huskeric
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 353 
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Post by huskeric on Nov 11, 2016 17:30:44 GMT -5
I have a Thumler Model T that I bought off eBay, and it has run pretty much non-stop for a few months. Recently, it just stops. If I spin the barrel, it will fire back up and run for a bit, but when I come back to check on it, it is stopped again.
I am not overloading it, and I have taken the whole thing apart, lubed it and put it back together. I am thinking the motor is shot now, but since that's THE most expensive part of the entire rig, I wanted to see if anyone had any thoughts on how to confirm that. I have another knockoff Model T right next to it, and have swapped barrels and things like that.
Thoughts? Thanks!
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Post by captbob on Nov 11, 2016 17:52:04 GMT -5
The motor stops or does it keep running and the barrel just doesn't turn?
IF the motor is still running -
Do you wipe of your belts and clean the inner track of the pulley? They can get oil on them and slip.
Also, the silver pulley on the motor has a hex key screw which can come lose and the motor will run but the barrel won't rotate.
If the motor itself keeps shutting down, that is above my pay grade.
Electric power cord and plug okay? Have you tried a different outlet?
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Post by HankRocks on Nov 11, 2016 19:04:52 GMT -5
Captbob's advice is correct, Most of the time that fixes it for me. Be sure and clean the belt and both pulleys. If after cleaning it still does not run I have found that the belt itself needs changing. I keep a handful of new ones on hand for that possibility.
Also note that shaft pads and stops need to be aligned properly, that's tricky to fix. Make sure that the rims on the barrel algin with the shaft pads.
H
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Post by HankRocks on Nov 11, 2016 19:07:07 GMT -5
See if anything on this video has any useful info that might help you.
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salpal48
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2015
Posts: 136
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Post by salpal48 on Nov 11, 2016 20:29:06 GMT -5
You may be Overheating it.. Look at The motor Label. If it Thermal protected. . It will shut off or stop . when It overheats. . Many times motor Overheat due to dirt Or dust or Junk in the motor . Before You decide ti dump it. . Disconnect The motor from the machine and Submerge it into a pail of Mineral spirits. Let it set Overnight. DO NOT PLUG IT IN WHILE IT"S IN THE MINERAL SPIRIT".
Drain it and let it dry out use a hair dryer. . after drying Then plug in or reconnect. It may smell for a few days
Sal
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huskeric
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 353
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Post by huskeric on Nov 13, 2016 10:42:42 GMT -5
It isn't a loose belt/fitting, the motor itself is stopping. I may have overloaded the tumbler one too many times and burned the motor. It doesn't smell or anything, @salpal, it is thermally protected. If I hold the spindle, I can make the motor stop very easily. I did the same on the one I have right next to it, and it gave quite a bit more resistance before it would stop. I might just take it apart and try to clean it up and make sure all of the contacts are clean. I am guessing that plugging it in while it's in mineral spirits would clean it very nicely, as it ignited the mineral spirits, it would burn all of the dirt/dust right out of there! =)
Thanks for the suggestions!
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quartz
Cave Dweller 
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,359
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Post by quartz on Nov 13, 2016 14:43:24 GMT -5
If you dip it to clean it, make sure to lube the shaft bushings before starting it up.
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Post by spiceman on Nov 14, 2016 20:53:05 GMT -5
It isn't a loose belt/fitting, the motor itself is stopping. I may have overloaded the tumbler one too many times and burned the motor. It doesn't smell or anything, @salpal, it is thermally protected. If I hold the spindle, I can make the motor stop very easily. I did the same on the one I have right next to it, and it gave quite a bit more resistance before it would stop. I might just take it apart and try to clean it up and make sure all of the contacts are clean. I am guessing that plugging it in while it's in mineral spirits would clean it very nicely, as it ignited the mineral spirits, it would burn all of the dirt/dust right out of there! =) Thanks for the suggestions! Nice response, my tumble tumbler motor just stopped running. My guess it was rock dust and over time the buildup was just too much. So after reading this... Removed the motor from the unit, totally submerged it in mineral spirits for about 1/2 hour. Let it dry in the sun and wind, for hours. Plugged it in and it works great, just had to oil the bearing real good. it also worked on my dremel tool that I used on rocks and that worked too very good advice. Saved me lots of time and money. |
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huskeric
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 353
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Post by huskeric on Nov 14, 2016 22:51:31 GMT -5
It isn't a loose belt/fitting, the motor itself is stopping. I may have overloaded the tumbler one too many times and burned the motor. It doesn't smell or anything, @salpal, it is thermally protected. If I hold the spindle, I can make the motor stop very easily. I did the same on the one I have right next to it, and it gave quite a bit more resistance before it would stop. I might just take it apart and try to clean it up and make sure all of the contacts are clean. I am guessing that plugging it in while it's in mineral spirits would clean it very nicely, as it ignited the mineral spirits, it would burn all of the dirt/dust right out of there! =) Thanks for the suggestions! Nice response, my tumble tumbler motor just stopped running. My guess it was rock dust and over time the buildup was just too much. So after reading this... Removed the motor from the unit, totally submerged it in mineral spirits for about 1/2 hour. Let it dry in the sun and wind, for hours. Plugged it in and it works great, just had to oil the bearing real good. it also worked on my dremel tool that I used on rocks and that worked too very good advice. Saved me lots of time and money. I pulled the motor out and hit it with brake/parts cleaner. I figured that would accomplish the same end and it evaporates really quickly. That honestly pepped up the motor pretty significantly. I think my other problem is that I have too much slop in my idler wheel guide bushings, and that allows them to get at an angle and bind up. I am going to pull that apart and get everything in a tighter tolerance. |
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Post by spiceman on Nov 15, 2016 21:33:50 GMT -5
That's a good idea because it does take awhile for the mineral spirits to dry.
I don't know if brake cleaner would attack plastic or the coating used over the coil wires.
I think it's a varnish. That's the only possible problem I see. Maybe
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salpal48
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2015
Posts: 136
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Post by salpal48 on Nov 16, 2016 9:30:39 GMT -5
Thr Drying process with mineral sprits is rather quick.. One you shake out The excess. . It will take 3-5 Hours. or you can use a hair Dryer . to speed the process. . after. a few drops of light oil on the shaft and Oil holes. I plug In and let it Run. I have been doing this for Years. . Now this process On motors Like Lortone Or Thumler.. . . The Biggest motor I have done was a 1/4 HP. but That took several days to Dry out.
I played It safe on That one. a little nervous on the big One . But it Ran fine
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Post by Condor on Jan 10, 2021 10:47:19 GMT -5
Wow!!! So I have two Thumlers tumblers whose motors have gone bad. No matter what I did, I couldn't get them to work. Haven't used them for years so I was going to chunk them. Salpal 48 suggested using mineral spirits. Worked like a charm. Now I have two more tumblers for my hobby.
Thanks Salpal 48.
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tedphil
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2023
Posts: 1
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Post by tedphil on Jun 13, 2023 1:45:56 GMT -5
So after soaking the motor in mineral spirits and letting it thoroughly dry, do you need to lubricate the internals of the motor? It seems like you would. And, if so, what type of lubrication is best?
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,359
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Post by quartz on Jun 13, 2023 21:27:54 GMT -5
tedphil, as mentioned above, the motor shaft bushings need to be relubed after a soak cleaning. I prefer 3-n-1 Electric motor oil {it's 20wt. a bit heavier than regular 3-n-1 oil}, I get it at Lowes.
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vance71975
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2022
Posts: 760
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Post by vance71975 on Jun 13, 2023 22:13:38 GMT -5
Try blowing out the motor with an air duster. Once you get it running put a house fan blowing on the motor and see if it stays running, if so its a heating issue. Cant offer much help beyond that tho.
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