HF Tumbler problem

Yes, take it back and buy another brand

You seem to be implying it's new. Why tinker with a new device that doesn't work? Take it back to Harbor Freight and ask for a working replacement. More than likely the bushings are too big. Harbor Freight doesn't sell the highest quality stuff in many cases, but the store here is more than willing to replace a defective device as long as it hasn't been dinked with by the buyer.

You can return it or repair it. If you want it "now" then repair it. You need to glue the rubber sleeve to the shaft.

Ron

Why fool around, return it and try another.

i have a 2 drum HF
and it runs fine
MANY THOUSANDS of cases
and im still on the first belt
never took it apart

im pretty sure they shrink that tubing on there (and do a real carpy job)
maybe try a hairdryer
or similar
but like i said
never had a single issue with the unit!

guncheese said:

i have a 2 drum HF
and it runs fine
MANY THOUSANDS of cases
and im still on the first belt
never took it apart

im pretty sure they shrink that tubing on there (and do a real carpy job)
maybe try a hairdryer
or similar
but like i said
never had a single issue with the unit!

Click to expand...

likewise.
If you don't feel like exchanging it, just use a heat gun to tighten it up.

HF is really good about taking care of me any time something breaks or simply doesn't work as expected. Take it back, I'm sure they'll hook ya up.

The other thing to think about, is you'll probably be involved in this hobby for the rest of your life, right? That being the case, I would spring for a good tumbler, and it doesn't get much better than a Thumler Tumbler. They can be completely rebuilt if anything does wear out, and parts are readily available, but they last for a long, long time.

The barrel tumbler's they offer range from about $150 to about $220, the vibratory tumblers cost about the same. I think they make some bigger industrial sized one's also. But I've had a little Ultra Vibe 10 now for, I don't know maybe 15 or 20 yrs., and I've run that thing for days at a time, and it's still going strong. The motors are ball bearing, sealed, fan cooled, practically bullet proof. I've honestly forgotten mine was running on numerous occasions, as a result it has run for 5, 6, 7 days straight, simply because they are so quiet.

GS

wiiawiwb said:

I tried to remove the shaft so i could then remove the rubber sleeve and clean both of them. For the life of me I can not see how to remove the shaft. I unscrewed the metal bulb on the outside of the shaft. That didn;t seem to be the answer.

Any idea how to remove it?

Click to expand...

So are you now in the position where you can't return it until you figure out how to put it back together? :banghead: Don't ask me how I know!

Step one, Find receipt
Step two: Go to store
Step three: exchange or better yet get money back and buy a good one.:banghead:

Step 4 - Seek professional counseling if steps 1 - 3 don't go as planned.

GS

Hf tumbler

Harbor freight Tumbler are totally NG some are good some are bad. . It's a Crap shoot after purchase. I have one. . Called for replacement parts. Unavailable.
I then purchased a older sears and a Lortone
Learned my lesson fast

salpal48 said:

Harbor freight Tumbler are totally NG some are good some are bad. ...

Click to expand...

NG?

NG = No Good

NFG = No F&%@ing Good

Hope this helps,
Joe's

It does, thanks ... "No Good" didn't seem to work in that sentence, though, since after salpal48 claims that they are "totally NG" he continues to say that some are good. I figured that "NG" may be something other than No Good.

Let me try to Clarify My post. I should have said Unreliable. with respect to manufacture.
If you think you got a good one That's great.
i found Cheap you buy , Cheap you get
Buy a lortone

Thanks for the clarification, salpal48. Sorry to hear that you got one of the bad ones.

When I finally broke down and bought a Rotary (to replace my 2 Vibratory Case Cleaners) last December, I got a F.A.R.T. (Frankford Arsenal Rotary Tumbler) "Platinum Series" kit that was offered at a very good price. It works great!

Despite what all the nay-sayers claim, I have experienced excellent results with 2 HF rotary tumblers (I'm not the kind of guy with a huge disposable income and I will not toss out something because I don't know how to make it work). Both of the two HF tumblers I had used one drive "rod"/shaft and one idler rod. Only one turned under power. I cleaned the plastic sleeve on the drive shaft and cleaned the outside of the drum(s) so there would be friction between the two. I used brake clean to really clean and slightly soften the surface of the drive shaft so it would not slip. I have made drums from various materials/jugs and often put a ring of self amalgamating tape on the OD to increase friction, reduce drive shaft slip. My first HF tumbler lasted mebbe 14 years before I "improved" it and my second tumbler has lasted 6 or 8 years. I have used my tumblers for brass, applying powder coat, and cleaning rusty parts sometimes running the unit for 24+ hours...