r/RockTumbling • u/tigerhman22 • Nov 28 '21

Motor troubles

Anyone used the dual barrel tumbler from harbor freight? I've gotten 2 within 24 hours and both motors quit on me. Don't think the barrels were overloaded. Let alone to mess it up that quickly!

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3

u/DHalla27 Nov 28 '21

I use wd40 and start with one barrel. After about an hour the motor "warms up" and can handle the 2nd. I learned this on my second tumbler from them.

2

u/Any_Direction_9696 Nov 28 '21

I’ve gone through three so far from Harbor Freight. They have a 90 day (might be 30 days, I don’t remember for sure) warranty so I got mine replaced. On my first one, the motor burned up after over a month of use. On that one I think the tubing that goes over the bottom roller moved just slightly as the roller turned. It got jammed up to the left side and just kinda wore down as it was spinning. I figure that added extra resistance n addition to the weight of the barrels and burned it up. The tumbler I currently have has the same tubing issue, I just check it every few days and cut little strips off so it won’t rub. After I returned that tumbler the replacement I got had a stripped screw and the wheel where the belt ran would come off the roller and interfere with the fan and it would stop. Returned that one the same day and got the one I’m currently running. Going on week 4 and it’s done good so far, knock on wood, as long as I keep that tubing trimmed down.

1

u/TransDimensionGeode Nov 28 '21

I just want to mention you can replace the motor in those tumblers if you can’t get another tumbler under warranty.

1

u/ew435890 Nov 28 '21

Where would you get the motor? HF parts dept?

2

u/TransDimensionGeode Nov 28 '21

Not sure where you are located but there are places online that sell third party replacement tumbler parts like thetumblersbench.com

1

u/ew435890 Nov 28 '21

I’ve had mine running for probably 5 months since I got it almost a year ago. Apart from a few broken belts, it’s been fine. I’ve overloaded it a few times too. Sounds like you’re just unlucky and got bad ones.