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I purchased my 33B direct from Lortone. The first week, it ran fine- very quiet, no issues running one full barrel (I do have the empty barrel on it as well). On Wednesday evening, I cleaned out the barrel and refreshed the grit. For the last three days: persistent, annoying squeak. I first noticed this on Thursday, when I cleaned out my smaller (and much louder) barrel on another tumbler. Husband was sick and complaining about the squeak, so I investigated a bit. After watching it run for a few seconds, I quickly realized that the metal washer was rubbing against the offset nylon washer on the far end of the machine (away from the motor). I moved my barrels, thinking I had just been hapless when putting the barrel on, and within a minute it was squeaking again. Moved the barrels again, and I watched both barrels crawl towards the far end, eventually ending with a squeak.
My first instinct was that my desk wasn’t level enough. I propped the far end up with paper. Squeak returned. Over the last day or so, I’ve slowly added more and more small booklets and cardboard (eg, instruction manuals, the little cardboard packaging). Eyeballing it, the machine looked definitely lopsided. And it was- the machine was sloped towards the motor end (confirmed with my actual level), and the barrel was STILL crawling towards the far end.
Currently, I have a 1/2” book propping up the far end. It’s been going for about 30 min without squeak, which is an acceptable solution. A 3/4” book causes the barrels to slide towards the motor end. But now I’m wondering: does anybody else have this issue? Where the rotation from your tumbler (Lortone?) somehow exerts enough force to make the barrels “crawl?” It’s been a minute (eh, probably 7 years) since I touched any physics, though I could probably figure out the physics of why if I thought about it. You’d think though that the engineers would design it to work though.
My barrel also goes for a walk, I don't think its to do with the level of the surface mine is on, I think more likely due to the shape or weight as they're tumbling, I just make sure I let it walk to the side that's least squeaky by facing the top in one direction, I like to keep it oiled well that end also, which helps. Hope that helps?
On the end of the tumbler with the motor there us a raised U shaped piece of metal.
On the barrel is a slotted nut that keeps the lid locked on.
When you place the barrel on the tumbler, the slot in the nut fits onto the U shaped metal and prevents the barrel from walking.
The second barrel should walk toward the first barrel.
I think this is true for the QT6. Not my model though. The 33B has nylon washers on both ends that jut into the barrel section slightly to avoid the metal lid rubbing on the metal frame.
My barrel also goes for a walk, I don't think its to do with the level of the surface mine is on, I think more likely due to the shape or weight as they're tumbling, I just make sure I let it walk to the side that's least squeaky by facing the top in one direction, I like to keep it oiled well that end also, which helps. Hope that helps?
Mine always goes to the far end regardless of how I have barrels positioned. I really don’t remember much about physics/vector calculus/etc, but I think the normal force is along the Z axis towards the far end. I just don’t understand why all of a sudden the force is noticeable and has to be corrected by un-leveling my rock tumbler.
33B only has the nylon washer guides at each end, not the metal nut guide.
Definitely check to see if the rods are bent or not parallel. 1/2" prop seems like a lot to make it run true.
Could also push on the nylon washers, spinning them slightly to change the contact point. Not sure what a tiny drop of oil will do between nylon washer and barrel washer (meaning exposed to air/dust how long the oil would work). How flat have the washers worn in the time you've had it?
I think my test for close enough was to slide both barrels to one side, then see how long it took them to walk over. The shorter the time implied more force exerted on the nylon washer. If it took a couple minutes, I figured good enough.
In addition to that, barrel loading can matter depending how compliant the underlying surface is that the tumbler sits on, and the rubber feet for that matter. If the left side is heavier, they go to the left, vice versa the right side. Maybe consider filling the empty barrel with a little water.
33B only has the nylon washer guides at each end, not the metal nut guide.
Definitely check to see if the rods are bent or not parallel. 1/2" prop seems like a lot to make it run true.
Could also push on the nylon washers, spinning them slightly to change the contact point. Not sure what a tiny drop of oil will do between nylon washer and barrel washer (meaning exposed to air/dust how long the oil would work). How flat have the washers worn in the time you've had it?
No obvious deformities with the rods, though that's just eyeballing right now.
Here's the machine flat on my desk (level on it to show that it's not significantly tilted in a way to cause the barrel to walk).
And a photo of the washer itself, noticeable wear but not too significant
And a video, from placing the barrels on (normally I place them on and then plug the unit in, but I wanted to capture the exact moment it started turning). Seems to take about 25-30 seconds to start rubbing on the nylon washer. I put the empty barrel on first (on the right/close to the motor), but I should note that it runs the same when the barrels are switched (full barrel on the right).
I also noticed that my small tumbler (1#) does the same thing. However, instead of rubbing metal against a thin nylon wash, the metal of the bottom of the barrel rubs against a softer rubber (or maybe it's silicone, I don't really know) that is also rotating. It doesn't seem to make any noise. Both tumblers' rotation is counter-clockwise (away from me) which would make sense for normal force pushing left, I think.
Also also: the 1/2" prop doesn't completely resolve. When I used a 3/4" book, the barrels slid towards the right (as expected based on gravity). I woke this morning and found the barrel was rubbing again even with the 1/2" prop. I didn't pay close enough attention to time it took to walk all the way over, but it was definitely less than 15 minutes. I think the reduced force means a less annoying/high pitched squeal, but it's still wearing around the nylon washer and if I'm in my office, I can tell it's a bit squeaky. I tried to use a 5/8" prop (using 1/4" and 3/8" books), and that caused the barrels to walk towards the left. I currently don't have anything like a 9/16" but I'm sure I can just use printer paper to get it and test. It's becoming a bit obnoxious.
33B only has the nylon washer guides at each end, not the metal nut guide.
Definitely check to see if the rods are bent or not parallel. 1/2" prop seems like a lot to make it run true.
Could also push on the nylon washers, spinning them slightly to change the contact point. Not sure what a tiny drop of oil will do between nylon washer and barrel washer (meaning exposed to air/dust how long the oil would work). How flat have the washers worn in the time you've had it?
You can purchase the barrel guide for the QT6, QT66 and QT12 from the RockShed. Not positive it will work with the 33B.
I mean, it looks pretty fine to me. Yeah they move to the left a bit quickly, but that's without shims. Sooo, if you can shim it enough that it takes 2-3 minutes for them to walk to the left that's probably good enough. As far as forces go, I don't think the right-hand-rule is particularly applicable here. The level of the tumbler and how parallel the rollers are (i.e., geometry vs gravity) are overwhelming governing how this barrel system behaves.
I have no idea how loud the squeak really is. Is is super obnoxiously loud, or is it just barely noticeable? I don't imagine it's nails-on-a-chalkboard. Fiddle with the nylon washer angle, flip the metal washer over, generally finagle it a bit. It could be that since it's new that the nylon washer sticks out a bit more and can setup harmonics that will diminish as it wears shorter. ...or if the surface finish on the metal washer was different, maybe it wouldn't squeak.
I mean, it looks pretty fine to me. Yeah they move to the left a bit quickly, but that's without shims. Sooo, if you can shim it enough that it takes 2-3 minutes for them to walk to the left that's probably good enough. As far as forces go, I don't think the right-hand-rule is particularly applicable here. The level of the tumbler and how parallel the rollers are (i.e., geometry vs gravity) are overwhelming governing how this barrel system behaves.
I have no idea how loud the squeak really is. Is is super obnoxiously loud, or is it just barely noticeable? I don't imagine it's nails-on-a-chalkboard. Fiddle with the nylon washer angle, flip the metal washer over, generally finagle it a bit. It could be that since it's new that the nylon washer sticks out a bit more and can setup harmonics that will diminish as it wears shorter. ...or if the surface finish on the metal washer was different, maybe it wouldn't squeak.
With the shim it’s hardly noticeable unless I’m in the room, which is fine if I don’t have to replace the washer frequently (not expensive, I’m just lazy). Without the shim, the squeak is more noticeable to the point where it bothers Oreo. It’s not nails on a chalkboard shrill, but he doesn’t like it. Husband and I both get migraines too and the constant squeak was starting to trigger headaches as well. I had a weird temporal headache yesterday (not like my normal migraines) and the squeak wasn’t helping that. But as long as we the family isn’t bothered, the squeak is fine. I just find it peculiar.
I would be fabricating an end roller setup unless the shaft distance is greater on one end than the other, but that probably isn't something you want to tackle. If the shaft distance from end to end IS uneven, I would be sending it back.
Other than that, you could put a little lubricant, like a silicone based grease or even vaseline where it contacts for at least temporary relief. Even lip balm would work
I would be fabricating an end roller setup unless the shaft distance is greater on one end than the other, but that probably isn't something you want to tackle. If the shaft distance from end to end IS uneven, I would be sending it back.
Other than that, you could put a little lubricant, like a silicone based grease or even vaseline where it contacts for at least temporary relief. Even lip balm would work
An example would be a roller-blade wheel and bearing mounted to a bracket which attaches to the frame of the tumbler and rolls on the end of the barrel. A bit like the washer that is squeaking, but a lot more efficient, quiet, and longer lasting.
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Welcome to the Rock Tumbling Hobby Forum where we share a love of rocks and a sense of community as enduring as the stones we polish.
The RTH Forum of www.RockTumbling.com is an Amazon Associate site and we earn money from
qualifying purchases you make after clicking on our links such as this
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link for instance, or any of our various product ads and banners. By clicking our links every time you begin your Amazon shopping
experience, you are generating a bit of revenue for the forum which helps us cover our expenses. Thank you for your support!