FART parts

[rodsvet]

Just talked to Frankford Arsenal about replacement parts for their rotary tumbler. Very upfront about their product. No parts will be sold for repairing and they have no plans to take back and rebuild units after the warranty expires. They do state that within a reasonable time, if a unit seems to have failed from normal use (not commercial), they would probably make an adjustment on a case by case basis. The gears are plastic and they say the unit only pulls 1.5 amps when running. The unit is expected to last many years and they seem proud of it's exceptance by the shooting public. Mine has done several thousand case and I'm very satisfied with it so far. I do wish it came with 7.5 lbs. of pins instead of 5 lbs. , but it cleans extremely well. Their cleaning chemical does work better than dawn for me so I am going to order some. Still $159.95 and free shipping from Amazon and includes pins. Rod

[VHoward]

Too bad about the no parts availability. That would turn me off a product for sure.

[nagantguy]

I miss understood, I thought you meant like noise, duration, odor, reaction time of those in the room, hang time ect. Glad you are happy with your FART, sounds like you found a good price!

[nagantguy]

In thought people would be all over this post, gets my vote for best post title ever!

[6bg6ga]

In thought people would be all over this post, gets my vote for best post title ever!


I'll second that

[Artful]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sq6WcpRoHPs

http://www.amazon.com/Frankford-Arsenal-909544-Rotary-Tumbler/dp/B00HTN4R6O


http://www.midwayusa.com/product/713881/frankford-arsenal-platinum-series-rotary-case-tumbler
$185.99
List Price: $229.99 Save $44.00 (19%)

[Bonz]

Luv mine and use it all the time.

[MSD MIke]

If they don't actually manufacture the item they likely don't have spare/repair parts to send you.

Thanks
Mike

[mdi]

If they don't actually manufacture the item they likely don't have spare/repair parts to send you.

Thanks
Mike

I was gonna post the same as Mike. F.A. prolly didn't order replacement parts/support from the manufacturer.

[jmorris]

No product support stinks, FART or not.

[lpspinner]

Sorry to hear about your FART. What would they do if they unit was in warranty? Repair or replace it?

What do they do with all the worn out FARTs they replaced? Maybe you can buy someones used/defective one for a donor?


BTW...I also agree this should go for best post title!

[xman777]

Take apart the tumbler, grab all the plastic parts up and buy some silicone mold material and casting resin. Setup a mold box and place the pats within. Pour the silicone over the parts and make copies in resin. That's how I saved mine.

[blikseme300]

Was waiting for the other boot to drop...

The lower initial cost for this product is offset by the lack of spare parts for repairs. :shock:

[bhn22]

No repair parts is a deal killer for me.

[Lead Fred]

Welcome t the global market, were you just buy another.

Why Im so anti third world built muzzle loaders (and yes Italy has became 3rd world)
Last one I bought, got 8 shots out of it, and the frizzen broke. (spring was 300 times to strong)
It took 10 months of trying to get one, had to settle on making one fit that came off something else

[nagantguy]

Yep poor quality and cheaper to replace than repair, welcome to the disposable society.

[tdoyka]

Yep poor quality and cheaper to replace than repair, welcome to the disposable society.

ya got that right.

[IllinoisCoyoteHunter]

I will stick to the one I made that is much bigger and cheaper...and replacement parts are plentiful...if it ever breaks. It's a shame they don't have replacement parts. I would advise potential buyers to research home made tumblers. If you have the mechanical aptitude to reload and shoot guns, you can more than likely build your own tumbler. Just my two pennies.

[Three44s]

Here's my take:

No part?

No FART!


Three 44s

[geargnasher]

I did the research and replacement parts was the whole reason I went with the one SSTM sells. A guy at work got a FART and it's got some advantages from a user perspective, but when it breaks it's over. I can get belts/motors/roller bushings etc. for mine or easily adapt common parts to it. The only thing I don't like is the metal drum is starting to rust between the spot welds from where they collect spilled water.

Gear

[Ballistics in Scotland]

If the worst comes to the worst, search eBay for "plastic gear" and you may well find them by measurement. I can't imagine that 1.5a loads them very highly.

[prs]

So let me get this straight; if you crack a FART, there is no hope for recovery? Another reason to avoid Taco Bell.

prs

[Garyshome]

I purchased a extreme sonic cleaner from Midway [on sale] in 2014, used it once the stainless pan got some pin holes in it, all the liquid leaked into the electronics area, so I sat on it for a while, then contacted FA and they told me they would replace it with the new style tumbler as soon as they get them back in stock. Sometime next month, great customer service!

[RogerDat]

I can't see buying a piece of equipment for $150+ and considering it "disposable". But then I can recall when electric motors on washers and dryers had end plates that bolted on so you could open them up and repair the windings, armature, and bushings. And recall how stupid I thought it was to start making them with the ends spot welded on to save a small amount on manufacturing by making the motor disposable.

There is a sweet spot between disposable and overbuilt to last forever but too expensive to purchase. I wish more manufacturers would aim for that sweet spot.

[detox]

Bite the bullet and buy the RCBS Sidewinder tumbler. Capacity is not huge, but it is the simplest to use. Matches my other Green RCBS equipment also.

[Guncrank]

Well it was trouble with my FART this morning! After only 11 short months of brass cleaning joy, it was time to get out the repairman's hat.
As this was a rather long and picture intensive post I'll simply ask that you klink on the link below...
http://www.handloadersbench.com/forum12/36312.html

[VHoward]

Well it was trouble with my FART this morning! After only 11 short months of brass cleaning joy, it was time to get out the repairman's hat.
As this was a rather long and picture intensive post I'll simply ask that you klink on the link below...
http://www.handloadersbench.com/forum12/36312.html

Sorry, you do not have permission to view this topic. You may probably perform this action after you login (http://www.handloadersbench.com/login.php). If you are not a member, you can register here (http://www.handloadersbench.com/login.php?register=1). If you are already logged in then the administrator of the board does not allow this action. Should you have any questions, please contact Admin@handloadersbench.com (%20Admin@handloadersbench.com).

That's what I get when I click on your link and I don't need to be a member of another forum. Thanks anyway.

[725]

A $150 + disposable tumbler? I'm glad I went Dillon. My big one craped out after 20 years or so, so I got another one. Wish I could remember the details (it's been a few years), but I think they prorated it.

[tonyb]

Maybe one day they will carry parts for the
FART, that would be a GAS.

[geargnasher]

I can't see buying a piece of equipment for $150+ and considering it "disposable". But then I can recall when electric motors on washers and dryers had end plates that bolted on so you could open them up and repair the windings, armature, and bushings. And recall how stupid I thought it was to start making them with the ends spot welded on to save a small amount on manufacturing by making the motor disposable.

There is a sweet spot between disposable and overbuilt to last forever but too expensive to purchase. I wish more manufacturers would aim for that sweet spot.

BIG +1.

Gear

[Guncrank]

Sorry, you do not have permission to view this topic. You may probably perform this action after you login (http://www.handloadersbench.com/login.php). If you are not a member, you can register here (http://www.handloadersbench.com/login.php?register=1). If you are already logged in then the administrator of the board does not allow this action. Should you have any questions, please contact Admin@handloadersbench.com (%20Admin@handloadersbench.com).

That's what I get when I click on your link and I don't need to be a member of another forum. Thanks anyway.

VH,

Sorry about that!
I will try to get that info posted in this thread as soon as possible. For the moment suffice it to say that the plastic of the main roller housing cracked where the motor and gear-train is fastened on the underside. My best guess is that there was a stress point created when the two assemblies were screwed together and after 11 months of use the plastic failed.

[Guncrank]

This is what I discovered this morning when I went to use my Frankford Arsenal Rotary Tumbler, the roller housing had a big’ole crack in it.
I do rather wish I had thought of getting pictures right from the get-go, but I suspect those out there that have purchased a FART will be able to check their machines for this problem with what I've pictured below.

My FART, in the 11 months I've owned it has not been dropped or, had anything dropped on the roller housing. However, it is possible that some sort of damage may have been initiated during shipping & handling on it's way to me and simply went unnoticed until this morning. But it's my opinion that the crack developed as a result of stress over time caused by the weight of the motor and gearing as well as the way in which they are fastened to the plastic of the housing.

Further, as I write this I believe I will in the next day or two look at the best way to add a support bracket to better carry the weight of the motor, gears and bracket there by removing any remaining stress from the plastic of the roller housing.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc189/Guncrank/Misc%20Stuff/F.A.R.T.%209_zps0o1afe3s.jpg

Here's a little better view...

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc189/Guncrank/Misc%20Stuff/F.A.R.T.%208_zpsbboczzjh.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc189/Guncrank/Misc%20Stuff/F.A.R.T.%2012_zpsqoh97weg.jpg

Whats under the cover...

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc189/Guncrank/Misc%20Stuff/F.A.R.T.%2011_zpsdrtvy9uk.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc189/Guncrank/Misc%20Stuff/F.A.R.T.%2010_zps2frorh1c.jpg

The motor and gearbox removed...

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc189/Guncrank/Misc%20Stuff/F.A.R.T.%203_zpsm3q036fj.jpg

The gearbox opened up for inspection...

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc189/Guncrank/Misc%20Stuff/F.A.R.T.%204_zps0cebq7aq.jpg

Note the gear and support bushing in the upper left hand corner has also been loaded up with silicone grease but was initially found to be in as new condition upon inspection.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc189/Guncrank/Misc%20Stuff/F.A.R.T.%207_zpsvruqugfa.jpg

My favorite grease for anything that doesn't play well with more conventional petroleum based greases. Absolutely loaded with silicone's, very thick, resists moisture and wash-out to a very high degree, has about a million and one uses around the home and shop. It's also rated for use in food processing equipment...
Find it on Amazon or at your favorite industrial supply house.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc189/Guncrank/Misc%20Stuff/F.A.R.T.%2013_zpskjxnxxeh.jpg

[Cadillo]

This thread just reminded me of how glad I am that I built my own machine using pillow block bearings, steel shafts, and a 1/3 hp. motor.

[rodsvet]

I checked mine and it looks solid as new. I will check from time to time and if it needs a little reinforcing, a couple of sheets of fiberglass cloth and some resin would double it's strength. You could even add a section of 1/8 steel plate bent to shape on the outside as there is plenty of clearance. The guts are mounted on steel brackets. I don't see this as a real big problem. And probably for most guys it will never come up. Call FA, they may send you a machine if it's only been 11 months. Although after you made a repair, they may not. Good luck and post later how your repair is going. Rod

[rodsvet]

I emailed Battenfeld sales and got a reply from Mat Stepanovic today. He says new drum assemblies will be available after March. I think if interest is shown all the other parts will probably be available if there is shown to be a need down the road. The way it is constructed though, there may be no need at all. I would like to have a spare drum. One for pins and one to use without pins. Rod

[Doggonekid]

When my RCBS sidewinder broke down they just sent me a new one. Really no farting around.

[rodsvet]

There is no doubt that RCBS stands behind their products. I have a ton of it. The sidewinder was $410 and then $45 for pins then shipping and tax. For about 1/3 the cost the Fart hold 3 times the brass and polishes faster using pins that come with it. There is nothing on the drum that will break. Push comes to shove you can buy a Rebel 17 frame and adapt it to run the FART drum for $90 plus a small motor. Not ragging on the RCBS unit, they make quality stuff. I just wanted more capacity. Rod

[Jim_P]

I will pay more for a similar unit from RCBS or other manufacturers just for their warranty. In the long run, and with my experiences from RCBS, it's well worth it!

[Artful]

A salute to this equipment design...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHH-QDV2e1E

[dogrunner]

A $150 + disposable tumbler? I'm glad I went Dillon. My big one craped out after 20 years or so, so I got another one. Wish I could remember the details (it's been a few years), but I think they prorated it.

Hey, my big one crapped out after 24 years and Dillon sent me a new one....................FOR NOTHIN' !!!!