tumblesondown
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2011
Posts: 11
|
Post by tumblesondown on Jul 10, 2011 20:31:12 GMT -5
I purchased the Harbor Freight Tumbler a week ago.
I know, I know . . . . the general consensus is that it is a pretty cheap, easy-to-break product.
Still, does anyone have any pointers or insights on using/maintaining this tumblers? Sort of "wish-I-knew-earlier" tidbits of knowledge that would be useful to one who just purchased one?
Thanks.
|
|
snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
|
Post by snuffy on Jul 10, 2011 20:52:56 GMT -5
Okay,lets start with the belts.That will probably be the first thing to go,probably in a day or three.Order replacement belts, lortone or thumlers that fit the 33b,many of us get these from the Rockshed. Dont order the worthless belts that come with it.If you are lucky you may get a few months before the motor fries,probably the plastic fan will split first.We usually replace the motor with a lortone motor next. Before long you will have a rebuilt lortone.The first thing to check is to make sure the pulleys are aligned.Usually they aren't.I hope you got a warranty with it,so you can take it back every few weeks and get a new one. I've had about 8 of these,so I know plenty about them. Also,some of us,me included, take the top off to try to let it run cooler,also,I have a small fan blowing over them. Hey,good luck,dont let that tumbler run you away from the hobby. ;D You said you got it dirt cheap.I got mine for $35 bucks on sale 2 years ago.I was in Harbor Freight the other day and they were $89.95, s$#%t!! All mine were the double barrels,is yours single or double? Or did you get the vibe? That would be another can of worms. snuffy
|
|
tumblesondown
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2011
Posts: 11
|
Post by tumblesondown on Jul 10, 2011 21:19:38 GMT -5
Thanks for all the advice.
It is the 3 pound single barrel version.
I have heard horror stories about the belts but not much about the motor.
|
|
|
Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Jul 10, 2011 22:20:23 GMT -5
A thought, Is their anything in China built to last longer then , A curb side guarantee?
|
|
snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
|
Post by snuffy on Jul 10, 2011 22:26:35 GMT -5
Well,at least they dont use false advertising on their tumblers.They say they are made to run for days at a time. ;D
snuffy
|
|
jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
|
Post by jspencer on Jul 10, 2011 22:34:14 GMT -5
I have heard this talk about the belt from a lot of people but I have a double barrel that has run continuously since Feb. and am on the original belt. Just keep it as loose as you can while still keeping the drum turning. And like Snuffy said make sure the pulleys are aligned with each other. But the mototr will go out so it is either keep taking it back or fix it for good. I purchsed a Dayton motor for $34 with a 1 year warranty which I`ll probably never need to use because I have used a lot of Daytons before in other equipment. The old pulley and mounting spacers fit and in less than 30 minutes was finished with conversion. I did leave the top off of it also for ventilation. I bought mine from ebay for $65. It is about $90 in the store. It was my 1st polisher but now that I know how they work I`ll never have to buy a rotary or vibe again. Best of luck!
|
|
ctit101
starting to shine!
Member since May 2011
Posts: 38
|
Post by ctit101 on Jul 11, 2011 2:10:10 GMT -5
You can take the belt to walmart and try and match it up to a vacuum cleaner belt. Some of them are about a buck each. I did it with a Tumbler I got from the rockshed. Just redrilled a couple holes and moved the motor a bit. Vac belts are tough, run forever.
|
|
|
Post by johnjsgems on Jul 11, 2011 7:30:56 GMT -5
I've heard somewhere they improved their belts. Improve would be only way they could go. Thumlers Model T belt fit perfectly.
|
|
peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
|
Post by peachfront on Jul 11, 2011 8:43:41 GMT -5
Do you hold the HF rotary or the vibe? We've been running the rotary continuously since March. Well, I realize it's only July, but so far, so good. Like the other poster, no problem here (knock on wood) with the belt, we're still using the original one, although we noticed that they included others. And it's quiet. The store threw in the vibe also, but the vibe barrel lid didn't last and it's too noisy for us anyway. I stopped using the vibe and I'm just running the rotary now.
My main problem with the rotary, even though we have the two barrel jobbie, is that it's really too small for us considering the amount of material we would like to tumble. If it's going to only last a year, I might like a different, larger tumbler -- but only if I could be confident that it's this quiet. So, for now, just sticking with the Harbor Freight rotary, since I haven't had the opportunity to hear a quieter tumbler in operation. I'm afraid that if I went larger, it would almost have to be noisier...
|
|
chassroc
Cave Dweller
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
|
Post by chassroc on Jul 11, 2011 12:00:13 GMT -5
I've had some problem with every tumbler...doesn't matter which brand or country. However all problems and defects are not created equal.
The belts and motor fan are the obvious defects on the older CE tumblers. I replaced both with lortone replacements and they are running quite well. The single barrel CE is made a bit too tight...the barrelis just as big as the area it fits into (or maybe the Lortone barrels are slightly bigger) . That is a bigger problem for me. I may have replaced the original CE motor too, cannot remember anymore.
I've had to replace a motor in my 33B(one new motor in 7 years).
The lids on (larger 12#) Thumlers are incredibly poor amd need constant replacement or reinforcement. Thumlers motors last a long time but mine have slowed considerably.
I am not meticulous and wear out bearings and such more often than most on both lortone and thumlers
Take care of the equipment and learn how to make simple repairs and you will have success and longevity regardless of the brand
|
|
|
Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Jul 11, 2011 18:16:52 GMT -5
Viking North, over 20 years old, Only the clear belts have been replaced.
one of them some one tried O-Rings for the vibra belt replacement. Only the original last. in the Vibra-sonic line.
|
|
|
Post by krazydiamond on Jul 11, 2011 18:29:18 GMT -5
i have a stack of Harbor Freight 3 pound tumblers i can send you in all states of disrepair for parts if you want. most motors still good. all the barrels are good. i can stuff them in a FRB for you just to get them out of my basement. pm me your snail.
KD
|
|
snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
|
Post by snuffy on Jul 11, 2011 18:43:11 GMT -5
i have a stack of Harbor Freight 3 pound tumblers i can send you in all states of disrepair for parts if you want. most motors still good. all the barrels are good. i can stuff them in a FRB for you just to get them out of my basement. pm me your snail. KD Nice gesture KD. snuffy
|
|
|
Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Jul 11, 2011 19:42:34 GMT -5
I would`t waste the postage.
Though to nice to read................
|
|
snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
|
Post by snuffy on Jul 11, 2011 19:53:12 GMT -5
I dont recommend these tumblers to anyone, but I've got 2 that I keep running for the heck of it.Got plenty of other tumblers, but I wouldn't hesitate if someone offered me parts and barrels, Jack.
snuffy
|
|
|
Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Jul 11, 2011 21:30:22 GMT -5
waste of power life And Time
|
|
snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
|
Post by snuffy on Jul 11, 2011 21:50:35 GMT -5
waste of power life And Time Yeah,but one thing,Jack,its my power,my life,and my time!! ;D ;D ;D snuffy
|
|
jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
|
Post by jspencer on Jul 11, 2011 23:34:18 GMT -5
I`m with Snuffy on this one. It`s my power, life and time. I am running both a double barrel rotary and a 5 lb. vibe from HF. I`ve replaced the Chinese motors as I knew I would need to instead of taking it back often. Total for each machine with new motor was $110 each. With speed controller added I`d put my vibes action up against any other. It`s pretty quiet for a vibe also. And I`m willing to bet the rocks get just as polished in them as they do in your machine no matter how much you paid for it. They are not made for professionals so us hobbyist use them so you won`t have to.
|
|
jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
|
Post by jspencer on Jul 12, 2011 23:09:48 GMT -5
And I`d be happy to trade out some rocks for a couple of those barrels. I may need some for backup in the future.
|
|