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Help!
Dec 1, 2003 4:29:48 GMT -5
Post by puppie96 on Dec 1, 2003 4:29:48 GMT -5
I swear I have read about how to fix tumbler problems someplace, but now I can't find it. Right now the barrel is wanting to stay stationary. The drive shaft is turning fine and it will move if the opposite side is raised up (as if to put more weight on the drive shaft). I remembered I read this is most often caused by excess weight, so I've taken out stones twice, but any removal makes the load more like a half than 2/3-3/4. There's another dilemma. They tell you not to overweight the tumbler but you almost can't help it if you get it to the suggested level. Anyhow, I have taken the top off the unit and the drive belt looks fine and doesn't seem loose. I rubbed the barrel with a kitchen scrub pad which seemed to help for a minute then didn't anymore. I keep moving it around, raising up one side, etc., to keep it going but when I go back an hour later it is stuck. HELP HELP THANKS!!
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Dec 1, 2003 9:53:48 GMT -5
Post by docone31 on Dec 1, 2003 9:53:48 GMT -5
What type of tumbler is it? Where is the bbl contacting the frame? How old is the tumbler? Put the assembly together, run it, and look for friction points. How tight is the belt. Too tight is worse than too loose.
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Dec 1, 2003 14:29:44 GMT -5
Post by James on Dec 1, 2003 14:29:44 GMT -5
Are the bearings oiled?
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Dec 1, 2003 22:15:55 GMT -5
Post by puppie96 on Dec 1, 2003 22:15:55 GMT -5
Thanks Guys! I left off some essential information. It is a lortone 3lb. tumbler. Yes, I did oil it before first use, if anything I've over oiled and I realize that can be a problem. The belt definitely isn't too tight, it's a bit on the loose side but seems to be doing it's job right. By the way, since I posted the original message last night, I got it going and it has continued to run. The problem is that I should open & check progress soon and then I hope I don't have a big problem getting it going again. I can't see any obvious friction points; however, I do notice that when it runs it sometimes looks a bit "out of round" if that makes sense, like the rolling motion has a long-ways wave in it. Again, thanks!
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Dec 1, 2003 22:31:42 GMT -5
Post by Noosh9057 on Dec 1, 2003 22:31:42 GMT -5
Is it posible that the barrel is worn out. Like it is worn to smooth. or maybe the drive shaft is worn how about scratching up the shaft a little. Well just a thout.
Good luck
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Dec 1, 2003 23:31:39 GMT -5
Post by docone31 on Dec 1, 2003 23:31:39 GMT -5
Loretone, ok. The pulley drives one shaft. The other is a slave shaft. Over oiling the nylon collars is not a problem, it will just drip off. The motor might be getting ready to kick the bucket. Do you have to spin the shaft before it will go up to speed? In other words, the motor will turn on but it will be slow. When you spin the driven shaft it will speed up. If this is the case, look on the aluminum fan blades, and feel under the motor. If your blades have black dust on them, or you can see black dust on your finger tip after rubbing the underside of the motor, off of course, you might be losing the motor. That might explain the start up, and later the stalled bbl. I presume the unit is not brand new. A burned out motor is about 28$ and not hard to replace. A point if you replace the motor, the drive pulley can be adjusted for centering. The washer and motor distance from the frame only has to be enough to clear the armature shaft. You will need a 5/64 and 3/32 allen wrench to adjust both the drive pulley and slave pulley. also get cap nuts for the motor mount machine screws. Watch out for the machine screws threading out of the motor while tightening the cap nuts. Kingsleynorth.com has the replacement motor and all other parts for the Loretone. They are about the least expensive and most customer reliable of all the lapidary suppliers I do business with.
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Dec 2, 2003 1:42:05 GMT -5
Post by puppie96 on Dec 2, 2003 1:42:05 GMT -5
Docone, Wow, you have exceeded my capabilities here as far as your repair suggestions go -- it will take me a while to digest them. However, off the top I can say that no, I don't have to nudge the drive rod to get it started, it starts up just fine but the barrel doesn't want to turn. It's something about the barrel/rod interface. I wonder about leveling/non leveling since it goes much better if the non-drive side is elevated (thus putting more weight directly on the drive.) I'm the one who is a brand new tumbler and this one is new since September -- of course, since then it has been in constant use! So the motor certainly shouldn't be wearing out and I wouldn't think the barrel would have gotten too smooth, either, but I haven't got any experience to tell me whether it feels right. Thank you for your help! I love this board!
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Dec 2, 2003 8:46:03 GMT -5
Post by Noosh9057 on Dec 2, 2003 8:46:03 GMT -5
Well yes I will agree that this board great. I have Learned so much info on this board. Well I hope you get it fixed. Is it still under warranty. If it is I would take it back for Repairs. Well talk latter.
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Noah
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2003
Posts: 102
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Dec 2, 2003 12:54:34 GMT -5
Post by Noah on Dec 2, 2003 12:54:34 GMT -5
As my experience goes with motors...it sounds not like the motor is crapping out at this point, but your reciprocating magnets within the motor are begin to create a reverse polarity as this is normal over time with any type of motor of this caliber. If it continues i'd suggest opening it up and taking a wirebrush to the magnets real quick...or just buying a whole new motor.
-Noah-
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Dec 3, 2003 2:16:47 GMT -5
Post by puppie96 on Dec 3, 2003 2:16:47 GMT -5
Thanks for all the suggestions. The situation right now is that I can get it going and once started, it has been humming along okay and not getting stuck later. However, this can only be accomplished by elevating the non-drive side and giving the barrel a push to get it going. As soon as I put it back flat it stops. I've taken the housing off and the motor seems to be running cooler as a result, I figure that's got to be more good than not. Hopefully, we'll continue okay through this batch.
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Dec 3, 2003 17:17:34 GMT -5
Post by docone31 on Dec 3, 2003 17:17:34 GMT -5
A follow up, I replaced my motor and the first batch I ran into what you described. I had to elevate the non-motor end, 1/4". I have a tile floor and I suspect the tile is out of level. This brings to mind, on the Loretone small tumblers, there are four feet. Is one of the feet missing? Is your surface level? On mine, the non-motor end bbl was rubbing too hard on the nylon washer.
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Dec 3, 2003 22:48:37 GMT -5
Post by puppie96 on Dec 3, 2003 22:48:37 GMT -5
Posted by: docone31 Posted on: Today at 17:17:34 A follow up, I replaced my motor and the first batch I ran into what you described. I had to elevate the non-motor end, 1/4". I have a tile floor and I suspect the tile is out of level. This brings to mind, on the Loretone small tumblers, there are four feet. Is one of the feet missing? Is your surface level? On mine, the non-motor end bbl was rubbing too hard on the nylon washer. Hi -- I'll check on the nylon washer next time I'm down there. The feet have not been staying on, true enough! but I am aware of it and have kept putting them back. I have definitely been concerned that we were out of level. It's almost unavoidable in my basement which has some slant in the floor everywhere, as do the shelves. I've tried both. However, I'm elevating the side much more than 1/4 inch, and clearly more than would compensate for the floor, so I don't know. Thanks again! It DID get stuck overnight again, but now it's rockin' around the clock!
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