Cabelas tumbler wont turn over

[griff383]

I tried to polish some brass today and my darn tumber didnt want to start. The best way to describe it, is that its like a car with a weak battery that sounds like it will turn over at any second but just doesnt get going. Any ideas on if / how to check the motor or other parts?

 

[JimKirk]

Motor bearing gone bad... see if you can get some oil on it... may work a little longer. Replace motor or buy a new one.

 

[tabealer]

My super cheapo tumbler sometimes makes a humming noise but doesn't spin. I pick it up and manually reach up underneath and spin the weight by hand and it starts going. I had to take the bottom plate off to be able to do this but it has had a secondary effect of helping the cooling of the motor.

 

[idahoglock36]

I'm on my third or forth Cabelas tumbler. I haven't had good luck with them, but luckly we have a store close by and I just return them and they give me a new one.

First time I didn't have a receipt so I got the lowest recent sale price as credit and used it for a new one. Since then I keep the receipt and go pick up a new one. I know there is some warranty disclaimer (coverage period) by Cabelas so many years or so, but they never worry about that when I have done an exchange.

Call or go to Cabelas and see if you can get a new one.

 

[griff383]

Not a bad idea, Cabelas isnt too far and there is no reason this shouldnt be working as its less than 2 years old

 

[MarkDozier]

Franklin Aresenal

 

[Rollis R. Karvellis]

My F.A. will do the same thing. Turn it on first, then load it up.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Cabela's tumbler is made by Berry's and they are exactly the same but for the color. I've found them to be very good products. Call Cabela's and see what they will do for you. If they won't do anything replace the motor which I think you can get from Berry's with a phone call.

If you sent in the warranty card you will notice the address is to Berry's. They have a life time warranty on the plastic and 3 years on the motor...

 

[RugerBob]

I have a F A tumbler. It didn't work once and I took the bottom plate off and seen a wiring connector hadcome loose. Squezzed it back together with some needle nose pliers and all ok after that. Have had it for 5+ years. Lucky I guess after sme of the stories I have heard. But for the price, if I ad to replace it every couple of years I would be ok with that as its affordable.

 

[orionengnr]

I have a F A tumbler. It didn't work once and I took the bottom plate off and seen a wiring connector hadcome loose. Squezzed it back together with some needle nose pliers and all ok after that.

I had the same experience with mine, except that some time later, the motor semi-seized (just like the OP's).

Frankford replaced it free of charge, but I ended up with a Cabela's model that is much quieter, and I gave the FA one away.

 

[Maj Dad]

Berry's Is Hard To Beat

$60.89 for a 4 qt tumbler, shipped free - if it breaks at the 3 1/2 yr point & you buy another & don't replace the motor, it's cost a little less than $20/yr to clean brass. That is certainly cost effective - if my Dillon craps out again, I will probably buy this one
http://www.berrysmfg.com/product-i14546-c47-g8-b0-p0-400_Tumbler.aspx

 

[ranger335v]

Most vib. tumblers have inexpensive appliance fan motors with simple bronze brearings. When the oil drys it gums the shaft and eventually seizes. If it's left in a stalled condition for long the motor windings will burn out. But, IF we take the motor out when it starts dragging and give the bearings a spritz of spray carborator cleaner to clean/flush the old oil, then apply a few drops of good gun/fishing reel oil. You will be good to go. Until it needs a repeat treatment.

 

[kennedy]

on my franklin, the weight attached to the motor came loose and was hitting the mounting screws, I moved the weight back and it is now working great

 

[788Ham]

I bought a Lyman Turbo Twin about 8 years ago, still running like lightning! I decided to get another one about a year ago, so I got the Lyman 2500 Pro Magnum. In one I keep corn cob, the other I keep walnut. They both run very good, never had any problems with either. I got mine from Midway, maybe Cabelas' gets theirs from K-Mart, I don't know.........

 

[ranger335v]

Well, the current Lyman tumbler motor's have ball bearings but I don't know when they started doing so. My first tumbler was/is a Lyman, it has simple bronze bearings and it's on the third motor even though I kept the motor shafts oiled. BUT, if I hadn't, the motors wouldn't have lasted nearly as long as they did!

 

[Rollis R. Karvellis]

I, today I'll go down, and see if I, can get the bottom off my Two F.A.'s, and give them a nice cleaning, and oiling.

 

[griff383]

I finally got the time to take it apart and look it over. The bearing was dirty as heck and there was some other dirt and crud all over the rest of the internals. A little carb cleaner and some TLC and now she is humming again.