roccus
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2016
Posts: 3
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Post by roccus on Jun 23, 2016 11:10:46 GMT -5
Hello I just bought a new Thumler's A-R1 but am having a problem with the barrel lid leaking and eventually it falls right off creating a mess. I have followed instruction on how to load and operate it is not over loaded. It states you can put up to 3lbs. in it but I only have about 1 1/2lbs. in it. When I load it up and plug the tumbler in it starts to leak right away and within 2 hours of running if left unattended the lid pops off. I have made sure the tumbler is sitting level on solid surface and the rim of the barrel is clean and the lid is pushed all the way in the rim and put the O ring on but the problem persists. Is this a design flaw and normal with Thumler's barrels? I went to Thumler's web site and left a message a few days ago about my problem but they never replied.
It is not desirable to have a tumbler where you need to sit and baby sit it at all times while it is running to keep refilling with water and pushing the lid back on when it starts to work it's way off the top of the barrel. I had a tumbler years ago that had a nut on the lid that when snugged up it expanded it to seal it and it never leaked of fell off. Is their some secret tip or way to make these Thumler's lids work proper??
Maybe I should use a 3lb. barrel like the ones used on Lortone that has a knob used to tighten the lid? Will it work in the Thumler's AR- 1? Thank you for any help and info.
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inbtb
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2016
Posts: 351
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Post by inbtb on Jun 23, 2016 14:29:22 GMT -5
Is tumbler factory sealed new or used just new to you? If used you will probably need a new barrel ring.
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roccus
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2016
Posts: 3
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Post by roccus on Jun 23, 2016 22:16:32 GMT -5
It is new old stock.. but you think a new ring will cure it? I will order a new one and see....
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inbtb
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2016
Posts: 351
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Post by inbtb on Jun 23, 2016 22:31:10 GMT -5
I'm new at this also, but a new barrel ring is a cheap try to fix your leak. That would be where I would start.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,341
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Post by quartz on Jun 23, 2016 22:55:03 GMT -5
I've had major leak troubles with two new to us Thumlers, new barrel O-rings solved it. I got them from our local auto parts-industrial supply. I got the same cross-section [diameter of the o-ring material] as the original rings, and a ring outside diameter that just fit inside the barrel [same ring overall diameter as barrel inside diameter].
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roccus
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2016
Posts: 3
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Post by roccus on Jun 24, 2016 8:29:23 GMT -5
I will go ahead get a new one and hope it works... the one that came with it does seem to fit tight and is a pain to get on and has a lot of stretch but maybe it is just not tight enough. I am actually using it to clean clad coins and pennies I dig out of the ground with my metal detector. When they have been in the ground for a period of time they get nasty looking and stores and banks will not take them so I toss the coins in with a couple handfuls of fish tank gravel and some vinegar.
The tumbler came with some rocks, grit, and jewelery pieces, after I do a few batches of coins grandson wants to do some rocks to make jewelry for his grandma, mother, and sister for xmas presents...
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Post by johnjsgems on Jun 24, 2016 17:33:34 GMT -5
Check the barrel lip. Back when I was a dealer they had issues with bad molding occasionally and o-ring would not hold. Sometimes at a show the lids would pop sitting on the shelf. You can call the manufacturer for advice and probably get an answer faster than e-mailing. I bought a very used one way back when. It had lids somebody cut by hand that were not round so of course did not work. I called True Square and talked to a very nice lady and wanted to buy two new drums. She said I probably only needed lids and retaining rings. She was right. The groove the lid fits in must be completely clean for the lid to seat.
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Enigman
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2013
Posts: 163
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Post by Enigman on Jun 27, 2016 16:12:05 GMT -5
I toss the coins in with a couple handfuls of fish tank gravel and some vinegar. Okay, based on the above I will postulate that you are having an IMMEDIATE gas buildup problem. You have vinegar (an acid) in with mixed metals. That's pretty much the definition of a battery and the result will be outgassing of hydrogen and possibly hydrogen sulfide. Does it smell like rotten eggs when the barrel is opened? Also vinegar may be able to penetrate the lid seal easier than water which would aggravate the problem. Thumler's barrels will not tolerate any gas buildup at all. The barrel lid closure design is not geared for any internal pressure. Out of a dozen Diamond Pacific, Lortone and Thumlers machines, I have two Thumlers model T tumblers and have had similar issues with those even with normal loads of rock, grit and water. They tended to slowly bleed grit water which dried on the outside of the lid while running. One time I had a catastrophic blow out of a 3lb Thumlers barrel that puked out rocks and grit slurry all over the place. That was the end of my model T usage until I changed to using Lortone 45C (4.5 pound) barrels on the model T machines which works perfectly and actually increased capacity by 50%. Lortone barrels have a very good seal design and I have never had a leak or seal loss of any kind. If you are going to clean coins I would recommend a DRY abrasive polishing material like the ones used for brass shell casings. You can find those, barrel O rings, and anything else you need very reasonably at RockShed.com
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ampeg
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Member since June 2018
Posts: 22
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Post by ampeg on Jun 30, 2018 14:53:00 GMT -5
So does this mean that I could run a Lortone 3lb. drum on a Thumler A-R1 base?
If so, that would solve a huge problem for me---with my arthritis, I have not been able to get the industrial rubber band (o-ring)onto the Thumler drum.
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ampeg
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Member since June 2018
Posts: 22
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Post by ampeg on Jun 30, 2018 15:07:38 GMT -5
It appears that the diameters of both drums are close:
The Thumler is 5.0" diameter x 4.25" high
The Lortone is 4.5" diameter x 4.75" high
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Enigman
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2013
Posts: 163
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Post by Enigman on Jun 30, 2018 18:36:09 GMT -5
Hello, I would say that, no, a Lortone 3lb barrel will not work on your Thumler A-R1 base. The Lortone 3 lb is taller (longer) and won't clear between the alignment disks on the rollers. The Lortone 45C barrel works on the Tumbler model T base because the 4.5 lb barrel is the same height as the Thumler 3 lb barrel, thus fitting the alignment disks, and the larger 4.5 lb diameter still clears the motor. I'm not sure if the 4.5 lb barrel diameter will clear the A-R1 motor. You can find out by cutting out a 5.75 inch circle from stiff paper and rest it on the rollers like a barrel and see if the diameter touches the A-R1 motor. If it clears then the 4.5 barrel gets you half again more capacity and faster cutting, plus a better seal.
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ampeg
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Member since June 2018
Posts: 22
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Post by ampeg on Jun 30, 2018 21:05:57 GMT -5
Thanks, Enigman!
I will go try that right now.
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ampeg
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2018
Posts: 22
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Post by ampeg on Jul 2, 2018 1:06:15 GMT -5
I noticed a 5-CD spindle on my side desk and measured it, it was 5.5" diameter x 3.5" tall, so I tried it on the Thumler A-R1. It fit, and showed me a pretty good idea of the size of the Lortone 4.5 lb. drum. Wouldn't have thought of trying that if testing with some rolled up paper hadn't been suggested! Thanks again. Attachments:
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madman
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Member since June 2020
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Post by madman on Jun 22, 2020 11:24:14 GMT -5
So does this mean that I could run a Lortone 3lb. drum on a Thumler A-R1 base? If so, that would solve a huge problem for me---with my arthritis, I have not been able to get the industrial rubber band (o-ring)onto the Thumler drum. I have both barrels . You will have to make an adjustment on the Thumler tumbler.
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madman
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Member since June 2020
Posts: 10
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Post by madman on Jul 14, 2020 23:42:18 GMT -5
Sorry it was the next size larger that I made the adjustment. Has a slot farther out that can be cut and adjusted to fit.
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