Mine just fried the motor, after about 4 years!
Can I find a replacement motor anywhere? It's a Midway tumbler.

You may be able to find a suitable motor at a supplier like Newark or some electronic surlpus dealer but I suspect the cost may be be as much or more than a replacement tumbler. I know Midway does not offer service on them as when mine broke the switch, they wouldn't help. I just replaced it with a better one from the hardware store.

Call Midway.
I phoned them looking for a replacement motor for a tumbler I purchased from them in the mid 1980's. They asked me to return it and they sent me a new one ( a bit smaller ) just for the price of returning the old one!

Hey reloaderman, I had a Lyman for many years before it finally died - totally.

Let me suggest you pull the Armature and blow the whole thing out. Then polish the Armature and Stators slightly with Crocus Cloth or sandpaper in the 600-800 grit range. Then put the air to it again and put it all back together.

I was able to bring mine back from the dead at least 3 times by doing that.

If that doesn't get it up and running, you might want to consider getting another one just like the one you had. That way you have an additional bowl or bowls.

My current one is a Midway and I did make the old Lyman bowls work with it. If this one dies(and does not respond to the above treatment), I'll probably go to a Dillon.

Hot Core, Please...just buy another tumbler. A new tumbler is cheaper than a new house. That motor may or may not have an overload. When the motor is failing it draws too much current, heats up the motor and, to an extent, all the wires in the circuit. At least make sure that circuit is not overfused. I'd expect a 15 or 20 amp fuse or breaker, but I've seen people replace them with 30's because they kept blowing!

Not trying to be a jerk, I just worry. I leave my tumbler on overnight, or all day when I'm away. A cooking motor could be big trouble.

I've been using a Lyman 600 since 1981 with no problems. Lots of media over the years and lots of cases. Mostly 308,30-40, 38-55 and 45-70. Probably average about 200 cases per week.

Have a friend that acquired the Midway and went thru 4 motors in about 3 months. He moved on to the Dillion.

Bought a midway tumbler 12 years ago. Great product, never has let me down and I use it all the time. Midway is a great company to deal with.

Since the scare a few years ago where a number of Midway tumbler motors fried, I only use the tumbler out doors on concrete away from anything flamable. I never work it over night; didn't need to and don't think it is a wise thing to do if you want that vibratory tumbler to last any length of time.If that brass isn't clean enough in 2 or 3 hrs. maybe you should rethink what and how you're getting the job done. roger

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From Jason:
Hot Core, Please...just buy another tumbler. A new tumbler is cheaper than a new house. That motor may or may not have an overload. When the motor is failing it draws too much current, heats up the motor and, to an extent, all the wires in the circuit. At least make sure that circuit is not overfused.

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Hey Jason, You do make a good and valid point. A lot of folks would be well ahead of the game to just go on and buy a new one.

I grew up when cars had generators that you could often repair at home doing a similar thing to what I described above. They even had replaceable brushes(as they were called back then) that you could buy at the old Auto Parts Stores for a few cents.

When my Lyman finally died, it would not run at all after the treatment and it would have either overheated(as you mentioned) or the internal in-line fuse would have let go. Huuumm, maybe the fuse had blown. I don't remember checking it.

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By the way, be sure to run your tumblers on a surface where air can flow around them.

I've had a Thumler's Tumbler since 1981. I've replaced the nylon bearings with ball bearings and it still goes OK. I've retired it tho' in favour of a vibrating tumbler.

Pete

If you're going the replacemnet motor route www.grainger.com is a great supplier. Just plug in the specifications from your current motor into their search feature and you'll get what you want. prices are pretty good. Quality is outstanding.

Ive used my Thumblers Tumbler 24X7 many times. It only pulls .55 amp (same as a 60W bulb). Had to replace a couple of belts,but then made a leather belt--several years ago and it looks like it will last as long as the rest of it. I paid the hefty sum of $3 for the unit at a garage sale--what a steal--that was 12 or so years ago.

I have a Thumlers that has processed tens of thousands of rounds with out eve being a problem. I set it outside in the backyard and let 'er go. Forgot it once and I know it ran for three days straight......those 22-250s had a polish on them like a mirror.

Midway Tumblers are made by the Franklin ( or Frankfurt) Arsenal Co. I have seen then available at the Sportsman's Warehouse for $39.95!

At that price, I'd just pick up a second one and be down with it. How many guys buy a 100 rounds of Magnum brass for this price, yet won't spend the money on a tumbler?

I accidently left my Midway tumbler on once, when I got called away to a family emergency, and ran out of the house and did not think about the tumbler being on. I got home 2 WEEKS! LATER. The Midway tumbler had been on in the garage for two weeks!

The only problem was after 2 weeks the Walnut media was reduced to basically dust! It had even found a way to get out of the tumbler and all over the counter.

Shook the dust out of the tumbler and it did not seem to faze it otherwise. That was over a year ago. I do most of my tumbling, over night and unload it in the morning.

Even if it shorted out it is in an environment that it has nothing it can set on fire.

To me a second tumbler is just a convenience more than having one as a back up. But I also have 3 universal Lee decapping dies on my load bench. I hate to not have a back up. For the dies I use the most often, I even have a second set of dies in those calibers. They are $10.00 Lee, Really Great Buy die sets, but when the RCBS or Redding Dies have to go back for repair or fix something I screwed up on them, a $10.00 set of Lee Dies sure makes the day happy.!

Cheers and Happy new year
seafire

I bought a Thumbler's tumbler model B about 1973. bach then they were sold as ROCK POLISHERS, not brass tumblers. I have tumbled literally THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS of rounds with it and all I ever had to do was replace the drive belt a couple times.

I also found an oustanding alternative to the dusty dirty walnut media.

First let me ask you guys if you know what that red stuff is on the walnut media. It is Jewlers Rouge. Jewlers Rough is RUST, Iron oxide in a wax suspension. If you use the walnut media, do you wash your cases before reloading? If not then you are shooting rust down your barrel!!

Instead of the walnut shell media, I now use a pint of steel BB's, a cup of water, and ONE DROP of dish detergent. My cases come out looking like new pennies! The only downside to this is, because of the drying time, you have to plan your reloading sessions.

For the rest of you with the vibratory tumblers, my advice would be to get rid of them.

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Originally posted by Hairtrigger:
Call Midway.
I phoned them looking for a replacement motor for a tumbler I purchased from them in the mid 1980's. They asked me to return it and they sent me a new one ( a bit smaller ) just for the price of returning the old one!

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A great big "THANK YOU" to you Hairtrigger, I e-mailed Midway asking for a replacement motor and they asked me to return it to them and they're going to replace it!! I know it's been 3-4 years since I bought it.... wow, that's service!
Thanks again!

I am happy to help.
I am slowly begining to send more business to Midway somewhat because of service like this