mbelvadi
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2015
Posts: 11
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Post by mbelvadi on Dec 1, 2016 8:20:29 GMT -5
Something is wrong with your tumbler. Is it homemade? I have a homemade tumbler running six 12lb Lortone barrels on a 1/4hp motor. Also a factory Lortone three 12lb barrel machine. These machines run 24 hrs/day for nine months with no problems. Check your bearings. Factory machines usually come with bronze bushed bearings to minimize cost. They only last so long. I keep a stash of pillow block ball bearings on hand and replace the factory units with these when they die. It's all Lortone brand equipment. I've scuffed the rollers but it still stops after about an hour, and also a new symptom - it squeals loudly when it does stop, loudly enough for me to hear it on my main floor (the machine is in the basement). I guess the next step is to open the casing and scuff up the belt. Where are the bearings? I'm not a handy type of person - just opening the cover where the belt is makes me a bit nervous.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Dec 1, 2016 11:35:57 GMT -5
The bearings are not ball bearings. There are two plastic parts that support the ends of the roller shafts. They should be oiled at least once a month.
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huskeric
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2016
Posts: 353
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Post by huskeric on Dec 2, 2016 15:21:44 GMT -5
Problems with rotation ? 12 pounds rock + heavy rubber Lortone barrel + water = 18 pounds. Sounds correct. Be aware that a 1/2 full barrel puts way more stress on the motor than a 3/4 full barrel.
A 50% full barrel will not roll down an incline where a full barrel will. A full barrel is balanced like 2 equally weighted people on a see-saw.
Of course, for tumbling you should fill to 3/4. Happy tumbling and welcome to the forum mbelvadi . THIS!!! This is what I love about this site. I NEVER thought of it that way, and it makes so much sense.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,558
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Post by jamesp on Dec 2, 2016 19:52:10 GMT -5
Problems with rotation ? 12 pounds rock + heavy rubber Lortone barrel + water = 18 pounds. Sounds correct. Be aware that a 1/2 full barrel puts way more stress on the motor than a 3/4 full barrel.
A 50% full barrel will not roll down an incline where a full barrel will. A full barrel is balanced like 2 equally weighted people on a see-saw.
Of course, for tumbling you should fill to 3/4. Happy tumbling and welcome to the forum mbelvadi . THIS!!! This is what I love about this site. I NEVER thought of it that way, and it makes so much sense. I have to mix two 50 pound bags of different fertilizers regularly Rick. I learned to get a smaller 20 gallon barrel that was 7/8ths full so it would roll easy. The 35 gallon barrel would wear you out at 1/2 full.
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mbelvadi
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2015
Posts: 11
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Post by mbelvadi on Dec 10, 2016 8:41:40 GMT -5
The bearings are not ball bearings. There are two plastic parts that support the ends of the roller shafts. They should be oiled at least once a month. Thanks! I took a close look at the belt and it's not smooth on the inside but has its own "teeth" so nothing really to sand there. I'll take a closer look at those plastic parts you describe and add some oil. I've given up on trying to get my 12lb barrel to work for now, and have dropped down to using just 1 6lb barrel on that machine, and it is going along just fine. I'd rather take twice as long to get my loads done than risk damaging my very expensive (especially here in Canada) tumbler machine. Thanks for all the support! Like another poster said, you are all what makes this site so wonderful! Melissa
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