jimgsmith
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Member since September 2022
Posts: 37
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Post by jimgsmith on Sept 20, 2022 18:30:21 GMT -5
I only put one block, because that is what the instructions say and what (i thought) most people had done. If they are starting out slow or just chattering then its not water, grit or ceramics. It has to do with something else. I would agree that its an internal issue (inside the barrel, problems related to water, grit, ceremics, amount of rocks or rock sizes) if when you first started in up they were moving good and then started slowing down or chattering after a day or two, or three. But thats not the case. My assumption would be you need more weight under your machine. Your dowel looks great as far a position goes to me. You are supposed to have 40 lbs of block underneath. Does you block have the hollow holes? It could be the foam messing with it as well. Also is it on a lower level or upstairs? Well, I tried to adjust the dowel (again) and it did not go well. I removed the screws for the front springs, and then while I was removing the screw for one of the rear springs I heard a crack. 3 of the 4 rear springs are broken. I find it hard to believe that they all broke while I was removing one rear screw, so I wonder if one or more has been broken for a while. I've ordered new springs, which was not easy, as everyone seems to be sold out, so I get to start all over in a week or so when they get here. I'm guessing that the best way to go is to firmly attach the new springs to the body, then screw the unit to the block, but not tight. Then insert the dowel and adjust until the movement is good before tightening the screws to the base. How tight did you screw the unit to the base? I'm hearing that dowel adjustment can lead to broken springs, so I wonder if I over tightened.
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snuffy
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Post by snuffy on Sept 20, 2022 18:38:11 GMT -5
I ran 2 Lotos for years and never messed with the dowels.Never needed to,and was afraid if I ever did,would mess up.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2022 18:58:49 GMT -5
jimgsmithSorry to hear that! I wonder if that was what was causing the problem? There were cracks in the springs and then they broke completely when you adjusted it. I just tightened it until it was tight but not to tight. I’m still curious to see your base setup. Your dowel looked like it was in the right position. I redid mine too and thats around where mine is.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2022 18:59:48 GMT -5
snuffy Were yours older ones? It seems the dowel placement issues are only with the new ones.
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snuffy
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Post by snuffy on Sept 20, 2022 19:16:25 GMT -5
snuffy Were yours older ones? It seems the dowel placement issues are only with the new ones. Yeah,probably 8-10 years old.Maybe they don't make them like they used to,like most things!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2022 19:32:16 GMT -5
snuffy Were yours older ones? It seems the dowel placement issues are only with the new ones. Yeah,probably 8-10 years old.Maybe they don't make them like they used to,like most things! Your right about that!
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snuffy
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Post by snuffy on Sept 20, 2022 19:44:50 GMT -5
I haven't ran them in over 3 years,dont know what will happen when and if I do.Going through my rocks now,got more than I could ever use,getting closer to cranking up again maybe.
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jimgsmith
starting to shine!
Member since September 2022
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Post by jimgsmith on Sept 20, 2022 21:18:37 GMT -5
jimgsmith Sorry to hear that! I wonder if that was what was causing the problem? There were cracks in the springs and then they broke completely when you adjusted it. I just tightened it until it was tight but not to tight. I’m still curious to see your base setup. Your dowel looked like it was in the right position. I redid mine too and thats around where mine is. Ya, I think there may have been a problem with one or more of the springs, possibly from something I did when I was adjusting the dowel the first time. I took a pic of my setup, but it doesn't give me the option to upload when I reply to an existing post so I'll create a new one with the pic. Thanks for your help!
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jimgsmith
starting to shine!
Member since September 2022
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Post by jimgsmith on Sept 20, 2022 21:20:01 GMT -5
Here is my "setup". It looks a little odd because its in pieces at the moment!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2022 21:54:34 GMT -5
jimgsmithYeah your bottom needs adjusted. When people use those blocks they fill the holes with cement to get them to weight and to make them solid. I didn’t want to mess with that so I got three (or 4) flat blocks and liquid nailed them together then put my lot o on that. Ill add the link of mine with pictures. I would keep the dowel where you had it, replace your springs when they come in and adjust your base and see how that does you.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2022 21:58:41 GMT -5
forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/99044/new-lotAlso you can experiment with less 120/220 for the first stage in the lot o. Most use 2 TBS but I have cut back to 1 TSP with the same results but saving money and not having to add so much water and constantly check on it because it dries out so much with more grit.
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jimgsmith
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Post by jimgsmith on Sept 20, 2022 22:04:18 GMT -5
forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/99044/new-lotAlso you can experiment with less 120/220 for the first stage in the lot o. Most use 2 TBS but I have cut back to 1 TSP with the same results but saving money and not having to add so much water and constantly check on it because it dries out so much with more grit. Funny you say that. I just read your post about this in another thread and thought I should try that!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2022 22:38:28 GMT -5
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Sept 21, 2022 8:08:44 GMT -5
It seems like mine would do that sometimes.Would push it down to make sure its a snug fit.I always had a good amount of smalls along with larger sized rocks.It looks like all are larger size. It does look like there is a lot of void between the rocks due to them being on the large side Snuffy. Small 'media' like quartz pea gravel or ceramics filled all the way to the top of the batch in between the voids can make a big difference on getting the batch to rotate. I have some ceramic media spheres that are 8mm in diameter and they really get a batch rolling fast. As if they are ball bearings... Something to try anyway. The rolling action can be slow or fast as long as they are rolling/mixing, either speed will get the job done. I actually prefer the slow roll and no bouncing of the top rocks.
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markb
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Post by markb on Sept 21, 2022 13:54:50 GMT -5
I read a thread once of someone who uses marbles in their tumbles for "smalls", and they liked using them because they were so cheap. Although I have recently acquired some from a garage sale this summer where they were indeed cheap, I've never tried them, but I'd think they would do the trick. If you don't have enough smalls, I wouldn't do the run without them.
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jimmie
starting to spend too much on rocks
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Post by jimmie on Sept 21, 2022 15:17:38 GMT -5
Another tip for anyone buying a lot-o. Don’t glue it directly to the cement block. Glue a piece of 3/4 ply to it. Before you glue it , drill holes in your lot-o base to accept 1/4 machine bolts.drill those holes through the 3/4 ply . Push the bolts up through the 3/4 ply, glue it to the cement block. You’ll have the plywood glued to the block with the bolts sticking up. Slide the lot-o onto the bolts and tighten with washers and a nut . If you ever have to work on your lot-0 remove the nuts and slide the lot-0 off. That way you ain’t lugging around a bunch of cement blocks to work on your lot-0. Lot-0 is waaaay lighter than cement blocks.
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waterboysh
spending too much on rocks
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Post by waterboysh on Sept 22, 2022 11:40:53 GMT -5
If they are starting out slow or just chattering then its not water, grit or ceramics. It has to do with something else. I would agree that its an internal issue (inside the barrel, problems related to water, grit, ceremics, amount of rocks or rock sizes) if when you first started in up they were moving good and then started slowing down or chattering after a day or two, or three. But thats not the case. My assumption would be you need more weight under your machine. Your dowel looks great as far a position goes to me. You are supposed to have 40 lbs of block underneath. Does you block have the hollow holes? It could be the foam messing with it as well. Also is it on a lower level or upstairs? Well, I tried to adjust the dowel (again) and it did not go well. I removed the screws for the front springs, and then while I was removing the screw for one of the rear springs I heard a crack. 3 of the 4 rear springs are broken. I find it hard to believe that they all broke while I was removing one rear screw, so I wonder if one or more has been broken for a while. I've ordered new springs, which was not easy, as everyone seems to be sold out, so I get to start all over in a week or so when they get here. I'm guessing that the best way to go is to firmly attach the new springs to the body, then screw the unit to the block, but not tight. Then insert the dowel and adjust until the movement is good before tightening the screws to the base. How tight did you screw the unit to the base? I'm hearing that dowel adjustment can lead to broken springs, so I wonder if I over tightened. I'm curious why you removed the springs. I adjusted my dowel by just undoing the glue and pushing it around while the Lot-o runs. Once I found the sweet spot, I turned it off and then glued it back down. You shouldn't have needed to disassemble anything. I know the dowel is also nailed down, but it's just a wire brad and I was able to insert a putty knife and with a few whacks of a hammer break the brad.
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jimgsmith
starting to shine!
Member since September 2022
Posts: 37
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Post by jimgsmith on Sept 22, 2022 12:18:25 GMT -5
Well, I tried to adjust the dowel (again) and it did not go well. I removed the screws for the front springs, and then while I was removing the screw for one of the rear springs I heard a crack. 3 of the 4 rear springs are broken. I find it hard to believe that they all broke while I was removing one rear screw, so I wonder if one or more has been broken for a while. I've ordered new springs, which was not easy, as everyone seems to be sold out, so I get to start all over in a week or so when they get here. I'm guessing that the best way to go is to firmly attach the new springs to the body, then screw the unit to the block, but not tight. Then insert the dowel and adjust until the movement is good before tightening the screws to the base. How tight did you screw the unit to the base? I'm hearing that dowel adjustment can lead to broken springs, so I wonder if I over tightened. I'm curious why you removed the springs. I adjusted my dowel by just undoing the glue and pushing it around while the Lot-o runs. Once I found the sweet spot, I turned it off and then glued it back down. You shouldn't have needed to disassemble anything. I know the dowel is also nailed down, but it's just a wire brad and I was able to insert a putty knife and with a few whacks of a hammer break the brad. It just seemed a lot easier to remove 4 screws and have full access to the dowel. In hindsight...
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Post by broseph82 on Sept 23, 2022 14:31:03 GMT -5
Just by seeing the video here's my opinion: your rocks are too big and you have too many of them. From the look of the grit on the rocks it's too dry as well. Your grit should be wet looking. Try again but with less rocks. Yeah I know everyone wants to cram it full with all their awesome rocks to tumble but sometimes the odd ones will stop the flow of traffic. I'll also say this: the smaller the rocks the better they tumble and they better they polish.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2022 14:55:15 GMT -5
jimgsmithGet your lot o back up and running yet?!
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