumbler belt.
|
|
|
|
Post by mohs on May 5, 2009 10:58:22 GMT -5
 what does CE stand for? anyway i've logged 48 hours on my Harbor Freight tumbler, so far i can see that the belt is powdering away lots black fine dust the things is I don't know what 'make' this belt is it was a belt that was just laying around the house that we replaced with plan on buying a replacement from Harbor Freight today gotta keep roll'n & tumbl'n
|
|
|
|
Post by Hard Rock Cafe on May 5, 2009 12:21:03 GMT -5
CE = Chicago Electric, it's the tumbler that Harbor Freight sells
So, John, it sounds like 6 months isn't very good on my end. I run it 24x7, except when I'm washing/loading, so I didn't think that was too bad. Of course, I would think a 15 lb. load would be harder on it than a 3 or 6 lb. load. The motor runs pretty hot, so that's probably a factor, too.
Chuck
|
|
|
|
Post by mohs on May 5, 2009 15:28:28 GMT -5
Thanks Chuck
guess i should have known that
its obviously the tumbler I have
not to change the subject
but I just bought Thumler grit from H.F
added some course grit to the soup
--the person previously had grit in there
not sure what he was using
black pellets like rabbit leavings---
well i just turned it on after replacing the belt
& now I added a bit more course
is Thumler course grit abrasive enough?
sure seems fine and powdery compared to what is in there
ed
|
|
10thumbs
spending too much on rocks
I want to be reincarnated as a dog.
Member since March 2009
Posts: 480
|
Post by 10thumbs on May 5, 2009 16:19:10 GMT -5
For the poll I went through two CE belts in three days. The first one broke sometime during the first night so it was less the 8 hours. The second one lasted three days.
Ed, do you know what those grits are rated i.e. the particle size? Most likely at least for the initial stage what they sold you is fine. It won't get you a fine polish but you should be able to shape them up.
|
|
pebblepup
has rocks in the head
Succor Creek Thunder Egg
Member since July 2008
Posts: 515
|
Post by pebblepup on May 5, 2009 17:41:15 GMT -5
When I bought my CE tumbler the belt broke after 1 week. I replaced it with a Lortone belt that lasted 9 months. I bought a used Lortone QT66 a while ago and have never replaced the belt.
|
|
docharber
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2008
Posts: 716
|
Post by docharber on May 6, 2009 14:41:55 GMT -5
The original equipment CE belts are the essence of crappy. One of the things that miht affect belt life is getting oil or other lubricants on the belt. I replaced me CE belt with one off eBay that was sold as a superior replacement and it seems to be just that. I've put several months on the rebuilt CE withpout problems. I think too much belt tesion might be a common problem with belt life. You want just enough to prevent slipping. Excess tension wears the motor bearings, too.
Mark H.
|
|
|
|
Post by mohs on May 7, 2009 10:49:35 GMT -5
i've logged 96 hours now on this belt
last 24 hours as all been for naught
bad mix, too much water, not enough cascade
hope it can recover
|
|
|
|
Post by Hard Rock Cafe on May 7, 2009 11:04:39 GMT -5
Ed: You may be checking too frequently. I let my tumblers go a week before I look at them. Just in case you've haven't picked up the rule of thumb on loading, it should be 2/3 - 3/4 full of rock and water in the neighborhood of the level of rock. I say in the neighborhood because there was a recent poll where a lot of people filled to below the top level of stones, but others went higher. I prefer below.
No need to worry about recovering. Just drain out some of the water off the top and fire it up again.
Hope that helps,
Chuck
|
|
|
|
Post by mohs on May 7, 2009 11:35:49 GMT -5
o i had really nice slurry going on, hard rock & I should have just closed it up and let it roll on but no ! I had to tweak with it patient tumbling is a hard thing  |
|
ejs
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 478
|
Post by ejs on May 7, 2009 12:57:37 GMT -5
I run 2 Lortone 33B, a 3A, and two QT66. I've had them for between 1-2 years, and they run 24/7. I've had to adjust a few motors because the belt was loose, but I have yet to replace a belt.
|
|
|
|
Post by Tonyterner on May 7, 2009 13:33:47 GMT -5
My CE tumbler belts died almost instantly. I started buying the ones on Ebay and they would last about 2 months. I haven't run that tumbler for a while now, I mostly use a Thumblers and Lortone and haven't replaced the belts on them for a year.
|
|
docharber
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2008
Posts: 716
|
Post by docharber on May 10, 2009 20:06:32 GMT -5
I like the segmented Lortone belts. They allow you to have a small motor puley without putting to much shear stress on the belt laminations (if applicable) or overstretching the outside of the belt. We touched on this talking about V-belts not long ago. UI think they last much longer when used over larger pulleys.
Mark H.
|
|
snuffy
Cave Dweller 
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
|
Post by snuffy on May 10, 2009 20:35:52 GMT -5
I bought a 45c lortone twenty years ago,used it constantly for two years,then put it away until 14 months ago .I ran it every since.The motor died and the barrel did too.but the belt still looks good.I got 2 ces,hours to days.If you feel like messing with them,buy two and get a year warranty on one of them. Before the warranty is up,return the junkiest one back for a new one. Lortone belts on mine,Ive never had a lortone belt break on my 3a or q12........Gerald
|
|
|
|
Post by mohs on May 10, 2009 21:37:49 GMT -5
Belt Failure @ 22:55 - 05/09/09 :nono: Full Recovery by 23:49 - 05/09/09  Thumler Replacement :2cents: last belt/band was an unknown logged over a 120 hours on it with 1 motor adjustment Thumler should keep me on course, of course ...
|
|
