p40whk
starting to shine!
Member since October 2018
Posts: 45
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Post by p40whk on Oct 27, 2018 11:02:27 GMT -5
Hi all,
Spent the last couple of days getting my concrete block ready for my new Lot-O tumbler so that it was ready to use today when my rough came out of my Model-B. I rinsed all the rock this morning and hand picked out what I wanted in the Lot-O, filled to within an inch of the top, added 2 T of 120/220 SIC, put the lid on and plugged it in.....
The motor hummed but did not spin. I tried spinning the fans by hand but the motor still would not spin. Unplugged it because I didn't want to burn it up and spun the motor by hand without it plugged in and it felt as if it was free to spin. Plugged it back in and got the same motor hum and again tried to get it to start by spinning the fans. Unplugged it again, spun the fans by hand and plugged it back in and this time after spinning the fans by hand for the third time the motor finally took off and started working however. there was a slight electrical burning smell.
It seems to be running okay at the moment, the rocks are moving in the barrel fine but I'm not sure if I need to worry about this thing catching fire or not. Has anyone had any issues like this with these tumblers?
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saxplayer
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2018
Posts: 1,327
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Post by saxplayer on Oct 27, 2018 11:13:15 GMT -5
Hi all,
Spent the last couple of days getting my concrete block ready for my new Lot-O tumbler so that it was ready to use today when my rough came out of my Model-B. I rinsed all the rock this morning and hand picked out what I wanted in the Lot-O, filled to within an inch of the top, added 2 T of 120/220 SIC, put the lid on and plugged it in.....
The motor hummed but did not spin. I tried spinning the fans by hand but the motor still would not spin. Unplugged it because I didn't want to burn it up and spun the motor by hand without it plugged in and it felt as if it was free to spin. Plugged it back in and got the same motor hum and again tried to get it to start by spinning the fans. Unplugged it again, spun the fans by hand and plugged it back in and this time after spinning the fans by hand for the third time the motor finally took off and started working however. there was a slight electrical burning smell.
It seems to be running okay at the moment, the rocks are moving in the barrel fine but I'm not sure if I need to worry about this thing catching fire or not. Has anyone had any issues like this with these tumblers?
I have definitely not had any issues there. I would be careful running the lot o without the barrel filled (no barrel inside metal ring) as it can screw it up. I’d consider wherever you got it from maybe trying for an exchange?
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p40whk
starting to shine!
Member since October 2018
Posts: 45
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Post by p40whk on Oct 27, 2018 11:18:37 GMT -5
The barrel was full and in the metal ring so that wasn't the issue. I got it from The Rock Shed so maybe I'll give them a call.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Oct 27, 2018 16:18:28 GMT -5
I’d definitely give them a call. I’ve never had any problems like that in the six years I’ve owned mine.
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p40whk
starting to shine!
Member since October 2018
Posts: 45
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Post by p40whk on Oct 28, 2018 7:57:45 GMT -5
I called Rock Shed but Shawn wasn't there. Talked to the other guy (can't remember his name) and he felt that I probably have a bad motor. He did say that I'd have to talk to Shawn about it. I sent him an email this morning and will follow up with a call tomorrow.
It ran all day Saturday but I unplugged it that evening because that electrical burning smell was still present.
I went to start it back up this morning and I had to help it get started again this time as well. It seems to be running okay at the moment, the rocks are moving in the barrel fine. The electrical smell is still there just not as bad and the motor is very hot to the touch, I put a small fan next to it to try and keep it cool. But, this thing won’t start on its own without a little push.
Hopefully I can just replace the motor.
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NRG
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,630
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Post by NRG on Oct 28, 2018 11:01:28 GMT -5
If I got a new one, I would bond a couple 2x4 to the block and screw the Loto to that. In the unlikely but clearly possible event I need a return, I can unscrew and send back in original packaging
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minerken
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2013
Posts: 466
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Post by minerken on Oct 28, 2018 11:36:39 GMT -5
sounds like the start capcitor should be able to replace it.
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jimaz
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2018
Posts: 461
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Post by jimaz on Oct 28, 2018 12:46:26 GMT -5
I don’t think you should have to repair something that is brand new.
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p40whk
starting to shine!
Member since October 2018
Posts: 45
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Post by p40whk on Oct 28, 2018 15:45:20 GMT -5
sounds like the start capcitor should be able to replace it. I'd be happy with a motor replacement. As a mechanic, I'm fully capable of replacing the capacitor however as jimaz pointed out, I shouldn't have to repair something that is brand new. The motor has a 90 day warranty from date of purchase so I'll wait to see what Shawn says. I'm uncomfortable letting it run without anyone in the house so it needs to be fixed or replaced.
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jimaz
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2018
Posts: 461
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Post by jimaz on Oct 28, 2018 18:40:42 GMT -5
I had a problem with the 45c I got from the Rock Shed. Shawn was good to work with and sent parts to try to fix it. Fix was simple, replacing lid, but didn’t work. In the end we ended up going through Lortone to get a replacement.
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on Nov 6, 2018 2:40:02 GMT -5
Sounds like a bad motor alright. I've replaced the motor on mine finally after years of trouble-free use. It's not that hard to do, but they should definitely make good on the motor. If the unit is otherwise OK and you already have it affixed to the block, just replacing the motor sounds like the right solution, if you are comfortable doing that. I've actually NEVER heard of such an issue with these machines - they're usually great little workhorses right out of the blocks. Sorry you got the problem child. Hope Shawn can make it right. Best wishes
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p40whk
starting to shine!
Member since October 2018
Posts: 45
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Post by p40whk on Nov 6, 2018 7:03:59 GMT -5
Lot-O is replacing it, put in the mail yesterday! (just the motor)
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Post by TheRock on Nov 6, 2018 17:02:49 GMT -5
Lot-O is replacing it, put in the mail yesterday! (just the motor) Tom Stockwell the Owner of (Belt Inc.) The Mfg of LOT O Tumbler is a good guy. I sent him Pictures of my LOT-O and he sent me a New Frame for My Lot O. All Is Well Now. If you need his Direct E-Mail PM Me.
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p40whk
starting to shine!
Member since October 2018
Posts: 45
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Post by p40whk on Nov 6, 2018 17:43:29 GMT -5
Lot-O is replacing it, put in the mail yesterday! (just the motor) Tom Stockwell the Owner of (Belt Inc.) The Mfg of LOT O Tumbler is a good guy. I sent him Pictures of my LOT-O and he sent me a New Frame for My Lot O. All I Well Now. If you need his Direct E-Mail PM Me. Thanks Bob,
Shawn from the Rock Shed spoke with him already and he said just mail it back to Belt. I put a note in the box with my email exchange with Shawn so hopefully there won't be any issues.
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Post by TheRock on Nov 6, 2018 20:06:55 GMT -5
Roger That!
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p40whk
starting to shine!
Member since October 2018
Posts: 45
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Post by p40whk on Nov 18, 2018 9:59:33 GMT -5
So I got my new motor from Belt, installed it and made sure the fan weights were exactly opposite of each other, Loaded a fresh batch of 120 AO and plugged her in...
I was shocked at how much quieter it was compared to the old motor! I had to check three times to make sure I was getting rock movement in the barrel. The old motor was so loud I could hear in on the second floor of my house with the Lot-O in the basement and all the doors shut! Even though I had an electrical burning smell with that motor and I had to give it a spin by hand to get it moving it ran and was loud but I just assumed that this was how loud Lot-O tumblers really are!
So happy to have this thing as quiet as it is!
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jimaz
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2018
Posts: 461
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Post by jimaz on Nov 18, 2018 11:31:00 GMT -5
Glad it worked out for you.
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grizman
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since July 2011
Posts: 878
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Post by grizman on Nov 21, 2018 22:23:16 GMT -5
Related...sort of. My Lot-O is going on 5 years old but being "snow-birds", I only run it for 2 months, take a month break and then run it for 4 months before a 6 month rest. I guess that is 2.5 years. 24/7. This fall the start up seemed like it was louder than I had remembered, but I could not see any issue and it was doing what it was supposed to. I did notice that the batch I had going did not look like I thought they should but with different material, each batch can be, and is often a little different in time and results.
I have my tumblers (3 rollers, 1 vibe) in the garage. I was working on a different project, (over the tumber/vibe noise), and i heard a strange sound from the Lot=O. I went and checked it, and it seemed OK, just noisy. In the next minute it completly came to a halt. I spun the fans/counter weights and it started up again. I checked it a few minutes later and it had shut off...thermo-coupler I'm guessing. The motor was good and hot! I took it all apart and with just the motor, no fans/weights, plugged the motor in. It didn't do anything, it was just frozen...yet when I unplugged it, it spun (by hand) just fine.
OK, I knew the fix was to get a new motor. There is no way to take the motor apart for any internal repairs. I'm glad that Shawn at the Rock Shed carries the motor.
I only shared this as it sounded just like the OP with the brand new Lot-O. Lot-O will fix his. I'm out the cost of a new motor. It seems other folks get more time out of their Lot-O than I did. No two units are the same and I understand that. I just have to wait for the new motor now and I'll be up and running again!
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goldminer
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2018
Posts: 17
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Post by goldminer on Nov 23, 2018 21:12:54 GMT -5
Hi all,
Spent the last couple of days getting my concrete block ready for my new Lot-O tumbler so that it was ready to use today when my rough came out of my Model-B. I rinsed all the rock this morning and hand picked out what I wanted in the Lot-O, filled to within an inch of the top, added 2 T of 120/220 SIC, put the lid on and plugged it in.....
The motor hummed but did not spin. I tried spinning the fans by hand but the motor still would not spin. Unplugged it because I didn't want to burn it up and spun the motor by hand without it plugged in and it felt as if it was free to spin. Plugged it back in and got the same motor hum and again tried to get it to start by spinning the fans. Unplugged it again, spun the fans by hand and plugged it back in and this time after spinning the fans by hand for the third time the motor finally took off and started working however. there was a slight electrical burning smell.
It seems to be running okay at the moment, the rocks are moving in the barrel fine but I'm not sure if I need to worry about this thing catching fire or not. Has anyone had any issues like this with these tumblers?
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