doit4luv
starting to shine!
Member since September 2004
Posts: 43
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Post by doit4luv on Oct 25, 2004 23:46:12 GMT -5
I don't know what it is, but everytime I get a new rotary tumbler, the drive belts break in 7 days or less. Just last week, I received a Chicago Electric dual rotary tumbler (for two 3lb barrels). I charged the barrels on Thurday Oct. 21st. I left town this weeknd, and when I returned Sunday evening on Oct. 24, I found the barrels not turning. I opened the motor cover and the belt was broken. The same thing happened eight days after I received and started my new Lortone. I got a new belt from the Lortone manufacturer and have had no problems since. I called Harbor Freight this morning, and a rep tells me that the drive belts are back ordered and won't be in until Nov. 26th. He said I could use a vacuum cleaner belt until then. What do you guys think about that? I have no idea how long the barrels were not tumbling. I would guess they were stationary about 24 hours. When I removed the lid, the slurry had begun to harden about 30%, but I was able to rinse it out by using hot water (thank God I added washing powder when I charged it). So now, I just have the rocks sitting aside until I can get a drive belt. Does anyone have any experience with this situation? I'm looking for guidance. Sometimes I think I've become too obsessed with rock tumbling, and the Lord is telling me to slow down and put my mind to use on something else. I don't know....just fleeting thoughts I have. Anyone with experience being a therapist?
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Post by Cher on Oct 25, 2004 23:56:48 GMT -5
Just curious, but how much are you putting in the barrels? Is there a chance that they are too heavy? I don't know if that would cause the belt to break but it's just a thought. I'm sorry your having such bad luck with them though, I can imagine how frustrating that must be.
Cher
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Post by stoner on Oct 26, 2004 0:01:23 GMT -5
Dr. Rock says "Take 2 agates and call me when they're polished." Seriously, if you only have 2 tumblers, you are not obessed with this hobby. Okay, now seriously. If it were me and I had a CE tumbler that was breaking belts all the time, I would go see Mr. Hoover and size up one of his belts and use that instead, and if it worked, continue using it. It has to be stronger than the stock belt, right?
Regards, Sigmund
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Post by sandsman1 on Oct 26, 2004 0:29:31 GMT -5
if i remember right someone said the lortone 33-b belts where the same and made better and last longer---maybe whoever said it will see the post and confirm it
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Post by sandsman1 on Oct 26, 2004 0:34:56 GMT -5
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Tellfamily
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2004
Posts: 476
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Post by Tellfamily on Oct 26, 2004 6:34:58 GMT -5
I had the same concern. I have found that The C/E v-belt the unit comes with is NOT high quality. They do not last long!
Now the good news. . . The Lortone belt will work fine. Even better is a Thumbler's Tumbler o-ring for the lind on the 3lb.
There is a link on e-bay for replacemnt belts under Rock Tumblers. The S/H charge is not bad. For about $5-$6 you can get a couple of replacement belts.
Also a good Auto Parts store has larger o-rings, (bag of 3 for under $3) but I would recommend this option for replacement belts after you get a new one. (The original C/E v-belt stretches A LOT and something too tight will toast the bearings.)
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Tellfamily
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2004
Posts: 476
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Post by Tellfamily on Oct 26, 2004 6:37:34 GMT -5
I had the same concern. I have found that The C/E v-belt the unit comes with is NOT high quality. They do not last long! Now the good news. . . The Lortone belt will work fine. Even better is a Thumbler's Tumbler o-ring for the lind on the 3lb. There is a link on e-bay for replacemnt belts under Rock Tumblers. The S/H charge is not bad. For about $5-$6 you can get a couple of replacement belts. Also a good Auto Parts store has larger o-rings, (bag of 3 for under $3) but I would recommend this option for replacement belts after you get a new one. (The original C/E v-belt stretches A LOT and something too tight will toast the bearings.)
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Post by krazydiamond on Oct 26, 2004 8:02:17 GMT -5
doit2luv, yep, CE units break belts fairly regularly, some units more than others. i have one that won't go 5 days before it breaks and i have one that has been going strong for 4 months so far (and i have 3 other units that go somewhere in between). i am slowly replacing the CE units with Lortones (because you see, i am obsessed..)....good luck finding a replacement!
KD
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Post by docone31 on Oct 26, 2004 8:08:24 GMT -5
If the belts break, if you can find the right size, vaccum cleaner belts should work great. They have fabric in them and real tough. With the 33B belts. I have found, when they stretch too far, they can be cut, shortened, and a staple put in the ends to make them shorter untill a replacement can be found. I learned this trick back when I was making RC aircraft. The electric starters used an O-ring. When the O-ring was made to size, we used a staple. It lasted, took a beating and kept on working. Might try that with stretched belts. Also, if the bbl sits and the slurry starts to sludge solid, drain out the water add a little grit and tumble loose. If the tumbler is down, the sludge will hurt nothing in the bbl. The first tumbler I got as an adult, if I qualify for that, had two bbls full of mine run emeralds that had set for about nine years. I drained the water, filled up, and turned it on. One week later the bbls had ran the cycle and I had to figuire out the next grit sequence. I have not had the good results I got from that first batch that easily since. I might have run two 220 cycles by accident. No panic if it stops. Just resume when you can. The grit does not make a titanium solid, and the stones do not degrade.
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shorty
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2003
Posts: 392
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Post by shorty on Oct 26, 2004 9:15:57 GMT -5
hi all i say if it fits use it . i wonce had to use some rubber bands to finish a batch haha ive used vac belts with no prob but they dont last very long maby two months on ebay you can pick them up for 1 dollar buy now . never herd if there any good but 20 dollars worth mite last for a wile hahaha hope that i helped
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shorty
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2003
Posts: 392
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Post by shorty on Oct 26, 2004 9:17:30 GMT -5
no im not mcguiver hahaha just cheep
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Pdwight
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 619
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Post by Pdwight on Oct 26, 2004 11:25:24 GMT -5
CE belts are just cheap "O" rings , the motors in their tumblers are cheap as heck as well..I know I have one and have rebuilt it. Check for burs on the pullys of the unit, they are after all built by child slave labor in China...so what are you going to get. When my fisrt two belts broke I took them to a local gasket shop that looked at the and said "Yes , they are just "O" rings and they are not designed for that type of service. Get a Lortone belt and make sure of the pullys.
Dwight P
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