Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,497
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Post by Sabre52 on Jan 12, 2010 10:03:03 GMT -5
Howdy folks, Well, my mini-sonic died again. Motor still runs but it will not rotate a load. Someone here told me awhile ago that there can be a problem with springs that break and need to be replaced. Only thing is, I cannot for the life of me figure out how to disassemble the damn thing to see where the springs are. Here's a picture of the unit I have:  There is one bolt on the bottom held in place by a locknut. I took it loose but that seems to do nothing. The rest of the plastic body seems to be held together by permanent plastic rivets. Any of you mechanical wizards here know how to take this booger apart and fix it? Any help would be greatly appreciated!....Mel |
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Post by johnjsgems on Jan 12, 2010 10:13:50 GMT -5
I took my smaller Mini apart once. The big nut on bottom is on the spring (if I remember right). Mine has rubber feet with screws in center. Remove the four screws and the bottom comes off. I have one of the older Geo-Sonics (original makers, same color as yours). If I get home sometime soon I'll see if it is the same. By the way, there is no motor. It vibrates by a pulsating electromagnet.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,497
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Post by Sabre52 on Jan 12, 2010 10:57:40 GMT -5
Thanks for the input John. My mini has rubber feet but no screws inside. Looks like some kind of metal rivet there too. This machine has pretty much been a lemon since it went off warranty. Had it put away for years because the damn thing wouldn't work. I just went out an tinkered with it some more as I did have it back running for a month or so but now it just hums and the load just settles to the bottom with no rotation at all. I'm thinking maybe something is bonkers with the electromagnet so it doesn't move the spring because the spring seems to be moving as usual....Mel
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Post by johnjsgems on Jan 12, 2010 12:20:25 GMT -5
It basically has a diode that makes the electromagnet pulsate instead of close and stay closed. You could have aproblem with either the diode or the "speed control". The only problem I had with mine was when I bent the hold down clamp to hold the drum tighter. I noticed when I pushed down on drum it speeded up the action. After bending clamp it would throw rocks right out of hopper. Metal clamp was replaced with a rubber strap on later models. It ran like that for two days and the diode wire broke off. Being 20 minutes from Diamond Pacific I took it to them and they rebuilt it completely at no charge. It worked better than ever and quieter after wards so I'm guessing it was never set up properly originally. I won it as a raffle prize so couldn't complain. The fre repair ws about 4 years after I won it also. If your feet are riveted you would likely have to drill the rivets and replace (with screws would be easiest). You could call Diamond Pacific and speak to either Don or Kevin. I'm guessing your tumbler is older judging by color but sending in for repair would probably be mostly shipping charges.
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Gem'n I
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2008
Posts: 980
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Post by Gem'n I on Jan 12, 2010 17:12:11 GMT -5
Mel,
I repaired mine as well only I did not take it from the bottom up...I removed the top rivets and replaced them with plastic liscnece(sp) bolts...I replaced the diode/speed control John talks about and it runs fine now. When it first went down, it would just sit there with no action at all....but if they are willing to repair it with only shipping charges...that maybe the way to go!!
Larry
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,497
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Post by Sabre52 on Jan 12, 2010 22:17:41 GMT -5
*L* GUys, thanks a lot, now I not only have to figure out how to take that mutha apart, I have to figure out what the H*** a diode is *L* and what it looks like if its broke. I think maybe being the life sciences sort, not the handy engineering sort, I'll either send it back to the factory for work at a later time or take it out in the yard and beat it with a hammer, till it's definitely dead, which is the immature method I use to deal with most machines that piss me off. Meanwhile, I sent off for an extra tub for the UV-10 to do my sanding/fine grind phase.....Mel
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