Jimmy Reb, SASS #54804 Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 I have now fried 2 vibrating tumblers. 1 a lyman and 1 a dillon. Before I bought a new one I thought I would ask here, what has everyone else found that will last? thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 Go rotary- Stop breath'n in that dust that can kill you-- OLG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dewey Cheatem, SASS #75620 Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 Frankford Arsenal Platinum Rotary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 RCBS. I've got one from 2005 and it cleaned 20K rounds a year for the last 9 years. That said, every manufacturer probably is using (at least a) motor from China. That will probably be what goes out. Given most of their factories' quality control bites (still), it will always be a crap-shoot. China's QC is about like Japan's was in the 1960s. Good luck, GJ And set your cleaner outside. Why would anyone want to breathe the tumbler dust? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C. W. Knight # 47289L Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 Nothing really last, I only got somewhere over 30 years out of my first Lyman. C.W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riverboat Red, SASS #71733 Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 The Cabela's brand I bought in 2006 is still working. RR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cowboy Rick, SASS #49739L Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 The Cabela's brand I bought in 2006 is still working. RR The one I bought in 2000 just died. Thumbler's Tumbler is now on the bench and appears to be well built. Sure runs quiet. I use liquid car wax and a dryer sheet to keep the dust down. I'll let you know in a few years how it's going. CR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 The one I bought in 2000 just died. Thumbler's Tumbler is now on the bench and appears to be well built. Sure runs quiet. I use liquid car wax and a dryer sheet to keep the dust down. I'll let you know in a few years how it's going. CR I thought you only wet tumbled in the rotary tumblers. ????? Never Mind I see they also make Vibratory tumblers. Up until I looked I had only seen rotary tumblers from them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colt Walker 45 Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 I don't know how long you used the dillon. Mine has been going now for 20 years with the same motor( watch it will die tonight) and is running right now. I would check with dillon about a new motor if the rest is in good shape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marauder SASS #13056 Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 As others have noted, the vibrators made years ago had very good motors that latest for decades. Now they are made in Mexico and China, etc. The quality varies widely so some last a year or two and some much longer. That is why Dillon no longer guarantees them like they once did. Couldn't afford it due to the volume of returns. One of mine is 20 years old - a Lyman and one a Franklin Arsenal I bout about 8 years ago. Been fortunate with both. Many shooters are now buying what they can get the cheapest (Harbor Freight, etc) figuring they will have to replace it in a relatively short time. RCBS tries to keep up quality, so ask them as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo Bill Mathewson, 37826 Posted November 11, 2014 Share Posted November 11, 2014 I have a Lyman 1200 that I bought used 20+ years ago. About 14 years ago I put a larger Frankford bowl on it. I also have a Frankford Arsenal that is 14 years old. Both have been running 6 hours a week for the last 6 years since my wife started shooting CAS with me. BBM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Saint Eagle, SASS # 64903 Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 I had a Frankford Arsenal that lasted about 2 years (motor), then I bought an RCBS, got about 5 years out of it before the plastic broke out where the motor bolted in. Now I have a Frankenstein, RCBS motor bolted to a Frankford Arsenal housing. Hopefully I'll get a few years out of this. Randy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOUTH-PACIFIC,SASS #59402 Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 been using a dillon for 15 to 20 years just chesk to make sure all the nuts and bolts are snug and it just keeps on ticking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheyenne Culpepper 32827 Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 you can fix your Dillon vibrator for under $7!!!! and usually $3.50! It is the upper bearing that wears out,,,, yu have a motor that wud run forever if it wasn't for the unbalanced bar stock attached to it to create the vibrations!!! if you have an electric motor repair shop in your area, take the motor apart, take the end off by the unbalanced stock screwed on the shaft, that will expose the bearing that goes bad, take it and let them match it up for you,,, put it in, and you're off and running again!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Chains Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 you can fix your Dillon vibrator for under $7!!!! and usually $3.50! It is the upper bearing that wears out,,,, yu have a motor that wud run forever if it wasn't for the unbalanced bar stock attached to it to create the vibrations!!! if you have an electric motor repair shop in your area, take the motor apart, take the end off by the unbalanced stock screwed on the shaft, that will expose the bearing that goes bad, take it and let them match it up for you,,, put it in, and you're off and running again!! Thanks I will keep that fix in mind! Bought a second hand Dillon (550 I think) from a gentleman who sent it off to Dillon when the motor blew or maybe the bearing went bad, and he paid to have them fix it. Since the smallest they now sell is the 750, that is the motor they used in the rebuild. I think he sold it to me for less than the cost to rebuild it since he had bought another to replace it in the meantime. Thing sure seems heavy for it's size, so maybe it will last, only time will tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Whiskers Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 I've had a Dillon 500 since I bought my 550 8 or 9 years ago. I've run thousands of pieces of brass through that and it keeps going. This summer a store here had the Frankford Arsenal one on sale for $50 so I picked up one of those. Saves time running 2 instead of just the one. I figured for $50 if it lasts half as long as my Dillon has it'll have paid for itself. And the dryer sheets not only helps cut down on dust, but it extends the life of the media too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rye Miles #13621 Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 I've had a RCBS tumbler for about 4 years now and it's going strong. The only problem is I tightened down the top too hard and cracked it. I've got it duct taped together (1002 use for duct tape) I just bought a Franklin Arsenal tumbler at Midway for $39.95 on sale. Looks pretty good so now I have two!! One for cleaning and one for polishing??? Rye Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lead Ringer Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 As others have noted, the vibrators made years ago had very good motors that latest for decades. Now they are made in Mexico and China, etc. The quality varies widely so some last a year or two and some much longer. That is why Dillon no longer guarantees them like they once did. Couldn't afford it due to the volume of returns. One of mine is 20 years old - a Lyman and one a Franklin Arsenal I bout about 8 years ago. Been fortunate with both. Many shooters are now buying what they can get the cheapest (Harbor Freight, etc) figuring they will have to replace it in a relatively short time. RCBS tries to keep up quality, so ask them as well. My RCBS only lasted 5 years. And it wasn't cheap. An old Dillion I have is going strong. I bought it used and It gotta be 20 years old👍 It's going to be hit or miss with the cheaper little motors. Roll the dice😋 Regards, Ringer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smoken D Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 I think the ones made years ago were better than today's models. In the 20th year with my Dillon, only one I have had. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Wolf , SASS# 29424L Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 I've been using a Hornady M2 the last 10 years it is still going good strong and I can get parts from them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackey Cole Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 I got an old orange bowl unit that I think is a Lyman with a different motor now it's the larger one with the opening for daring media with the lid on the dump out the brass. The other is a RCBS or FA one that I got several years back. I'll have to look to verify what I've said since I've not been reloading lately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickel City Dude Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Last year I had an old Midway vibrator tumbler that died on me. When I called Midway about repair on this old tumbler they told me that there had been a recall on the unit that I had and they would replace it free. I don’t remember what model it was but it had a blue bowl with a threaded post in the middle that held the bowl and the lid on. If you have one of these it might be worth you wile to check with them about replacement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Reb, SASS #54804 Posted November 24, 2014 Author Share Posted November 24, 2014 Thanks to all for the help. Bought a rotary tumbler yesterday. Very quiet. Now I will see if I can take the old one apart and repair it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major Art Tillery Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 I like the tumbler 400 from Cabela's.... It made by Berry's manufacturing. A good product that last I knew was Made in the USA. Limited lifetime on plastic bowl.. Ect and three years on motor. Had mine for several years and running strong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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