Skipper
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 258
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Post by Skipper on Apr 21, 2004 0:17:57 GMT -5
Need some help. I have a lortone 3A - brand new I bought a used 33B - many years old I checked the belt on the 33B and it looks to be tight enough (not too tight) and I oiled all the roller parts where the barrels go, but I noticed when I started it that it turns noticeably slower than my 3a. Not REALLY slow, but it's probaby behind by a half inch of rotation every turn compared to the 3a. That's losing a lot of ground over 7 days! Can the motor be sped up? Do I need to take it apart? I'm not mechanical, so the idea of taking it apart scares me
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Post by sandsman1 on Apr 21, 2004 9:35:02 GMT -5
hi all ---skip did ya try and take a couple rocks out and see if it catches up those motors dont have a large amount of power maybe its just to full or if it way old it could just be gettin tired like me hahahaha ok seeya john
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Post by creativeminded on Apr 21, 2004 10:43:19 GMT -5
If the barrels are different sizes the larger one will tumble slower.
Tami
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Skipper
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 258
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Post by Skipper on Apr 21, 2004 17:16:11 GMT -5
I'm pretty confident that these barrels are underloaded if anything. And the barrels all the same size and model #.
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Post by mrbrett on Apr 22, 2004 6:59:47 GMT -5
make sure to oil the motor. If the motor has been sitting for a long time not being used the oil tends to get thick and its time to give it a squirt
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Apr 22, 2004 9:56:21 GMT -5
When you say that the motor is running slower, it sounds like you really mean that the barrel is running slower. Assuming that is the case, you can increase the rotational speed of the barrel by simply increasing the diameter of the drive roll. I would try and clean the roll, and then wrap it with tape. Wrap it twice and try it, then add more or remove some if necessary. Remember that there is a direct porportional relationship here. Since the drive roll is so small to begin with, small changes make a big difference. A 10% increase in roll diameter will give a 10% increase in barrel rotational speed. It could be that over the years the drive roll has just worn down a bit and a little tape will fix it.
Ron
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Apr 22, 2004 10:06:16 GMT -5
By the way, the opposite effect can be had by wrapping the barrel with tape instead. In other words, wrapping a 6 inch diamter barrel with enough tape or other material to increase the diameter to 6.6 inches will decrease the barrels rotational speed by 10%. That's assuming that there is enough clearance in the tumbler base for the larger diameter barrel. A slower rotational speed takes longer, but is also gentler and can help reduce rock to rock damage when running the more fragile rocks. A Lortone Model 45C barrel will fit perfect inside of a Thumler's Model B barrel, thus giving you approximately a 36% reduction in rotational speed over the Lortone Model 45C base. This works great for the times when you need a real gentle touch. It just takes longer.
Ron
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bschultz
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2004
Posts: 234
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Post by bschultz on Apr 22, 2004 12:01:58 GMT -5
A barrel inside of a barrel. Excellent tip Ron. I never would have thought of that. Thanks Bob
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Skipper
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 258
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Post by Skipper on Apr 22, 2004 22:35:03 GMT -5
Wow! All really good ideas. I will definitely look at wrapping the roller. But I also think that reoiling the motor is likely needed since the machine is so old and likely did sit idle.
How/where do you oil it?
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Apr 22, 2004 23:23:05 GMT -5
put 3 drops of oil ( 3 in 1 5w-30 or ATF ) there should be 2 holes one on each end of the motor
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Post by creativeminded on Apr 29, 2004 14:37:24 GMT -5
If you can't find the oil they are talking about by the numbers I was told that sewing machine oil is the same stuff, and you can find that at just about any place that sells fabric and/or sewing machines.
Tami
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Post by sandsman1 on May 3, 2004 17:05:45 GMT -5
hi all---hey ron thanks for the info i just wraped my QT12 drive roller with duct tape twice and its goin about 1an 1/2 to 2 times as fast as my Qt6-s im gonna give it a try see if it grinds faster ok seeya ---john
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Post by sandsman1 on May 13, 2004 3:09:20 GMT -5
i was thinking i dont wanna wrap my new model b with duct tape hahaha so im gonna try this take a piece of heater hose for a car and cut into 2inch pieces and slit down one side and slip that around the rubber pieces that are there allready this way if ya wanna speed up or slow down just put them on or take them off, havent tried yet but prob need a small piece of duct tape so they dont pop off just to close the slit ,i have a piece of hose extra in the truck ill give it a try tomorrow
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Skipper
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 258
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Post by Skipper on Jun 13, 2004 22:57:45 GMT -5
The answer turned out to be easier than I thought...i checked the belt and found a crack in it. Because I couldn't get to the rock store quick, I left it a few more weeks...I could swear it was getting slower!
When I finally replaced it, it had 2 cracks in it. Replacing the belt had a HUGE effect - sped up quite a bit. Goes to show what some basic maintenance checks can do! Duct tape would not have helpe don this one.
That being said, I still could not find WHERE to oil my motor (Lortone 33B)...can anyone give me real clear directions on that?
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Jun 14, 2004 0:34:52 GMT -5
look on the side of the motor, in the center is a bump on one side and the shaft comes out on the other directly above each is a small v shaped spot that makes the hole put 3 drops of oil there it should go down (unless the hole is plugged with crud)they should be on the up side of the motor. If you can't find it let me know and I will take a picture of my motor and will give it a good close up shot.
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Post by puppie96 on Jun 14, 2004 1:37:18 GMT -5
I would love for you to post a photo about the oiling, it would be really helpful.
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duke
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since May 2004
Posts: 77
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Post by duke on Jun 14, 2004 17:57:20 GMT -5
Skipper...also, be careful when you oil the motor, NOT to get any oil on the belt or pulleys. I had probs with my belt slipping, and sandsman suggested I clean the pulleys and belt. It worked and now I'm back in business. Might even be a good idea maybe even to get a spare belt. I did. You never know when those suckers will break/crack stretch. Good luck!
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Jun 15, 2004 0:24:44 GMT -5
I tried taking a couple of picture today but they didn't turn out so I will try again tomorrow.
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