TROUBLE SHOOTING
Withhundredsof these trommels inoperationin all parts oftheworld under different workingconditions,
wehavecollected reports of problemsthat have occurred. Wehavecondensed these reportsinto
severalcatagorieswith the resolutionorsolution of suchproblemreports. Please review thisinformation
beforecallingour tech support and perhapsitwill answer yourquestions.
PROBLEM: Loss of gold into tailings bucket. and failure to concentrate properly.
First report: The customer was operating the machine with the front legs extended to the
maximum length and the material he was feeding into the hopper had many flat, thin flakes of gold.
The river water he was using was extremely “hard” and he was not using any kind of wetting agent.
Solution: Atoursuggestion,the customer shortenedthefrontlegs back tothefactorydefault length
andadded some Jet Dry surfactanttohis water. Goldlossin tailingsdropped dramatically. Afewflat
flakeswerestilllost buttheywere extremely thin and flatwithalmostnoweight.
Second report: Customer complained he was losing a lot of “gold” in the tailings and getting
almost none in concentrates catch pan.
Solution: Thecustomersent us ten poundsof the material hewas running. The materialwasloaded
withpyrite and mica flakeswhich looked likegold when thesunwas shining onit. THERE WASNOT
EVENATRACE OFGOLD INTHE WHOLETEN POUNDS. We explained how to tellthe difference
betweengold and “fool’sgold.
Third report: The trommel wasproducingconcentrates too fastandvery little tailings,
Solution: Thecustomerwasrunning the trommeldirectlyfroma 6 amp batterychargerwithouta battery
inthe circuit. Most batterychargers give out18 volts andthe trommel isdesigned to operateon 12 volts.
Thetrommelwas running 150%the normal speed andkicking out thematerialtoo fast tobe concen-
trated.
PROBLEM: The trommel slows down after less than one hour.
Solution: Theoperator was usinga small amperagebattery. Any 12-volt devicewill slow downas the
batteryrunsdown. In this casehewas using a 4amperebattery and thetrommelconsumes about 5
amperesper hour. Werecommend you usea battery withat least 17amperes OR MORE. Thisbattery
willrunthemachine about 3 hoursattheright speed. Of course, thelargerthebattery, the longerthe
machinewillrunat the right speed.
TIP: Always make sure that the red clip is on the positive (+) side of the battery. If you reverse the
clips the barrel and the pump will turn backwards and no concentrates will be generated.
TIP: Useawettingagent in your watersupplyto prevent fine goldfrofloatingout into the tailings.
TIP: Ifyouarerunning oily beach sand, addatablespoonof409cleaningsolution to your watersupply.
TIP: Donot put rockslargerthan 1/2” intothe hopper. Larger rockscan jam therifflesagainst thespray
tubeandcauseyou to have toshutdowntoclear the jam.
