Motor issue with Dillon Vibe Tumbler

[DukeInFlorida]

When I bought my last tumbler, I wanted to go with the good one (having been fed up with the cheap crap). So, being frugal (different than cheap... uh hem), I bought a Dillon, but the smaller one, the CV500.

Worked great for a while, and then the motor burned out. Actually, the bearings burned out. Which caused the center rotating part to wear against the laminations. It would only sit there and hum.

For something less than $50 (I think it was like $39 or so), plus the cost of shipping it there, they replaced the motor and the cord with the inline switch. Good deal (compared to the cost of a new unit), especially for something that was out of warranty. Took a week to get it back to me, which was very fast.

So, here it is, less than a year later, and the motor is cooked again (bearings again). I called them, and they said to send it back, and they will make it right.

I had read somewhere on the Internet that they could "upgrade" the CV-500 to a CV-750 base and motor, so I asked about that. While giving me the RMA number, he made a note for the techies there to consider the upgrade in my case. He said that the motor is a heavier duty motor, and vibrates better also. It would add heavier springs to the base unit, so that it can carry more weight. Got my fingers crossed for that. I shipped it off today, and will report back how that all goes.

I also sent off my order to Dillon for a CV-2001 case polisher, which is the biggest one they make. That should make the number of batches I have to do in a row much less, thereby saving the bearings a bit.

 

[EddieCoyle]

I have the CV-2001 and it has performed well for me. It works great when fully loaded with cases. The only downside (if there is one) is that I had to get an additional smaller tumbler to handle smaller batches of brass that I need to occasionally run.

 

[drgrant]

The only downside (if there is one) is that I had to get an additional smaller tumbler to handle smaller batches of brass that I need to occasionally run.

Jim, is this just because the CV-2001 gets a lot less effective if it's only partially full?

I was thinking of getting one but chances are most of the time it'll only be 50%-75% full. Maybe I should just buy another frankford arsenal and just run 2 at once when I need more volume. It certainly was cheap enough, but who knows how long it will last.

-Mike

 

[EddieCoyle]

I think any vibratory cleaner works more efficiently when it's full. With more cases inside, they smack against each other, squeezing the media in between. I've found that I have to run a half-full bowl a lot longer to achieve the same level of cleanliness.

 

[DukeInFlorida]

I agree on them needing to be close to full to run efficiently. Most of my reloading students are surprised when I suggest that.

And, your reasoning is exactly correct..... the weight of the media itself isn't enough. It really needs the weight of the additional brass, pressing the media into the adjoining brass, that makes it work well.

I usually get range brass, in 5 gallon buckets, and would expect that i would be processing full tumblers of 9mm, 45 ACP, 40 S&W, and 5.56.

The other day, when the motor died, I was running 150 or so 30-06, which was about the limit of what the CV500 can handle. The problem was that it was running batch after batch after batch, sometimes for days on end, doing all the polishing that's needed. I go through a bottle of NuFinish about every six months. And, a heck of a lot of walnut shells.

I have a box of ~8000 9mm Luger cases that were polished a while ago (more than ten months). With all of the damp weather we have been having, they are starting to be a bit less shiny (although the NuFinish polish has done it's job of keeping them in very good shape for a long time!). When the CV2001 comes in, I will re-do those and run some ammo. I was down to a mere 4,000 loaded rounds. That's a lot less than I like to have on hand. Thank God I bought tons of primers and bullets when I had the chance.

 

[gerrycaruso]

I have both. Dillon has replaced the motor on the small one twice for free so far.

 

[EddieCoyle]

I have a box of ~8000 9mm Luger cases that were polished a while ago (more than ten months). With all of the damp weather we have been having, they are starting to be a bit less shiny (although the NuFinish polish has done it's job of keeping them in very good shape for a long time!). When the CV2001 comes in, I will re-do those and run some ammo.

There's your problem right there. Once you've cleaned them enough so that they won't hurt your dies, what's the point in polishing them shiny?

 

[Jasper]

i recently snagged a CV-2001.

freakin thing is HUGE.

the only downside? i had ~ 10k 9mm brass waiting to be cleaned. well, less than a week (ran em ~ 4hours a batch, total of like 5 or 6 batches)...i'm done. now i dont have enough brass to run another batch through! damned thing's almost too good.

i still have my frankford arsenal tumbler for small loads though. always need a backup!

 

[DukeInFlorida]

I go through lots of ammo, and prefer shiny ones when I am at the range. No biggie.

There's your problem right there. Once you've cleaned them enough so that they won't hurt your dies, what's the point in polishing them shiny?

 

[bpm990d]

I like shiny cases as well. I've had a big Dillon for over ten years and an RCBS for maybe ~18. Both work well. I agree that you need a big one and a small one.

B

 

[Furious]

Anyone have a pic of the Dillon CV-2001 next to a regular sized tumbler? I'm order the CV-2001 next week sometime and the pics don't really allow you to see how big it is compared to the regular size machine.

 

[Kicker96FS]

I told you Duke, take that old cement mixer out in the barn, remove the paddles inside it, load it up with shells and media, and turn it on. I'll be you can do a 5k batch!

For bigger batches:

 

[DukeInFlorida]

Cement mixer is for cement. It hasn't been used in years. I'll stick to vibratory polishers for cleaning brass.

How many .40 S&W did I do for you? LOL A lot, eh? Plus the thousands and thousands of .45 ACP I did for Bernice's son. Plus tons (literally) of 9mm, 5.56, 30-06, etc, etc. etc.

 

[DukeInFlorida]

It's at least THREE times larger!!

I just ordered their last one. Sorry you'll have to wait till they make more......

J/K

Anyone have a pic of the Dillon CV-2001 next to a regular sized tumbler? I'm order the CV-2001 next week sometime and the pics don't really allow you to see how big it is compared to the regular size machine.

 

[exo]

Anyone have a pic of the Dillon CV-2001 next to a regular sized tumbler? I'm order the CV-2001 next week sometime and the pics don't really allow you to see how big it is compared to the regular size machine.

If they made the CV-2001 any bigger, you could tumble other tumblers in it.

 

[Snake]

For a vibratory polisher, why not just go industrial?

 

[DukeInFlorida]

Cause most of those are:

• Set up for wet media. You never use wet media for reloading brass.
• Much larger than we need for reloading
• MUCH MUCH more expensive than we need for reloading.
• BIG foot print (we need room on the bench for other things)
• NOISY as hell...... I don't wanna have to wear hearing protection while the brass is polishing.

For a vibratory polisher, why not just go industrial?

 

[EddieCoyle]

If the tumbler is so designed, and with the proper media, there is no reason you can't tumble brass wet.

 

[DukeInFlorida]

Wet?? Water??? I spend a LOT of effort making sure it stays dry. Wet translates to oxidation. Oxidation is not shiny. I like shiny. Clean isn't enough for me. Must be shiny also.

Maybe it's just me.

 

[EddieCoyle]

Nothing gets brass shiny quicker than one of these:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=102969

I don't use one because I need higher capacity and I don't care if my brass is shiny. But I know someone that loads a lot of BP cartridges that uses one. With wet media, this thing even gets the insides of the case shiny.

 

[bpm990d]

There has also been a lot of people experimenting (with very good results) with ultrasonic cleaners. Wet yet exceptionally clean.

B

 

[DukeInFlorida]

150 30-06 cases is not many.

Which is why I went with the bigger Dillon.

Nothing gets brass shiny quicker than one of these:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=102969

I don't use one because I need higher capacity and I don't care if my brass is shiny. But I know someone that loads a lot of BP cartridges that uses one. With wet media, this thing even gets the insides of the case shiny.

 

[DukeInFlorida]

Yeah, he does a whopping 17 .243 cases at a time. No thanks.

There has also been a lot of people experimenting (with very good results) with ultrasonic cleaners. Wet yet exceptionally clean.

B

 

[Fixxah]

Holy bleep Duke, how many hours a day do you run the tumbler?

I have had the Frankfort Arsenal kit and while it was cheap, I hated how loud it was and not very good at it's job. I have a Cabela's tumbler that pumps out superclean brass in a short time while loaded to the top with cases.

Eventually I am getting the CV2001 but I need a job first.

 

[DukeInFlorida]

The Frankfurter version uses a thin and cheap bowl, which is why it's noisy. The Dillon units use a thick, sound deadening bowl material.

With the CV500, there were times that it ran 6 hour batches, all day, every day, (that's four batches per day) for about two weeks at a stretch.

My guess is that the brass was clean in about 2 hours, but I like shiny brass, so the six hours makes it very shiny.

Typical collection from a shooting class was 2 five gallon buckets. If I get behind, it's the two week running round the clock.

The new CV2001 will cut that significantly.

 

[drgrant]

I have had the Frankfort Arsenal kit and while it was cheap, I hated how loud it was and not very good at it's job.

The frankfurter arsenal one I have works fine. Maybe you have to fill it up more or something. I also run mine for a minimum of 4 hours, usually I overnight the brass if I can.

It is noisy as hell, though, and I am waiting for the motor to burn out any day now. It's served me well, but it is clearly in the class of "You won't get what you didn't pay for."

-Mike

 

[Fixxah]

Mine went to Pilgrim as karma. No more noise issues. A little piece of clear plastic tubing will quiet it down somewhat but I got my money's worth from it and am glad it is still getting use.

 

[[cerberus]]

I told you Duke, take that old cement mixer out in the barn, remove the paddles inside it, load it up with shells and media, and turn it on. I'll be you can do a 5k batch!

You joke but I have seen people using one of those to tumble brass.

Nothing gets brass shiny quicker than one of these:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=102969

I don't use one because I need higher capacity and I don't care if my brass is shiny. But I know someone that loads a lot of BP cartridges that uses one. With wet media, this thing even gets the insides of the case shiny.

I have been looking at making one out of a 5 gallon bucket and a small electric motor. You do not need a huge motor since you are not spinning that fast. Also the motor is probably never going to wear out since it is not under high load.

 

[DukeInFlorida]

Dillon called me yesterday, and said that they want $40 for the Upgrade to the CV750 base, springs, and motor. Well worth the cost to do that sort of an upgrade!

I should have my unit back by mid next week! It will be a CV750, with a CV 500 bowl installed.

My CV2001 unit is also shipping at the same time.

Who needs cement mixers, when I have two of the best ones coming next week!

 

[Kicker96FS]

You joke but I have seen people using one of those to tumble brass.

No, I was not joking.

The truck one, yeah, that was a joke.