I built a 7'x 4' tumbler, the gears are all set, and it runs at 19 rpm. it is chain driven, it has 3 1/2" self centering pillow block bearings, a 2 hp motor, the problem is that the start up is so hard it has been shearing the pin in the axle. I drilled it out and put in a solid hardened bolt in it, and it seems to work. I was wondering what other designs or suggestions there are to get it run smoothly, or to gradually start out slowly? Just wondering, thanks ty
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Maybe a soft start on the motor?
flex couplings. Can get them at any bearing supplier, MSC, Graingers.
belt drive. I had the same problem and this is the fix i came up with
They will work just fine for your application.
you have got to have a belt somewhere in your drive as there is to much of a solid jerk when starting that much of a load and something has to give, i did overcome it on a tumbler by using a long heavy spring attached to an idler pully that runs against the chain, but a double v-belt is better
The first attempt at running my tumblers( 3 1/2' by 6' Twin Drum and Cager) was to do direct drive with flex couplers. Within just a few starts the power of the motor and the weight of the drums destroyed the flex couplers. Definately use belts. You may have to use two belts on a solid drum and only a single on your cager( if you build one).
Shelby
I too have destroyed them by using a direct drive. I have have now gone to a double 60 roller chan and sprockets. This was my machine shops fix for this problem. We also stoped using "shear pins" and starting using grade 8 bolts.