stonefun65
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2024
Posts: 4
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Post by stonefun65 on Feb 4, 2024 13:53:26 GMT -5
Hello everybody. My name is Ivan. I live in northwestern Oregon, and pretty much all the rocks I tumble I have found myself, mostly agates, jasper, petrified wood. Other odds and ends, like quartzite and other rocks I don't identify. I'm new here. I have been using Lortone rotary tumblers for a while, and decided to up my game a little bit to get better results for the finishing of the rocks. So I bought a Lot-O vibratory tumbler.
To get here, I clicked on a link in Michigan rocks (Rob) video.
First problem: I followed the instructions on Rob's video. The rocks were not moving, just like he found when he bought a new Lot-O. I moved the dowel just like he did. The rocks are still not moving like his were after he moved the dowel. Any ideas? I guess I could just try moving the dowel around until they start moving, hopefully.
Second problem: it says right on the instructions on top of the tumbler "make sure fans do not hit motor mount nuts." Well when I first got it the fans wouldn't even move because they were hitting the nuts so I kind of bent them a little bit so that they weren't hitting as much and now the fans are moving fine, but I am getting a buzzing. Does anyone know how to adjust those? It seems like there's really no space in between the nuts to actually move the fans much.
Thank you for any help! I am excited but frustrated.
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zebra61
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2024
Posts: 117
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Post by zebra61 on Feb 4, 2024 14:35:04 GMT -5
Welcome to the RTH Forum stonefun65 and congrats on your new Lot-O tumbler. I've only had mine for about 2 months now but I've recognized it as an awesome tool to do finishing on my rocks. Admittedly I had to play around a bit to make sure mine would move the rocks satisfactorily and had some difficulties initially. I resisted the urge to move the dowel and instead played with the weight of my supporting fixture - the cement block. Like Rob, I filled my block with cement to give it a bit more weight. The load seemed to move well until a slurry built-up but then it was significantly slower. I questioned the moisture (sometimes I still do that) but adjustments didn't make much difference. Then I ran across a post by fourfourmag that suggested more weight made a difference for him. So I stopped by my local block plant and grabbed an 8x12x6" block and used some good RTV to secure them. That made a big difference but it wasn't the final item. I was using a very thin rubber mat under that block to keep down the noise of the vibration and I removed that as well. Now my Lot-O is doing what it's supposed to do. I was concerned about the noise when I removed that rubber mat but truthfully the difference is negligible and it's worth the tradeoff. Sorry that I don't have ANY experience with the motor mount nuts that you referred to but I'm certain you'll get some answers as there's plenty of experience here. Welcome from Minnesota! Mark
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stonefun65
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2024
Posts: 4
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Post by stonefun65 on Feb 4, 2024 15:27:50 GMT -5
Well...embarrassingly, I can't believe I didn't understand this, but the directions about making sure the fan weights are directly across from each other... I thought they meant the fans. I didn't even know there were weights. Anyway I figured that out and it's running much better with the weights directly across from each other.
There is still a little bit of a buzz from the plastic fan hitting one of the nuts. I'm not sure how to adjust that.
Thanks, Mark!!!
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zebra61
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2024
Posts: 117
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Post by zebra61 on Feb 4, 2024 15:36:58 GMT -5
Well...embarrassingly, I can't believe I didn't understand this, but the directions about making sure the fan weights are directly across from each other... I thought they meant the fans. I didn't even know there were weights. Anyway I figured that out and it's running much better with the weights directly across from each other. There is still a little bit of a buzz from the plastic fan hitting one of the nuts. I'm not sure how to adjust that. Thanks, Mark!!! Maybe I was fortunate that my vendor gave my Lot-O a once-over test before handing it to me. You'll enjoy yours I'm sure. Regards!
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Post by aDave on Feb 4, 2024 16:41:19 GMT -5
Well...embarrassingly, I can't believe I didn't understand this, but the directions about making sure the fan weights are directly across from each other... I thought they meant the fans. I didn't even know there were weights. Anyway I figured that out and it's running much better with the weights directly across from each other. There is still a little bit of a buzz from the plastic fan hitting one of the nuts. I'm not sure how to adjust that. Thanks, Mark!!! I was just going to ask about the position of the weights, but it appears you may have figured that out. Just to be sure, the easiest way to explain it is make sure the both weights are in the same position on a clock for instance. To be simple about it, make sure both weights are in the 6 o'clock position, and you should be good to go. If you have done the weight adjustment already, you probably realized the fans can be turned on their shafts. Well, because they move, you can also pull the fan away from the motor mount nut as if you actually wanted to pull the fan off the shaft. That should take care of your clearance issue.
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,595
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Post by dillonf on Feb 4, 2024 16:56:54 GMT -5
Hello everybody. My name is Ivan. I live in northwestern Oregon, and pretty much all the rocks I tumble I have found myself, mostly agates, jasper, petrified wood. Other odds and ends, like quartzite and other rocks I don't identify. I'm new here. I have been using Lortone rotary tumblers for a while, and decided to up my game a little bit to get better results for the finishing of the rocks. So I bought a Lot-O vibratory tumbler. To get here, I clicked on a link in Michigan rocks (Rob) video. First problem: I followed the instructions on Rob's video. The rocks were not moving, just like he found when he bought a new Lot-O. I moved the dowel just like he did. The rocks are still not moving like his were after he moved the dowel. Any ideas? I guess I could just try moving the dowel around until they start moving, hopefully. Second problem: it says right on the instructions on top of the tumbler "make sure fans do not hit motor mount nuts." Well when I first got it the fans wouldn't even move because they were hitting the nuts so I kind of bent them a little bit so that they weren't hitting as much and now the fans are moving fine, but I am getting a buzzing. Does anyone know how to adjust those? It seems like there's really no space in between the nuts to actually move the fans much. Thank you for any help! I am excited but frustrated. What motor does your unit have on it? Is it a FASCO? I had a FASCO on mine and found it very difficult to run. I'm not trying to bash FASCO I love them on lortones and think they are a good company, but their motor doesn't seem to work well on the Lot-O. I also found that the fans got out of balance very often on the FASCO motor because they were not fitting tight on the motor shaft. Once they are not aligned it will impact the function of the machine. Another thing you can do is prop the barrel up a little so it sits higher in the frame - that seems to improve the cycling of the stones quite a bit. Good luck- there is a bit of a learning curve, but once you get it - it becomes second nature.
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chris1956
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2022
Posts: 1,258
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Post by chris1956 on Feb 4, 2024 18:36:55 GMT -5
Welcome from Missouri. I think everyone already covered the ideas I had.
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Post by vegasjames on Feb 4, 2024 19:24:20 GMT -5
Welcome Ivan from Southern Nevada.
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stonefun65
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2024
Posts: 4
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Post by stonefun65 on Feb 4, 2024 20:20:18 GMT -5
Thank you for all the help everyone. The tumbler seems to be working really well now, except for the plastic of one fan is still rubbing a little bit. I tried pulling the fans apart by rotating them in opposite directions but it doesn't really seem to pull the one out that I want pulled out farther. But I'm happy that at least it seems to be doing its job.
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Post by aDave on Feb 4, 2024 20:58:03 GMT -5
I tried pulling the fans apart by rotating them in opposite directions but it doesn't really seem to pull the one out that I want pulled out farther. But I'm happy that at least it seems to be doing its job. Hmm...interesting. I don't recall mine being that tight, but I guess things can always change. I looked around a bit to see if I could confirm my original thoughts about pulling the fan away from the motor. In another user's post, he confirms it's just a friction fit. forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/post/1188260/threadIf you're still having a problem with rubbing and the fan won't move outward for you, maybe a call to Lot-o can produce some helpful tips.
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Post by opalpyrexia on Feb 4, 2024 21:00:21 GMT -5
Welcome from Washington.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,599
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Post by Mark K on Feb 4, 2024 21:43:03 GMT -5
Next Monday when I go our rock meeting, I will try to get the new owner of Lot-o to join this site and see if he has any advise for those of you who use them.
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Post by aDave on Feb 4, 2024 22:50:54 GMT -5
Next Monday when I go our rock meeting, I will try to get the new owner of Lot-o to join this site and see if he has any advise for those of you who use them. New owner? I'm sure many of us would have had no idea that ownership had changed. I think it would be absolutely amazing if you could get the new owner on board. Personally, I wouldn't want him to to be subject to a bitch session, but I would think that having a relationship with the largest (arguably) rock forum on the 'net would be very helpful for all involved.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,599
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Post by Mark K on Feb 4, 2024 23:54:20 GMT -5
Yeah, new owner. Tom is getting older and Dave is a couple years younger than I am. I didn't say anything until now because we wanted to give them time to get the transfer of everything done beforehand. Both are great guys. The old owner is not computer savvy so I understand why he has not been here.
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stonefun65
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2024
Posts: 4
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Post by stonefun65 on Feb 5, 2024 0:21:27 GMT -5
I didn't know about the new ownership. But when I ordered a tumbler from them, I voiced my concern about the motors. The woman I spoke to said they were buying motors from a new maker.
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