Geoff
spending too much on rocks
Please add 1074 to my post number.
Member since December 2012
Posts: 446
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Post by Geoff on Jul 1, 2013 0:26:05 GMT -5
Stupid stupid stupid. Ever since I bought the double, I have had nothing but problems. First it was too harsh. Chipping rocks constantly. After consulting with the manufacturer, I adjusted the tuning bar and was trouble free for several months. Last month the damn thing was so loud I couldn't tumble anything. I took the screws out of the base and found that between my single and double, there were 7 busted springs. I went down to the rock shop and bought seven replacement springs. Ran it for then few days before I went back to the slope with no problems. Came home Friday, tried a load on Saturday and holy crap it was louder than ever. After some frustration I found that the noise was from a screw that had broken off on the double. Getting real frustrated here. I have them both mounted to one board, mounted to a 150 pound pillar. I only use them if I have a full load, I've never run them empty or under loaded. What the hell is going on?! Anyone have some advice?
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Geoff
spending too much on rocks
Please add 1074 to my post number.
Member since December 2012
Posts: 446
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Post by Geoff on Jul 1, 2013 0:28:54 GMT -5
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Post by connrock on Jul 1, 2013 8:13:43 GMT -5
I've never had the double Lot-O but do have 2 single models.One is about 16-18 years old and the other is about 5-6 years old. I was experiencing the same as you with the older one and found that the "tuning dowel" kept moving on me which caused it to wear a (sort of) groove in it.I replaced the dowel several times but the same thing kept happening. I finally fixed it by putting a small screw through the dowel into the "base board" with a little silicone sealant under the dowel. I drilled a "clearance" hole through the dowel so the screw would go in without splitting the dowel and put a small cut washer under the head of the screw so it would hold better. When I got the newer one it had some sort of hard glue holding the dowel in place but I don't know what type of glue it is? If that dowel moves or becomes loose for any reason...you will have problems and break springs. I found that I could make new springs out of steel "banding" material used in shipping. Although I haven't tumbled a single rock in a long time I did run both of my units just about 24/7/365 for years and years without much trouble after I made the fix on that darn dowel! Good luck,,,
connrock
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Post by connrock on Jul 2, 2013 8:13:23 GMT -5
Trying to be helpful and honest,,,, I don't like your set-up! I don't think all of that rubber helps the units do what they are designed to do as the rubber absorbs the vibration and you want vibration. The problem I see right now is that the particle board extends past the concrete base which (I think?) may cause unwanted vibration,,,,,sort of like a reverberation affect?In my mind,,,it's like filling a bowl with water and dropping a small stone into it.The waves go out to the edge of the bowl and then return back.I DO NOT know if this is what's happening but I think it may? The other thing I see wrong is that the concrete block is mounted on a set of wood "slats" that are mounted on a metal "table" that sits on the concrete garage floor? The vibrations from the units are being (some what) absorbed by this and the units should be directly on the concrete floor or a "column" of concrete building blocks should be stacked up to a comfortable height for you. I know you're frustrated with vibrations tearing the units apart but now that I see the whole installation I cans see why you are having problems. This is NOT the only way to mount the units but it's the way I have mine and the units have worked very good for a long,long time. I used silicone between the blocks and also between the bottom block and the floor. connrock
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deedolce
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2006
Posts: 1,828
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Post by deedolce on Jul 2, 2013 10:03:48 GMT -5
Very informative, since I've been wanting to get a Lot-O and get into tumbling~
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Geoff
spending too much on rocks
Please add 1074 to my post number.
Member since December 2012
Posts: 446
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Post by Geoff on Jul 2, 2013 11:31:25 GMT -5
Hmm. I'll have to look into that. It's not mounted to that little bench though, I was just working on it there. I broke the big block off my pillar, then gorilla glued it back once I was done.
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Jul 2, 2013 18:03:24 GMT -5
Well Geoff, I had my own mini-disaster this last week so I can commiserate with you. I have an old Crown Lapidary vibe. Generally it is a real workhorse, but one design flaw allows the bowl to come off the very heavy cast-iron base. The bowl is attached only by a thumb setscrew. Well with the recent heat wave, we are getting huge swings in temperature. I found out the hard way that the metal bowl, the base, and the thumbscrew expand at different rates. The bowl came off the base and then the base jumped around the room. DA@%&^#!*()%(*###!! I was in another building and didn't hear the racket until I stepped back outside. It was pounding around for about 1/2 hour before I found it, but it wore 3/4" grooves into the floor and wrecked some other things in it's pass. I guess it could have been worse. I had to replace a few bolts in the vibe base, and it seems to work as well as ever. I am thinking of mounting it to a large cement pad, but I think the motor would slam itself inside it's housing if the bowl then came off. So for now I just watch it more closely and don't trust it when I am not around. I guess the reason vibe tumblers are so powerful is the same reason they can break terribly. The 1960's Crown Lapidary vibe The "free willy" results below
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Post by connrock on Jul 3, 2013 8:37:56 GMT -5
Mark,,,, It looks like the thumb screw is made of plastic? If so,I would be willing to bet that the threads are worn quite a bit and is why it loosens? If you can accurately determine what the threads are,you may want to try a metal wing nut or a Ny-Lock wing nut,,,,or even put Elmer's Rubber Cement on the "male" threads each time you tighten down the thumb screw? The Ny-Lock wing nut will loosen in time so you would have to buy a few but it's better then having a mess like you just had? That's one heck of a well built vibe! connrock
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Jul 6, 2013 17:41:42 GMT -5
Connrock, Thanks so much for your help. I guess I didn't show a good picture. The nut you saw actually only holds the lid on the bowl. Here is a picture of the thumbscrew The bowl rests on the vibe motor plate. The other two feet of the bowl which you can't see are a bit hooked to latch under the plate, but this 3rd foot uses this thumbscrew to attach and lock. I think I found the problem and fixed most of my troubles (rocktumbling problems that is, ha). One of the springs that hold the motor plate to the heavy base was broken slightly. I fixed this and the vibrations instantly became much less violent and much more orderly. The rocks still move very nicely and no hint of the thumbscrew backing out :-) . Yes, it is a nice vibe. Thanks. Very heavily built - the whole thing weighs about 30 lbs. Interestingly, the bowl is heavy cast iron with a liner of a very durable rubber. I have been lately getting gorgeous very shiny results using only one bowl throughout the whole process, because the bowl washes so perfectly clean. Good thing as I probably have no chance of ever finding a second bowl. Thanks for your suggestions, Mark
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Geoff
spending too much on rocks
Please add 1074 to my post number.
Member since December 2012
Posts: 446
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Post by Geoff on Jul 6, 2013 20:26:27 GMT -5
That is an awesome vibe. Too bad it decided to jack hammer your floor. My mega lot o has been running great. I'll have some polish pics up later today or tomorrow.
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Post by connrock on Jul 7, 2013 8:59:06 GMT -5
Mark, Glad you got things fixed.A broken spring can and does raise havoc! Good luck and have fun! connrock
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Post by connrock on Jul 7, 2013 9:02:09 GMT -5
Geoff,,, You and Mark are killin' me fixing things faster then I can try to help with! Glad you're up and running smoothly again! connrock
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