After having the tumbler running for about 3 days, the replacement belt broke again! This makes two replacement belts down. I had been using sewing machine belts but the tumbler gets hotter then they are made to run.
Right know I am using large rubber bands as belts. They are working fine for the moment. The tumbler has been running for over 24 hours.
I am planning on buying replacement belts that are made for the Chicago Electric double barrel rock tumbler. I have read that they are actually better then the originals. I have a concern with the rubber bands. I have “visions” of what can happen if they snap! I hope that no one is near when it happens, if it does.
The Best belts for this type of tumbler are RUBBER or NEOPRENE O Rings available for a few cents from any bearing supply Co. or Engineering supply Co.
Myoriginal belt broke in first few hrs of running, I replaced with “O” Ring and its now run for MONTHS Without problems
Good Luck
Comment by Tony in Oz — August 9, 2007 @ 6:01 am
I bought the C.I. two-barrel for $35 on sale at Harbor Freight on Saturday. Another child’s toy tumbler I had wore out gears and only handled 8 oz of rock at a time so I figured if this new one goes bad it looked pretty easy to fix. Well after 2 days the belt broke. Superglued it back together, broke again after one day. Now I have a rubber band from the daily paper on it and it’s working fine and if it breaks I have hundreds more. In the mean time it appears a more flexible belt as Tony said above would work much better. Sometime this week I’ll add an extra fan for the poor lil motor.
Comment by Vince — September 4, 2007 @ 11:48 pm
I HAVE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE HARBOR FREIGHT DOUBLE BARREL ROCK TUMBLER BELTS BREAKING.SOME ONLY LAST A DAY.BEEN THROUGH 8 BELTS SO FAR AND ONLY TUMBLED ONE LOAD OF ROCKS.GOT DESPERATE AND SEWED ONE TOGETHER TODAY WITH FISHING LINE.IT IS STILL RUNNING AT PRESENT.GOING TO TRY THE O RING IDEA SOON.I GIVE UP ON THE REPLACEMENT BELTS
Comment by angelo — November 27, 2007 @ 12:32 am
For my CI double barrel I use a sewing machine rubber belt. It lasted long enough to wear out the nylon shaft bearings.
Comment by JC — December 26, 2007 @ 6:17 pm
you can get the two-barrel for $25 now. thats amazing bargain.
Comment by Rock music — December 31, 2007 @ 5:29 pm
I bought the CI two-barrel and the belt broke before the first 24 hours of use. I went to Harbor freight and bought 4 more. I thought it was a great deal because they spares were only a couple bucks each. Each has lasted about 24 to 48 hours, not such a great deal. So I am down to my last belt and I will start searching for o-rings. Are there any belts/O-rings with fibers in them like the larger belts have for strength?
Comment by Jay — May 15, 2008 @ 8:13 pm
I too was duped by the imfamousCI double drum ttumbler. After I went through 4 belts in four days, I shelved it until I read about someone who used a nylon stocking for a belt. That worked for a week until the nylon burned the drive pulley/fan and cut it in two. I will try the sewing machine belt or the O ring and if that doesn’t work I’ll take it to Harbor Freight and make a lemon display for it.
Comment by Ben Salyer — March 15, 2009 @ 2:45 am
What size o-ring should I use?
The same size as the stock belt? Or does it need to stretch?
Comment by ionymous — May 16, 2009 @ 1:11 pm
I can’t remember what size the tumbler takes. It does not need to stretch.
Comment by Helen — May 17, 2009 @ 5:18 pm
try a little krazy glue right where the belt breaks. will give you couple more days.
Comment by mase — September 17, 2009 @ 8:56 pm
I have the Harbor Freight single tumbler, which comes with O rings. Both of mine have broken, and when repaired (super glue) failed again. This unit is the same design as the double, with two barrels inline. I’ma try the fishing line stitch.
Comment by Rat — November 11, 2009 @ 2:35 pm
My single barrell C.I. tumbler from Harbor alos busted the first belt in like 2-days. The replacement belt also broke in about the same amount of time. I’m gonna try the rubber band fix. If the tumbler busts and I’m still interested in the hobby, I’ll just buy a “real” tumbler from a hobby or rock shop. I would not reccomend the C.I. tumbler to anybody. It’s belts are turds.
Comment by Sad dude — January 27, 2010 @ 2:45 pm
I have also had a lot of problems with the Chicago Harbor Freight double barrel rock tumbler. The belts kept breaking, so I used gumbands. They would break every day or so. Two weeks ago I installed a 13 1/2 ” Singer sewing machine “V” belt. These belts are reinforced, so they are not flxible. Just loosen up the outside adjustment screws, place the belt on the pulleys and readjust to a firm fit. Do not overtighten or the pulleys won’t turn. This belt has lasted two weeks with no signs of wear. You can purchase these belts at a vacuum cleaner or sewing machine repair store. Mine cost $9.99, but well worth it.
Comment by Jeff — February 19, 2010 @ 2:28 pm
Try taking a Hoover Style 200 vacuum cleaner belt, use a sharp exacto knife to trim a bout 1/4 inch off the outside diameter. Seems to be working, just put it on.
Now the damn thing is making a clatter, seems like it is because of the play in the drive rod, anyone else seeing this?
Comment by Mike Ault — March 31, 2010 @ 5:09 pm
Yes MINE IS CLANKING POPING AND MAKING ALL KINDS OF NOISES 2 weeks of running 3 belts and countless rummberbands
Comment by Nick — May 12, 2010 @ 4:51 pm
I’ve have the dual drum model for only a week and so far I have had to break it down 4 times. First the drop of oil on the shaft sleeve did work its way down and under the rubber rollers forcing me to take it apart and clean after the first 6 hours. Next the belt broke on day 2. Then there was an issue with the plastic guides that squeak and have started to wear down to about half size even though they barely touch the barrel. Just to be safe I removed some of the material so it’s on ½ full hoping that would help but alas no. Yesterday I noticed an odd noise and took it apart again and the plastic shaft sleeve has worn completely away on one side so it’s turning against the metal housing.
Does anyone have any idea where you can get replacements for the plastic shaft sleeves before I chunk this thing out the door and waste 50$ in machine and supplies?
Comment by rj — July 22, 2010 @ 12:30 pm