MoonStone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 202
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Post by MoonStone on Sept 26, 2004 0:03:59 GMT -5
Hello ;D Sorry I don't have too much time for postings, that will eventually change. I have this question; How long do tumbler motors & belts usually last under normal continuous operation? Thanks
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Sept 26, 2004 1:22:44 GMT -5
Depends on a great many factors, particularly the kind of belt/motor, and how well you maintain them.
I'm been running a Lortone QT6 for more than a year of continuous operation, and the belt is showing a bit of wear but still looks to be in good condition and I haven't had to adjust the tension on the belt over that time. I keep the motor well-oiled, and hopefully it will last for a good number of years yet.
When I used to run Lortone 3 lb tumblers I found that the belts were a lot less sturdy, so the pulleys had to be moved a bit further apart every couple of months in order to keep enough tension on the belts to keep the barrels rolling. After 6 or 12 months the belts would be stretched out and need replacing. I burned out 2 motors on the 3 lb models over 25 years or so, but that was using the tumblers very intermittently....if I were to make a very rough guess at how long those 3 lb tumbler motors lasted if operated continuously, I'd say about 3 years of non-stop operation per motor, but that's a really rough guess. The 6 lb motors seem much sturdier to me, but I guess time will tell.
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birdseed
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since September 2004
Posts: 167
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Post by birdseed on Sept 26, 2004 4:06:23 GMT -5
Most belts fail because of "oil"--Be careful as to "how much " you oil your shafts---Motors hate to be "overloaded"--Weigh your barrell before tumbling...Other than that these machines are amazingly well engineered and long lasting..
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MoonStone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 202
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Post by MoonStone on Sept 27, 2004 0:57:00 GMT -5
Thanks for the help! ;D Great to know they actually last that long, wow! I think it will be a good idea for me to buy some replacement parts like an extra motor and a dozen of spare belts, because they are now cheaper than in the years to come and maybe in a couple of years from now with new models comming to stay, they might even get harder to find. Thanks again for your help & tips!
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