Big Cat Concrete mixer

Nat · Dec 1, 2007

I guess this is a good place to vent.
I bought a Big cat Mixer to mix small batches of mortar mix/ concrete. It has a 1/3 hp electric motor and a worn drive. I bought it at an estate sale and it had never been used, it cost me 95.00 which I thought was pretty reasonable. I took it home and used it a couple times, maybe mixed 1/2 yard total and the spiral gear gave out. I should mention the gear is plastic. Without this plastic gear it is usless and on thier website they sell new ones for 46.00 which would be bad enough, without me thinking it will give out after a couple uses. It really ticks me off when a company can make and sell such sorry stuff and we are at their mercy. TRhey know the machine is worthless without it and it probably cost them 50 cent to have it made, but they want me to give 46.00 for it.
I guess I'll take the cheapo motor off to use for something else and throw the rest away.
Sorry for the rant. later, Nat
Red Lion Big Cat Portable Electric Concrete Cement Mixer

Nat · Dec 1, 2007

Here is a link to the part that they want 46.00 for
Red Lion Big Cat Portable Electric Concrete Cement Mixer

RonMar · Dec 1, 2007

I surely understand your rant, but as has always been the rule of the land, "Caviat Emptor".

It costs quite a bit to develop and produce custom parts. A lot of time these designs draw from commercially available products to keep production costs down so they are able to produce and sell a cheap product and stay in business. It might also be that the person who designed it, didn't apply the correct stress criteria to the application of that part. I have a bit of experience with nylon/plastic gears and worm drives in RADAR systems. I have only seen one really fail and that was because something fell and hit/stopped the array and broke/strippd the gear. In a properly designed application, they last for years.

Kinda funny that part is listed right up front on the same page as the whole mixer, you don't even have to search for it in a parts listing. They made it real easy to find cause you are gonna need it...

It may be that that worm drive is available thru other sources, you will just have to determine the exact specifications for it so you know what to look/ask for. A company such as Stock Drive Products Mechanical Components, Timing Pulleys, Gears, Clutches, shafts, sprockets, Bearings, Brakes may have what you are looking for.

Remember it is not broken till YOU can't make parts for it...

Good Luck

IH3444 · Dec 3, 2007

Nat, take the old one to a reputable machine shop with a CNC lathe, or VMC (vertical machining center). A good programmer can knock that out in short order. Have one machined out of 6061 T351 Aluminum. Maybe a little more than $46, but it won't break, or wear out.

MrJimi · Dec 3, 2007

I would think if one is wore out, the other mating gear is probably worn also, change them together,
Jim

ToadHill · Dec 3, 2007

Like IH3444 said take it to a good machine shop and have one made, but I'd use Delrin. I've made bushings for race cars out of it for years, it"s self lubricating and never seems to wear out

ToadHill · Dec 3, 2007

I also made bearings out of Delrin for one of my Hay Wagons and it has worked great for the last 8 years.

jinman · Dec 4, 2007

Nat said:
Here is a link to the part that they want 46.00 for
Red Lion Big Cat Portable Electric Concrete Cement Mixer

What's the big deal? If you buy 5 of them, you qualify for a free t-shirt.

Nat · Dec 4, 2007

Jim, I told Vickie last nite that I was going to throw it away, but now you got me to thinking!
BTW anyone want a Big Cat Mixer, nice but needs a little something? later, Nat