I love to pull things apart. Always interesting to see how things are assembled. It's good that you are keeping track of what you are doing to the mixer. This will help others when looking for information on it.
For sure! When I pull that bearing apart i'll film that as well. I'm really surprised how well this thing has held up. Hopefully they still make them like this. 😀
Jon, thank you for explaining the fixes you did to the cement mixer. Having one is beneficial when you have a large job to do. I am glad you recommend it, and if I need cement work, that will be included in my budget.
Welcome! This has been an excellent mixer especially for the money. Just wish they had a larger model, i'd love to have a larger one but they're so expensive!
@@reallifetested2605 Jon, that is good to know. I am sure if I need to do some work with concrete, the one-bag standard and wheelbarrow have worked, but glad to see that an option to one bag at a time mixing for a little larger projects is on my path. I know a pumper truck is out of the question, but a bag or two an hour maybe what I can do with this mixer. And knowing I can fix it is a blessing!
This is one of the best purchases I've ever made from Harbor Freight. Over the years I've probably ran 400 60lb bags through it - front stoop foundation, fence, shed foundation, front wall, back walk, etc... I typically mix two 60lb bags at a time. My experience was that two 80lb bags were just a little much for the machine. The machine is a little shaky on the wheels but they've held up thus far. My biggest gripe is the height as you pointed out. I think the key point is getting the belt tension and alignment set correct and then going back and adjusting after things work themselves in. The only real issue I had was the rubber gasket, between the shells, broke apart when I was installing it. I wanted to use it that day so I slapped it together and ran. After ~20 bags of concrete the joint stopped leaking any water and has not had any leaks since.
I think that may be why my wheels bent like they did (the 2 80's shaking the machine around) luckily it was a quick easy fix. A few times I was only able to get 60's as my store would be out of stock. It will take 3 of those but it doesn't like it as you could imagine lol I bet the area you're talking about between the shells got a little concrete in it and stopped leaking. I looked at mine just now and the little crack is full of concrete. That won't ever leak again. haha Thanks for checking out my video, and for taking the time to leave a comment.
@@reallifetested2605 fortunately I can get 60s or 80s anytime at the local Lowes but likely since I've limited it to two 60's is what's holding it together. That or I have to run another 600 bags, give or take, to sort of catch up to your throughput and we'll see.
@@reallifetested2605 Would taking the barrel apart and adding a silicone caulking or some other gasket seal around the rim do any good to stop water leaks. If I buy the one I'll be seeing tomorrow I was thinking about doing that. Saw it on someone else's video.
@@leighco9 You shouldn't have any issues of leaking. Once you use it a time or two the concrete / mortar will seal everything up and dry to make a nice seal.
Been eyeballing this for a while; my BIL owns one. Now that we're homesteading, we'll definitely be getting it. Thanks for the detail review! All the best to you and yours from East TN!
That's a pretty genius idea, stirring soil around is no easy task. I bet this thing mixes it perfectly for you. Thanks for giving me the idea! If I retire this thing I might do the same.
You've got that right. I had bought some in bulk when I heard they were going to stop making it. I have (1) 5 qt container left. I don't know why they stopped but I swear that was the best oil you could get for a gas truck.
My Chinee mixer is a Bilt Hard. Blue paint. Like mine too: the first job I did with it paid for it via not hiring the job out. Hint for others: instead of raising the mixer with blocks get a short side wheelbarrow. Mixer is comfortable with 2 80# bags and that mixed load fits in the short side wheelbarrows.Also a heck of a lot easier on your back.Added: short side wheelbarrow if 4 cubic foot or smaller.
You're doing good with the videos, I appreciate the content. It would have been nice to see under the belt guard. I would like to see how the bearing change out goes also.
Thank you, I appreciate you taking the time to check everything out. I definitely should have shown under the guard. I have not gotten to changing the bearing yet but will for sure make a video when I do. I have another concrete project coming up so stay tuned for that! (my parents need a small apron added to their driveway)
Hi Jon, That was a good idea to tell about the mixer, it is something that doesn't come up in my mind to tell to people, because the most of my friends are "handy-man" too 😊 Long story short, very original, very good... 👍
Thank you! I love this thing. I had mixed small batches of concrete with a wheel barrow in the past. When I got this I was almost excited to do concrete. haha I wish harbor freight had larger more affordable versions of this. I'd definitely pick one of those up.
Thank you! I can’t exactly remember without measuring and there’s a lot of stuff in the way for that right now haha but as far as I can remember they’re right around 6.5 to 7 wide by 20 long.
Good review. I need to buy one for my next project. I couldn't tell by your time-lapse video but How many bags of 80lbs concrete could it handle at a time?
Yes, the bearing crapped out on me it’s totally seized. My fault though, I left it in the position that you have it in before winter came and I forgot to put a tarp on it. Water got in, went to use it the next spring and first mix it died. Had it for several years, a couple of loose bolts, it’s noisy as #*$& but can’t complain for the price, it’s not harbour freight but an identical model sold in canada, 219$ plus tx
You might can spray a little penetrating oil and let it soak to free it up. My bearing is running on borrowed time, it’s getting louder and louder haha I’ve definitely got my moneys worth out of it though so it’s worth a little tlc I suppose when the time comes.
Yes and yes. Hose it out before it dries or else you will have heay concrete stuck on it forrrreeeevvveeerrrr.......but yea just a hose should get it out or if Need be have a brush. This rule applies to any and all concrete tools.
It's not a dumb question at all. Yes for sure! This stuff will get hard in there and you'll never be able to get it out. Check out what happens when concrete trucks forget to leave the mixer running, or let it run dry. What I usually do if I'm mixing kind of slow (working by myself having to wheelbarrow the mix far away) is just fill a bit of water in the mixer and leave it running. The sloshing around will keep everything wet until I'm ready to mix my next batch. When I'm finished with the project I hose the whole mixer off to make sure everything's good and clean.
This may sound like a weird request…but you need to review some work boots. If a guy puts a 100,000 lbs of concrete in one of these mixers, he knows what work is. I work on a blacktop crew and go through boots like crazy…just wondering if you have a suggestion on long lasting and comfortable boots.
I want to tell you something really weird, it's like your comment was a sign from above or something lol I had an accident about a week ago. I damaged my ankle pretty bad. I have worn slip on boots all of my life, occasionally I wear lace up. But I get lazy and slipping a boot on is easier than dealing with laces. I have never talked about this really. But the past 2 days I have been talking a lot about switching to lace up boots full time. I was wearing slip ons when I had my accident and keep saying "If I was wearing lace up boots would I have gotten hurt as bad"? Because they offer so much more ankle support. You have motivated me to make a video explaining the pros and cons of both of those and what boots I find to be the best. Stay tuned. I'll be getting back with you here soon. Thanks for the comment and for checking out my video.
@@reallifetested2605 sounds good, I’m the same way. At home I go with slip one and at work lace up steel toes (company makes us). I don’t mind either one…just the time thing with the lace ups. There have been many times at work I’m glad for a lace up because of the support. Working in blacktop is really rough on boots…with the heat, we put diesel on the bottom so we don’t get asphalt built up, the walking on the sides of roads for miles. I’d love to find a pair that lasted more than one season.
Honestly I don’t remember without going back and looking. I highly doubt it though. To keep up with speed in production most things like this have a crimped spade terminal. Should be able to just unplug it or it might have a screw holding it on.
I'd imagine with any products from HF that quality control is the biggest issue so one unit may be great while the one sitting next to it could be a lemon.
You're right about that. There tools are really hit and miss. From my experience some of there air tools are awesome, while others being complete junk. Most of the power tools i've had from there didn't last long enough to justify the low price. But there hand tools are great for the most part. I'm glad I got lucky with this mixer!
@@reallifetested2605 As a contractor from age 17, now 41. I have learned all of the thing at HF that are great, and which to avoid. It's a very very extensive list :) The roto drill, will rock for 10 years. basically every nail gun, roofing, brad nail, framing, has a 3 use life, with a few exceptions. very bizzare. Blades, sawzaw, trash. zigsaw trash, Router bits, for granite, shockingly great. for 1/3 the price. Tables saw chop saw blades.. meh.. I still buy em to save money, but they aren't great
It depends on the temperature, the mix, and how fast you go. I was able to go around 120 bags per section but temps were in the mid to high 40s so I had plenty of time. As long as temps aren’t freezing you’ll be fine in cooler temps.
No way that mixed that much concrete. I mixed 2000lbs and the bearings on the tub wore out.hft does not have replacement parts for this area. And why is it so clean?
Watch the video. I posted one doing over 830 bags. I’ve had 1000s of bags at this point through it and it’s still going strong. Had to weld the frame in a few places but other than that still functional.
