Finally up and running

B

Bob Duguay

Joined
Aug 28, 2017
Messages
204
Recived my VFD yesterday. This afternoon I set it up with the grinder. Profiled my first knife. A drop point hunter in 80crv2.
Grinder seems to run good and it tracking assembly works good but the belt moves side to side a little when it running. Is this normal or should there be no movement at all?
Have to figure out how to post pics.
 
My belt moved side to side slightly too. I increased the tension and then ran it for a couple minutes and it stopped moving.
 
Slip the belt off and move the tool arm out 1/8" to 1/4". Tighten the lock back down and put the belt back on. See if that stops it.
 
I also recently finished one. I'm using a 50lb gas spring. Tracks perfect!

Wasn't sure if it might be too heavy. Glad I got it now.
 
What kind of grinder do you have? Tension (rather, lack thereof) is the most common culprit, though it could also be possible that your wheels aren't all exactly all in the same plane. Also, it could possibly just be the belt. What kind of belt is it?
 
One Armed said:
I also recently finished one. I'm using a 50lb gas spring. Tracks perfect!

Wasn't sure if it might be too heavy. Glad I got it now.
Click to expand...

My gas spring is 90 or 100lbs, though it's on an over center cam tensioning system. Haven't popped a belt yet (knock on wood).
 
knife to a gunfight said:
My gas spring is 90 or 100lbs, though it's on an over center cam tensioning system. Haven't popped a belt yet (knock on wood).
Click to expand...

Yeah the # of pounds isn't the definitive "end all", of course. We all know the position of the spring in relation to the leverage of the tensioning arm, plays a large roll in the "actual" amount of tension. The over-center cam also plays a roll. I was contemplating incorporating it in my designed. Seems it would be a big help to me changing belts with my one hand. But it just didn't fit in the design I had. I may try it in the future. How do you like it?
 
One Armed said:
Yeah the # of pounds isn't the definitive "end all", of course. We all know the position of the spring in relation to the leverage of the tensioning arm, plays a large roll in the "actual" amount of tension. The over-center cam also plays a roll. I was contemplating incorporating it in my designed. Seems it would be a big help to me changing belts with my one hand. But it just didn't fit in the design I had. I may try it in the future. How do you like it?
Click to expand...

I really like it. The only thing I think I'd like better is something like the ratchet tensioner on the TW-90. I was initially concerned with the longevity of the mechanism, but it's been running fine for 2 years with no issues/adjustment, knock on wood. I could probably even get away in bumping up the cylinder weight another 20 lbs if I felt it necessary, but it seems to do just fine as is.
 
Had a chance to play with grinder today. It’s a 2x48 so it’s pretty compact. I have the idler wheel spring nearly compressed all the way and platen pulled out and tighten down. Belt still moves side to side a bit. It also runs a 2x72 belt. I have not run those yet to see how they track.
 
Also, try a different belt. Some aren't spliced exactly straight and have a side to side wander as the revolve.
 
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