Author Topic: Tumbler Results (Read 7699 times)

RSchaefer · « **on:** December 09, 2011, 04:48:25 PM »

OK I purchased a HF small tumbler today to see what I could do with cleaning/shining small parts. The small tumbler was on sale for $55 (Reg. $99) and with 20% off I got it for $34. The coarse green resin for cleaning bolts, nuts, etc. was $20 for a 5lb container.

This is what it looks like

Inside with media added

Inside with misc. parts added. Mostly it was carb parts, but I tried an assortment, springs, washers, screws, bolts

This is what the parts looked like that I installed

The manual said run it for 2 - 6 hours. This was the result after 2 hours

I'm going to run it another 2 hours and post results. Looks promising and you can follow the coarse medium with walnut shells to polish!!

ekpent · « **Reply #1 on:** December 09, 2011, 05:05:32 PM »

Should I start a controversy here ? I notice the manifold clamp your holding there. To be honest I never re use those old clamps, I always upgrade to better,especially when you have the old rubber manifold.The just do not get tight enough to seal well anymore. If you put them on as tight as they can go and can still twist the rubber manifold on the head,well you know.Got over 80 of them in a bucket.
Keep up that shakin' and lets see what another 2 hours does.

luap · « **Reply #2 on:** December 09, 2011, 05:12:36 PM »

looks like it works, but seems like you could get them all alot better with 20m on a wire wheel

72500john · « **Reply #3 on:** December 09, 2011, 05:23:27 PM »

i do alot of rifle shell caings with a tumbler and walnut shells..try a little lyman tumbler medium addative when you do this.works wonders. but... try to avoid doing plated bolts..yes they will be shiny when done..but no plating and soon to rust again.

RSchaefer · « **Reply #4 on:** December 09, 2011, 06:34:57 PM »

Thanks John, I was going to stay away from the plate screws and then noticed I had thrown in the screws for the clutch plate I think. Where can I get the additive that you mentioned?

faux fiddy · « **Reply #5 on:** December 10, 2011, 12:20:26 AM »

Quote from: ekpent on December 09, 2011, 05:05:32 PM

Should I start a controversy here ?

Or how about all that wonderful black patina getting scrubbed off those perfectly servicable drain bowl screws?

singedebile · « **Reply #6 on:** December 10, 2011, 10:47:52 PM »

Quote from: fiddy of industry on December 10, 2011, 12:20:26 AM

Quote from: ekpent on December 09, 2011, 05:05:32 PM
Should I start a controversy here ?

Or how about all that wonderful black patina getting scrubbed off those perfectly servicable drain bowl screws?

I actually think the drain bowl screws look gorgeous after being tumbled (as much as I am usually a fan of natural patina)

Roach Carver · « **Reply #7 on:** December 11, 2011, 07:55:39 AM »

Marked soos i can see results. Ek, what clamps are you replacong with.?

racemx51 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 11, 2011, 08:01:18 AM »

If your a manager at a car dealership with a huge parts department you dont need to worry about these things.. Almost every bolt on my bikes are brand new

he he he.. I just HAD to say something...

Markcb750 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 11, 2011, 09:36:03 AM »

I have one of these also. I have found 10 to 12 hours works for most nuts & bolts.

The center post & screw wear out, and the top fatigues and cracks but it still works, I have a new piece of threaded rod to install someday!

greenjeans · « **Reply #10 on:** December 11, 2011, 10:59:53 AM »

do you just add that media or is there any sort of cleaning solution/liquid in there as well ?

RSchaefer · « **Reply #11 on:** December 11, 2011, 11:20:48 AM »

OK here are the parts after two more hours, four total

Lessons learned:
1. Do not use plated (chrome) parts
2. Not much improvement with the additional two hours, maybe because I used new media initially
3. Does not work very good for clamps

Relative to some of the comments:

I posted this originally because I searched, could not find much info, but others seemed interested in the possibility of using a Tumbler.

Power grinder/polisher verses tumbler - some of the parts are pretty small and might be hard to hold up to a power tool. According to the instructions you can load up to 5 lbs, including the media. That would be allot of parts.

Relative to the black carb plugs - mine where always this color ('75F), maybe the difference is a '77/'78 F with a black engine?

Relative to the manifold clamps - I am going to be using aftermarket clamps, just threw them in to see what would happen.

Relative to purchasing them - well I'm looking to save money. Those $1.54, $3.47 bolts, etc. from Honda can add up and the aftermarket parts don't seem to look exactly the same. Regardless I am going to go to the stainless allen's for all the case screws.

RSchaefer · « **Reply #12 on:** December 11, 2011, 11:23:22 AM »

This is the next round I'm going to try, motor mount bolts and a small stamped metal piece.

RSchaefer · « **Reply #13 on:** December 11, 2011, 11:26:09 AM »

Quote from: greenjeans on December 11, 2011, 10:59:53 AM

do you just add that media or is there any sort of cleaning solution/liquid in there as well ?

Someone else mentioned the use of "lyman tumbler medium additive." I asked him where I could get some but had not heard back.

Here is their web site http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/tumblers/tumbling-media.php

RSchaefer · « **Reply #14 on:** December 11, 2011, 11:37:11 AM »

Here is something

Liquid Burnishing Compound, Size 1 gal., Concentrated, For Use with Stainless Steel Shot Media, Contains Rust Inhibitors And Can Be Used as Storage Compound.

Tumbler Media
Liquid Compounds
Flo-thru compound can be used with all metals and plastics. Non-foaming concentrate flushes soils from the processing channel for faster cycle times and cleaner parts. Mix 2% dilution for flo-thru. Burnishing compound is for use with steel shot. Can be used as storage compound. Dilute 2% to water.

754 · « **Reply #15 on:** December 11, 2011, 11:54:31 AM »

Work at a dealership and change all the bolts..
Great till you, and you sell the bike and the buyer asks for the originals and you dont have them... and then they say, I will pay 300 less cuz I have to get original fasteners and change them out...

Stev-o · « **Reply #16 on:** December 11, 2011, 12:42:10 PM »

Quote from: 754 on December 11, 2011, 11:54:31 AM

Work at a dealership and change all the bolts..
Great till you, and you sell the bike and the buyer asks for the originals and you dont have them...

Or get caught "borrowing" them!

Markcb750 · « **Reply #17 on:** December 11, 2011, 01:08:54 PM »

Quote from: greenjeans on December 11, 2011, 10:59:53 AM

do you just add that media or is there any sort of cleaning solution/liquid in there as well ?

I have used the media you use & the nut shell media. The media you use works best. Never tried any liquids as i have found that unless you can filter the liquid it gets like mud pretty quick.

78whiteorbs · « **Reply #18 on:** December 11, 2011, 01:22:16 PM »

MarkCb750 I see you are just down the road from me in Mathews , what SOHC Honda do you ride?

as far as a parts tumbler ,RSchaefer thanks for sharing the pix an info - I know I will not be investing in one from HF as the results are kinda weak but thanks for sharing . I have a friend that works for a race team and they have some big momba tumbler that put some very large parts like a a grab bar and some others and it gave a really unique finish that was quite attractive. Wonder what media he used...

Raul CB750K1 · « **Reply #19 on:** December 11, 2011, 01:48:54 PM »

My plater charges a flat rate eur.-30 for zinc plating. What I do is to keep aside every nut and bolt that I discard. Even old spanners, and when I have enough parts, time to visit the plater.

The picture shows what I got plated, along with three sets of spokes. For eur.-30, I don't see the point in buying a tumbler hand having it running for hours.

You can see brake rod levers, torque arms, bleeding nipples, seat hinges, bolts, nuts, springs, spacers. From different bikes.

RSchaefer · « **Reply #20 on:** December 11, 2011, 02:35:28 PM »

OK after two hours, bolts, nuts & washers look OK. Stamped piece is OK. Going to try a few more hours to see if it improves. Generally I am happy with the results and the cost. I also noticed the bolts easily thread onto the screws, I guess that should be obvious.

Markcb750 · « **Reply #21 on:** December 11, 2011, 03:35:03 PM »

Quote

I see you are just down the road from me in Mathews , what SOHC Honda do you ride?

Yes Matthews is only 45min south. We will have to connect for a ride. There are several people in the neighborhood, Nikkisixx just sold his 750 but we generally let him ride with us on his 73 Tiger. I ride a K6 750 most times. although I have acquired a 82;900F that I am hoping I will like riding as much to keep some mileage off the K6

70CB750 · « **Reply #22 on:** December 11, 2011, 04:16:24 PM »

I cant help to think that you could clean and polish the stuff by hand in fraction of the time without rounding edges and such. I use scotch brite on rust and sand paper afterwards and it works for me.
Unlike the tumbler I have bit of a brain and eyes to clean and polish parts that need it.

Markcb750 · « **Reply #23 on:** December 11, 2011, 04:26:04 PM »

I have a bit of a brain & I know how to use tools. I put the stuff I want to polish/clean in the bucket, flip the switch then go do something else. Multitasking it gets the job done faster.

A min or two on the buffing machine and nice shiny bits.

72500john · « **Reply #24 on:** December 11, 2011, 04:32:58 PM »

sorry for not repling sooner..benn e bbbuuussssy week at work. the tumbler addative can be gotten at midway usa. lyman and other vendors make it. kinda is a polishing rouge.

ekpent · « **Reply #25 on:** December 11, 2011, 06:31:48 PM »

I noticed that bolt with the #8 on the head in one of your pics and also noted that you have a 1969 Gold 750. Is that an engine case bolt from that bike? If I am not mistaken those marked #8 bolts are sought after on early bike restorations and may possibly be something you would want to keep close track of.

Roach Carver · « **Reply #26 on:** December 11, 2011, 06:45:04 PM »

I cant fimd the8 bolt

ekpent · « **Reply #27 on:** December 11, 2011, 06:48:45 PM »

I may be just looking at it wrong and my eyes are old now,bifocals and all the good stuff.

Roach Carver · « **Reply #28 on:** December 11, 2011, 07:02:37 PM »

Not an 8 bolt. Thats the circle with the line deal. I know what you mean about the eyes though

ekpent · « **Reply #29 on:** December 11, 2011, 07:05:28 PM »

Quote from: Roach Carver on December 11, 2011, 07:02:37 PM

Not an 8 bolt. Thats the circle with the line deal. I know what you mean about the eyes though

My bad,I have never seen enough of the real Mcoy I guess to know what the heck they look like. Carry on Gents.

RSchaefer · « **Reply #30 on:** December 11, 2011, 07:18:22 PM »

No I do not still own my '69. I am restoring a '75F

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Author Topic: Tumbler Results (Read 7699 times)

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72500john