Frustrated

Riley White · Sep 20, 2004

I built a 72" by 2" grinder earlier this year using the proper wheels and bearings. At first (50 or so hours of work) it tracked well but started tracking off when I changed a belt. I would adjust the tracking and go on. Later the problem got worse. A belt now and again would track off durring use. I tightend everything and checked for play everywhere and the problen is now less but it is still there.
Do any of you ahve a suggestion?

underaged! · Sep 21, 2004

make a 3rd bearing support?

Ripper · Sep 21, 2004

If it seems to be working correctly with most belts, it might be you just have some belts that don't want to track well. That is not an uncommon occurrence.
Regards,
Greg

p moore · Sep 21, 2004

Riley;
A couple things come to mind, is your tracking pulley crowned? Also, check for "squareness" down the belt. one pulley, or the platten may be off just enough to cause problems. This was the case when I built mine. This can be fixed though. Do you have any pics? Paul

jhiggins · Sep 21, 2004

A couple good pics would speak volumes.

Dan Gray · Sep 21, 2004

if it's tracking off
just while your putting pressure in it (that's my read on the post) you may just have to
give the belt a little more tension.

george tichbourne · Sep 21, 2004

Three possible causes, alignment, wear and belt quality.

Alignment can't be too bad if it has worked well for a year unless a bolt has broken or physical damage had occcurred.

Wear can be loss of crown on the tracking wheel, abnormal wear on contact wheel, or bad bearings.

A set of bad belts can drive you crazy...put a belt on and start up, note which way the belt wants to track (left or right), turn the belt around and check which way it wants to track...If it tracks the same way suspect the machine, if it tracks the opposite way suspect the belts.

Mike Hull · Sep 21, 2004

Another solution that seems to work is to wrap 2-3 layers of electrical tape around the center of the tracking pulley.

It's kind of a homemade crown.

Riley White · Sep 22, 2004

I went to the shop and messed with it right after work today and noticed something. The third pulley was out of alignment with the other two by about 3/16" I adjusted it over to what looked right put a belt on and then tried it again. The belt ran in the middle of the idler/adjustment pulley again. Somehow I adjusted the pulley over during its use and it became unpredictable. It seems to be tracking better now. I will probably add a stop to the spring-loaded arm (the one with the adjustment pulley) to give the belts a consistent tension.
Thans for the help.