Another dead tumbler?

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spur0701

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My first tumbler was a cheap Frankfurt Arsenal from Midway, it lasted a little over a year....it burned out after I forgot and left it running over night. So I got another, it only lasted 6 months even though I was careful about how long I ran it. So in Mar I popped for a Lyman 2500, I figured that was big enough to handle anything I would do....it suspossed to handle 1000 .38 cases or 350 30-06 with 6 lbs of media. So last weekend I dropped in 150 .45 cases and went out to mow the yard, when I come back a couple of hours later it's barely vibrating....it's not totally dead but not functional. I'm going to call Lyman about their warranty sometime this week. I'm running these on the floor of my gun room in the basement, tile over concrete, so there should be plenty of air flow and I'm usually only doing less than 400 cases, most of the time less than 200....so am I missing something or just had bad luck?
 
I have mine out in a shed where the temp get's real hot. I drilled 1/2" holes around the base and I have a fan blowing on it. It's a small F-A and has been running fine for about 4yrs now. I run about 150-200 .45's trough it at a time and it runs all day sometimes. I live in Florida and it get's real hot here sometimes. I run about three loads a week. :D
 
I don't think your doing anything wrong. Just got a string of bad luck going. I own one of the Cheap Blue tumblers (not to be confused with Dillon) it has been chugging along for 5 yrs or so. But I probably don't shoot as much as you do.

I'll bet even the green, orange,red, ones are out sourced products.

Lyman has a good reputation and will take care of your problem no doubt.

You need to get into shotshell reloading 'cause you definitle need a RABBITS FOOT:D
 
Check to make sure the bowl is tight to the mounts. It may have come loose.

I have a Lyman Turbo 1200 that I have had for the last 22 years and it has never quit on me except if the center retainer (rubber) nut has come loose. And that occured only once...
 
spur0701,
No real advice, just asking you not to go near mine.

Is there a lot a of dust or something on your floor? Even that doesn't seem like it would kill it that quick & consistently.

Check the voltage of the circuit it is plugged into. It may be too high or low.

The "check for loose" is good advice.
 
I have been thru 8 Midway/Frankford small size vibratory cleaners. 5 died, still using the last 3. On 4 of the 5 that died I found thru autopsy that it is the vibration of the unit that is causing the power leads to become work hardened and break right where they enter the motor windings. The last one died a horrible death of electrocution from a tremendous lightning strike that also took out my small microwave that was making me popcorn. I went to Sportsmans Warehouse and looked at the motor/wiring of other small units. In my view they all seemed to have the same motor wiring setup and probably parts supplied by the same manufacturer. I was able to solder the leads back on 2 of the ones that had broken and get some more use out of them. I leave mine run overnight as a rule.
 
I have mine out in a shed where the temp get's real hot. I drilled 1/2" holes around the base and I have a fan blowing on it.
Click to expand...

Same here. Mine also sits on this wooden grid that lets plenty of airflow up from the bottom...and I hooked it up to a timer so I can set it and forget it.
 
Check Voltage!

This is a far shot, but check the voltage at the receptacle the tumbler is plugged into.

The voltage should run between around 119 and 125 volts. It shouldn't be much over 125.

A symptom of excessive voltage would be light bulbs that frequently burn out (say, if your voltage on that leg is 130 or higher).
 
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I had the older model Midway tumbler and it lasted for 7 or 8 years polishing untold thousands of casings. Bought a new one 7 months ago or so and it has already crapped out on me. Need another and am unsure what to buy. Thinking of going with the Dillon.
 
I have had my old 1292 for about 12 years, still going strong. I just bought another and went with the Cabelas. Only using it about 6 months now but it is really nice.
 
"...it's barely vibrating....it's not totally dead but not functional."

Pry the bottom plate off and put a few drops of oil on the motor's two brass bearings. Do NOT use WD-40, use a good gun oil that resists drying and gumming.
 
I leave my Midway 1292 running continuously 24-hours a day. I change the load out depending on how dirty it was.
Since brass season started in spring it has been sitting in my den chugging away at massive quantities of brass. No problems.

If anyone has a 1292 or a FA tumbler that is crapped out & being thrown out anyway, I'm interested in paying the postage to have it shipped to me for spare parts- I had a spare bowl I was using for corncob, but the dogs decided to stampede through the den and the cord got yanked and it fell on the floor and cracked the bowl. So my spare bowl is no longer available. I liked having a walnut bowl and a cob bowl! Thanks in advance!
 
I am on my second one, my first just a cheap RCBS lasted almost 16 years.
For at least 2 months out of the year mine runs non stop. I think you have a voltage issue an electric motors service life is dependant on it! Do you go through lightbulbs in your house frequently as well?
 
just a note for those with tumblers from midway, if it dies don't throw it out until you remove the bottom plate. What appears to be happening with the "dead" models is the connectors where the power cord connects to the motor are breaking. Check those out first. It is a 2 to 3 cent repair and once done it will last a while. I have fixed three so far when the guys were throwing them out. I hope this helps someone out...
 
At Dillon the biggest single killer of case cleaners we have noted is rnning it on carpet. The carpet greatly inhibits air flow, leading to early overheating, and the dust in the carpet gets sucked up into the motor and eats it. BTW, our motors are all made in America, a difficult commodity these days!
 
I hang a vacuum hose over the stud so, while the tumbler is running (vibrating-type), the vacuum hose is sucking all that dust that typically accumlates all around and over everything.

Secure the hose end in such a way so it doesn't pick up media-yet close enough to pick up all the dust that comes from tumbling. I hang mine from an overhead pipe in the basement.

I use my tumbler with the slotted top completely off, vacuum hose dangling down just over the stud until it picks up media then back up an inch or so and I can have it running six hours wiothout any media dust around the unit.
 
My FA tumbler from Midway is going strong after 2 years, but it is getting noticeably louder. Perhaps time to dissect and inspect?
 
I had a one of the Frankford tumblers die with sparks and it filled my garage with that electrical burn smell!!! Of course it would not run but after it cooled it would work. Didn't take any chances and called the Frankford people and they replaced it for free. This one started out much more quiet than the dead one but has steadily increased it's noise level. I expect it to go out before too much longer.
 
Well, I called Lyman and they said I could return it for a new one......the customer service tech said they had some problems with a batch and some of 'em snuck out, but she wouldn't elaborate.
 
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