Thumler's Tumbler Drive Belt Life - Poor

[Bayou]

Is it possible you might have some transient contact that suddenly stresses the drive belt due to intermittent side-to-side movement of the rods while it's turning?

gstaylorg -

It's interesting that you mention some sway in your drum. My Model B also had side to side sway as soon as it was set up out of the box and running. To address this, I tightened the clips on the end on each axle. With less play, the sway is gone but the axles still turn freely. I'm also told this can be corrected by slightly bending outward the walls of the base. The owner of the company told me that just tthis morning.

Bayou

 

[dickn52]

My squealing issue was simple to fix. The red paint on the drum where it contacted the rubber on the rods was wet. It was simply spinning in place with out friction. Cleaned the outside of the drum and all was good to go.

 

[AR Shooter]

During the summer months I run mine twice a week for 3 hrs a pop. I've had my unit for 2 yrs now and I'm on the same belt.

Same here. I've never weighed the drum, but I fill to about 2" below full with cases, media and water and am guessing I'm over the 15# limit. And, my pulleys wobble quite a bit. Maybe that's the key.

 

[Bayou]

During the summer months I run mine twice a week for 3 hrs a pop. I've had my unit for 2 yrs now and I'm on the same belt.

Same here. I've never weighed the drum, but I fill to about 2" below full with cases, media and water and am guessing I'm over the 15# limit. And, my pulleys wobble quite a bit. Maybe that's the key.

Now, if your pulley wobbles a lot and your belts are still lasting a long time, I'm really at a loss for why mine keep breaking.

Bayou

 

[navyrad8r]

bayou,
sorry the vacuum cleaner belt did not work for you. they are pretty snug for me as well but I have a very old model. for the slipping issue. my buddy put "skate tape" around the edge of his drum to get some "sticktion" going. I have not gotten that far yet. He and I run double (10lbs) of pins to get the job done faster. hope this helps. If you cant get your money back for the vacuum belts shoot me a PM since its partly my fault :-\ and I will trade ya sumpin for them if you want .
cheers,
doc

 

[Bayou]

bayou,
sorry the vacuum cleaner belt did not work for you. they are pretty snug for me as well but I have a very old model. for the slipping issue. my buddy put "skate tape" around the edge of his drum to get some "sticktion" going. I have not gotten that far yet. He and I run double (10lbs) of pins to get the job done faster. hope this helps. If you cant get your money back for the vacuum belts shoot me a PM since its partly my fault :-\ and I will trade ya sumpin for them if you want .
cheers,
doc

Hi, doc!

Not a problem with those belts. It was definitely worth a try. Was able to simply return them to WallyWorld, but thanks for your kind offer. That's a very noble offer on your part.

I actually just ordered some o-rings on line to try out in the place of th standard belts that don't last very long. FYI - I ordered standard size AS 568, numbber .343 ethylene propylene (E-P) composition since I'm told these don't stretch. I hope I measured right and ordered the correct size. They were only 80 cents apiece plus shipping.

Bayou

 

[dickn52]

Weight limits being exceeded maybe?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

You reckon he got it fixed by now?

 

[Rsadams]

Probably just over the weight limit... 5 lbs of pins plus 8lbs of water only leaves 2 lbs of anything else plus the weight of the drum etc.... overloading one of these tumblers is very common even when using it as a rock tumbler.... Cut back on the amount of water and even lbs of pins.... I use only enough water to just cover the brass and only a few lbs of pins...

I don't use mine alot but have had it for years with no problems.... Running it level helps with the drum moving back and forth... When I first got mine I weighed it with and figured out fast that you can overload it easily...

 

[WillyTP]

You reckon he got it fixed by now?

Funny, the belt on my tumbler IS as old as this thread......

 

[Sniper338]

I aint broke a belt yet...

 

[misser]

strange but I also have had belts brake . I have a big drum and a small one , the retaining ring broke on the big drum and then using the small drum the drive belt ring broke ...on the same day . fixed the drive belt with super glue

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I had to replace my 20+ yr old belt this year. It got hardened and took the shape of the small pulley every time i didnt use it then when i did use it it would crack a bit. It never broke but i ordered a 6pack of o-rings from fastenal for like $.80 so im set

 

[rwj]

I had to replace my 20+ yr old belt this year. It got hardened and took the shape of the small pulley every time i didnt use it then when i did use it it would crack a bit. It never broke but i ordered a 6pack of o-rings from fastenal for like $.80 so im set

...for at least 6 years!

 

[chkunz]

I had to replace my 20+ yr old belt this year. It got hardened and took the shape of the small pulley every time i didnt use it then when i did use it it would crack a bit. It never broke but i ordered a 6pack of o-rings from fastenal for like $.80 so im set

Can you give the size of the O ring you substituted for the original belt? I have been using the same Thumbler's Tumbler since the 1970s and the earlier belts seem to last many years but in recent years not so much. I considered an O ring but got lost in dimensions.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

...for at least 6 years!

No im set for another 20+yrs with the one thats on it. Cant even find the other 5

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Can you give the size of the O ring you substituted for the original belt? I have been using the same Thumbler's Tumbler since the 1970s and the earlier belts seem to last many years but in recent years not so much. I considered an O ring but got lost in dimensions.

3.75idx4.125odx3/16th

 

[Twicepop]

I used a Thumlers for about 35 years and when the "expensive" drive belt failed, I went to the hardware store and got a large O ring of the appropriate size and used that. I would get about 2-3 years of use out of them before they stretched or wore beyond reliable use. For around buck or a little more for the O ring, I figure I got my moneys worth of use out of them. I finally retired the Thumlers when the frame broke at the notch where the axle sat. Still have the drum and at least one extra O ring.

 

[jimmymac]

You reckon he got it fixed by now?

He’s replaced about 6000 belts since 2013, give or take a few hundred.

 

[P1ZombieKiller]

You reckon he got it fixed by now?

Well.... I started painting my house about the same time this thread started.... and it aint done yet.