I've had it with Lortone

[polished]

I started tumbling this year, in February - and since then I've had nothing but headaches with my Lortone tumblers. I had to send one in for replacement because it stopped turning - then they sent a new one and I got all happy - even bought 3 more.

Now I have one in with Lortone for repair/replacement and another 2 that aren't turning in the garage.

I've had it. These things can't even run for 1 full year, at $67.95 a pop? This is ridiculous. They don't even have that many moving parts - and I've tried everything under the sun. I've changed belts, loosened belts, tightened belts. I've increased the load, decreased the load, even swapped out barrels. I've oiled, cleaned and done everything else they say we can do.

These things are crap (just my frustrated opinion) and I'm hoping someone here can point me toward a tumbler brand that works ?

Any ideas? I can't go long without tumbling, but with Lortone, I'm certainly not tumbling !

Sorry for the rant, but I just can't stand this much frustration. If these things cost ten bucks, I could see it. But at that price, I expect more than 2 months of operation.

[rollingstone]

I'm sorry they aren't working out for you, I'm at a loss what to suggest. I've got two Lortone's (6 lbs) -- one has been running continuously for 2.5 years, and the other for 20 months. They haven't given me any problems at all, I've replaced a belt on the older one and a few lid gaskets, but that's it. I really am at a loss on what might be giving you such headaches. Thumblers is another recommeded brand.
-Don

[LCARS]

Polished,

Based on your post I can tell you are genuinely frustrated with your situation.

However, I have to disagree with you that Lortone products are "crap". I have a 33a (single 3lb) that has been running with minimal maintenance for over 4 years with no sign of giving up any time soon. I also have a 33b (dual 3lb) that has required a bit more maintenance than the single barrel tumbler but IMO that is to be expected with a higher duty machine.

Before you go knocking a good brand, consider the possibilities that either you are doing something wrong or you somehow ended up with more than one defective unit. I know Jim at Lortone will go the extra mile to ensure you are satisfied with a Lartone product if it should prove defective in some way.

There is often a simple fix for the problem of barrels not turning, depending on the nature of the stoppage. If you are unable to definatively troubleshoot the cause(s) of the problem then you should not be making negative generalized statements about the quality of the equipment.

Any idiot with money can buy a perfectly good BMW and drive it into the ground with their own stupidity and then go off about how Beamers are "crap".

How about telling us some more details about the problem. Be specific about the nature of the stoppage and maybe you will get some good advice from members here. I wouldn't be surprised if you discover that a simple measure can be taken to alleviate the problem...

[Sabre52]

Maybe I've just been lucky but I have four Lortone tumblers, 3 of them over 18 months old and I've had no problems but having to make a few adjustments in the belt pulley (angles, tension etc) and one lid blow out in really hot weather summer before last. For something that runs 24/7 and with pretty full loads, I'd say I'm pretty satisfied. Don't think I've heard of any tumblers that are totally trouble free. Never tried Thumblers as I've always been put off by the way their lids work but I have heard they're pretty good...mel

[rhodescabbin]

My experiences have not been good, except for their willingness to fix the machines. I quit buying Lortone as I was losing to much money. Thats from a business point of view, 12 Lb tumblers right down to small gemstone tumblers, all brand new, all giving me headaches yet the home-made ones I happen acrossed at estate sales are workhorses.
I also will never but a new Lortone saw. What I got was junk. The material they made the saw out of was of very poor steel, the vise, thread screw, all wore out way before its time...This has been around 6 years ago, so maybe they have better quality now. I hope so...

[polished]

Ignoring your implication that I'm just an idiot, here's what's happening ( I could just cut and paste from my post a month ago (and 5 months before that) telling the same thing, but I couldn't find them)

3 tumblers, identical 3lbers. On Sunday: Filled the barrel to 1/2 full, added water and grit, turned on tumbler then set barrel on. Barrels tumble. Two days go by, all 3 barrels are tumbling. Day 3, two barrels have stopped moving. Checked barrels for gas buildup. Checked tumblers for movement. Examined belts.

Belts in place, bar is spinning. Cleaned outside of barrels, placed back on moving tumblers. Barrels will not spin. Unplugged tumblers again, changed belts with brand new belts, put casing back on, turned on tumblers, bar is moving, place barrel on - barrel will not tumble. Swapped barrels with one unit that is tumbling - barrels will not tumble.

Oiled all appropriate places according to Lortone instructions with clear oil.

Unplugged. Tightened belt, tried again. Not tumbling. Opened up, loosened belt, tried again. Not tumbling.

Removed a quarter of the load. Not tumbling. Added a quarter more to the load. Not tumbling.

Tilted the barrel up onto it's edge, by wedging a screwdriver handle underneath the case - forcing barrel onto bar - barrel then tumbles. Continues to tumble until barrel jumps off guide because of unnatural tilt. ** this is what really confuses me - if they'll tumble when tilted, which is wrong and not something I should do - why won't they tumble sitting flat?**

Jim at Lortone suggested a new belt - that didn't work. He suggested tightening the belt. That didn't work. He suggested loosening the belt. That didn't work. His next suggestion was to send it in - which I've done two seperate times now. I have 4 of these, I've been tumbling weekly since February - following all instructions AND Jim's advice. They work fine for a couple of months, then stop.

The tumblers sit on a flat, level surface. No one touches them except to check the barrels for gas and clean and recharge. They're not being bumped, and they're not getting dirty. I'm always careful not to overload the barrel, I oil religiously, keep them all very clean and run them from Sunday to Saturday, then shut them off while I clean and inspect, turning them on again that Sunday.

They run hot, but that's normal according to Jim at Lortone.

Lortone IS a good brand, which is why I'm so frustrated with this issue ! It's one thing to end up with a lemon . . .but 3 out of 4 ?? I was going to switch from the 3lb to a 12qt this winter, so I could tumble MORE at one time - but if I can't even keep these little guys running, it wouldn't make sense to buy another one.

[Sabre52]

Dale: Boy I'm with you there! My Lortone 14" saw gave me so many headaches I finally had to put it out of it's misery. Had similar problems with their vibrating flat laps. Really cheaply built. Wore out so fast it was ridiculous!....mel

[stoner]

Polished, from what I've seen written here on this board, Lortone's quality has gone down the tubes. I don't own one myself, but I do have a Thumlers Tumbler, dual 3lb drum machine and it's been working well for a couple of years now, so maybe you should pick up one of these units and give it a try. I also have my home-made tumbler that will probably live longer than me.

[rhodescabbin]

Oh Man, I came so close to getting the 14" but money was tight so I went with the 12" we finally ended up making it a gravety feed for emergency cutting only lol...Have to laugh sometimes to keep from crying....I learned my lesson well and I am well pleased with the old heavy duty saws...

[polished]

I've heard the absolute best are the old, hand made ones - but try and find one ! I'm going to look into Thumler, see what their prices are like. They're local, just like Lortone, and make a nice looking 12lber.

[rhodescabbin]

Polished, you are 100 percent correct. I have tumblers so old and beaten that I have no idea who made them but the serial# plate is still there and they just run and run, never a problem...

[deb193]

Jim at Lortone is nice, but I think they have some major quality control problems. The defective Lortone clamp Ron's Rocks sold me should never have gotten past Lortone quality control - even Jim said so. The replacement they sent was still crooked, just not as much. I gave up, and will be getting clamps from other companies.

[ladyt]

I also have a thumbler tumble dual 3lb barrels. It has run virtually non-stop for over a year and haven't had any problems.

Tonja

[offbeat]

Geez Daniel! You mean to tell us that you sent a clamp back because it was bent and they sent out another bent clamp?? That says a lot.

Polished, What is the last stage in the mechanical end of your tumbler that isn't working? By stage I mean....is the motor spinning, if so, is the belt moving, if so....... Seems like you need to find the last thing that is working and then the next thing "downstream" should be the problem. From your post, if I read it right, seems like it is all working to the point of the barrel. Is this true? If so, I read oil, could there be oil on your barrels? Just taking a stab in the dark here. Sorry to hear of you troubles. These kind of things drive me crazy! I can only imagine how frustrated you must be. Good luck! Bill

[polished]

Bill - The bar is spinning, motor is running, belt turning . . . but the barrels don't tumble. I took them off and cleaned them thoroughly, then dried them off in case oil or water was making them 'slippery' but that didn't do anything.

I even switched out the ONE tumbler barrel that is still working, but on the failing two tumblers that barrel won't spin either.

Thumler's looking mighty good to me right now!

[offbeat]

Well, Might the problem be, there is missing friction between the barrel and rod, maybe a notch or something on the bars, warped barrel.... Do the barrels of the tumbler that is not working right work on the machine that is still running? Will the barrels run empty? Sounds like 99% of what the tumbler is supposed to be doing, it is! You have a real stumper there!! Bill

[RockyBlue]

Hey Rockhounder!
I was having a little problem with my Lortone 33b it just quit on me ,the barrels wouldn`t turn,and i was starting to think like your`e thinking .
I was going to blame the Lortone tumbler,so i sat down on my thinking chair[pop case] and i tried to think what went wrong,so i posted my problem on RTH and i think it was Don that suggested to take off the belt and sand the inside of the belt because sometimes they will become slick,so i sanded with 220 until it became dull,i put it on and it works fine now. I wasw making mountians out of mole hills.I think most of us have had those kind of problems at one time or another.Patience,patience,patience..............Rocky

[earthdog]

I think the single and dual 3# Lortone tumblers suck. I have a 4, 6 and a 12# Lortone tumblers and they have ran just fine.
I am going to have to break down and get all the parts and make me a homemade tumbler this winter to work off one of those 1/3 hp motors I have.

[yogi]

It sounds like the barrel is jamming on somthing on those two units. When the barrel is on it, and not turning, is the drive shaft still turning? Is the barrel running tight up to one end or the other of the frame? I'm not sure about the Lortons, but at both ends of the 'bed' there should be some sort of a bearing that the barrel will ride against. I have a few of the CEs, they have a little plastic tab that the barrel can rub on. the Lortons may have a little ball bearing, check that it will turn freely. Another thing you could try is turn the unit off and try turning the barrel. Is should roll freely; as you turn it, see if you can see both rods turning. As you turn it can you see the motor spin? If you need to force the barrel to make contact with the drive rod then find where it is binding. If the drive line seems to work without the barrel and turning the barrel by hand turns the motor then it may be the motor cant handel any load, but I would bet that is not the case. You should be able to get an idea where the barrel is binding by tring to turn it.
I hope some of this long post helps, trust me the Lortons can't be worst then the CE tumblers. I'v rebuilt mine a couple times. Like you said they are a simple machine. Bill

[snowdog]

polished --does the drive bar have a little rubber " hose on it? -- try wraping a piece of tape "candy-cane" style on it -- could use masking tape, duct or the black electrial type -- it may be that the rubber has gotten "glazed" and is slicker than it should be -- if the tape makes them turn then take it off and roughen up the rubber with a piece of sand paper while it is running ---- only other thing I can think of is --- where the bar goes thu the case --is there a small plastic bushing that it goes thu -- maybe this is worn a little on the bottom and when you sit the barrel on it pushes down just enough to not let it turn
if you want to spend the big $$ go for the vibra-sonic vib --- have had mine for 35 years now and mainly only replace a belt now and then -- did replace a on/off switch cause it had been turned on/off so many times