Refurbed Scott Murray Tumbler
Feb 13, 2013 17:54:41 GMT -5
snowmom, Garage Rocker, and 2 more like this
Post by rockpickerforever on Feb 13, 2013 17:54:41 GMT -5
I got this really cool old Scott Murray tumbler from Ed (Sgt. Edmo Rock'n Hearts, mostly 
) last August. He told me that it needed some new bearings, and since Mr. rockpickerforever is a machinist, he figured he would be able to come up with a way to make that happen. I'm happy to say that a solution was found to get it up and running again!
First photos, the tumbler as it arrived
A little too much age and AZ sun! After measuring and calculating the size of it, I figured that it was equivalent to a Thumbler model B, 15 pounder. I picked up a new barrel liner (and lid liner) from the Rock Shed ($30 plus shipping).
Other than the liner, this was the other problem (I hate those plastic "bearings!")
Someone had installed an oilite bushing, trying to get a few more miles out of it. It was a good temporary fix, and once I had the new liner in it, I turned the shafts around 180 degrees, wedged a shim up under the bushing to lift it back into place (so that the driven shaft was not rubbing on the sheet metal plate beneath it), and ran it for a week of coarse tumble that way.
As you can see, the hole was pretty oblonged, probably from years of overtightening the belt.
The shafts were pretty well worn, too. This was the worst one.
But after the barrel stopped turning a few times, I was afraid that the motor would burn out on me, and then it would have just one more thing wrong with it. So, I decided to make it right!
Sorry I didn't take pics of the whole process, but what we did was buy about three feet of 5/8" cold rolled steel round rod, and cut it into two pieces - total price, less then $4.
I bought a couple feet of 5/8 ID vinyl hose from Lowes (total price with tax was $3.55), and slid it onto the new shafts. "Slid" sounds too easy... Actually, it was a tight fit, and my husband had to chuck up the shaft in his lathe, and with it turning, was able to push the hose on.
I picked up a quantity of ten bearings (I know, it only needs four, but these are a very commonly used size, like for saws) for $19.20 with free shipping, so less than $8 for four bearings. Since we were making the bearing housings, they could have been any size that had a 5/8" ID. Since the wall of the tube was a tad thicker, I think the tumbler speed increased just a little bit.
An aluminum plate to hold the new bearings was made for both ends. Each plate is held in place with four screws, screwed through the sheet metal and into the block.
Since we replaced the shafts with new ones, making them a little longer to accomodate the additional width of the blocks was not a problem. The shaft on the motor was long enough as well, didn't have to make any alterations, just slid the pulley out a little bit.
On the road again! It's tumbling away right now with some found agates and jaspers from Quartzsite last month. Used all the same pulleys, same drive belt on the motor, and the same o-ring for the idler shaft.
Thanks again, Ed, for giving me the opportunity to give this old classic a new life! Jean
) last August. He told me that it needed some new bearings, and since Mr. rockpickerforever is a machinist, he figured he would be able to come up with a way to make that happen. I'm happy to say that a solution was found to get it up and running again!First photos, the tumbler as it arrived
A little too much age and AZ sun! After measuring and calculating the size of it, I figured that it was equivalent to a Thumbler model B, 15 pounder. I picked up a new barrel liner (and lid liner) from the Rock Shed ($30 plus shipping).
Other than the liner, this was the other problem (I hate those plastic "bearings!")
Someone had installed an oilite bushing, trying to get a few more miles out of it. It was a good temporary fix, and once I had the new liner in it, I turned the shafts around 180 degrees, wedged a shim up under the bushing to lift it back into place (so that the driven shaft was not rubbing on the sheet metal plate beneath it), and ran it for a week of coarse tumble that way.
As you can see, the hole was pretty oblonged, probably from years of overtightening the belt.
The shafts were pretty well worn, too. This was the worst one.
But after the barrel stopped turning a few times, I was afraid that the motor would burn out on me, and then it would have just one more thing wrong with it. So, I decided to make it right!
Sorry I didn't take pics of the whole process, but what we did was buy about three feet of 5/8" cold rolled steel round rod, and cut it into two pieces - total price, less then $4.
I bought a couple feet of 5/8 ID vinyl hose from Lowes (total price with tax was $3.55), and slid it onto the new shafts. "Slid" sounds too easy... Actually, it was a tight fit, and my husband had to chuck up the shaft in his lathe, and with it turning, was able to push the hose on.
I picked up a quantity of ten bearings (I know, it only needs four, but these are a very commonly used size, like for saws) for $19.20 with free shipping, so less than $8 for four bearings. Since we were making the bearing housings, they could have been any size that had a 5/8" ID. Since the wall of the tube was a tad thicker, I think the tumbler speed increased just a little bit.
An aluminum plate to hold the new bearings was made for both ends. Each plate is held in place with four screws, screwed through the sheet metal and into the block.
Since we replaced the shafts with new ones, making them a little longer to accomodate the additional width of the blocks was not a problem. The shaft on the motor was long enough as well, didn't have to make any alterations, just slid the pulley out a little bit.
On the road again! It's tumbling away right now with some found agates and jaspers from Quartzsite last month. Used all the same pulleys, same drive belt on the motor, and the same o-ring for the idler shaft.
Thanks again, Ed, for giving me the opportunity to give this old classic a new life! Jean
