How to make a KMG better (GIB content also)

[R.Rock]

Most Excellent!!
Thanks for sharing your upgrades.

 

[PT Doc]

I always love to see people tweak things to suit their needs. Well done. You didn't mention the tool arm slot. I really like that. I might have to make one for mine.

 

[polarbearforge]

Thanks for sharing! I like the gas shock. I've never worked with them, and I like how that turned out. It gives me ideas.

Would you mind if I saved your pictures and added them to a FAQ on my site? All credit will be given to you for them.

Jamie

 

[David Sharp]

Thanks for sharing! I like the gas shock. I've never worked with them, and I like how that turned out. It gives me ideas.

Would you mind if I saved your pictures and added them to a FAQ on my site? All credit will be given to you for them.

Jamie

Have at it! Now you know what I did with the extra upright.

 

[polarbearforge]

Have at it! Now you know what I did with the extra upright.

Thanks! I was curious what it was to be used for.

Jamie

 

[Pelallito]

David,
Did you use the same parts on your KMG? I would like to modify my KMG clone also.
Thanks,
Fred

 

[Pelallito]

David responded to my email that the part numbers worked for the KMG as well. I ordered a set for my clone today.
Thanks again David.
Fred

 

[Battle Creek Knives]

great idea !!! thanks for that ....

but I'm really surprised you didn't mention your inner tube fix for the idle wheel.. now that I'm going to start using tomorrow, my wheel is getting shot bigtime... !!

take care,
rob

 

[Pelallito]

Rob,
Inner tube fix? Can you expand on that?
Thanks,
Fred

 

[Battle Creek Knives]

Rob,
Inner tube fix? Can you expand on that?
Thanks,
Fred

look down at the 2nd and 3rd pics you will see an inner tube wrapped around the idle or tracking wheel.. I'll assume its there because that's where the wheel will typically start to wear...

 

[David Sharp]

It is not an inner tube. Just electrical tape. I added more crown to my tracking wheel.

 

[Pelallito]

Thanks, both of you. I have used duct tape on one of my wheels as a temporary fix, some time ago. Worked fine.
Fred

 

[Pelallito]

Parts arrived yesterday and I installed them.
The grinder sounded different as I ran it through different speeds.
I did not have a chance to do any serious grinding because I had a whoops moment. I managed to snap an 8-32 tap in the tracking and tension arm and had a heck of a time getting it out.
I should have switched to another type of tap holder, but was in too much of a hurry. So it took 3 times longer.
Thanks again for the info!
Fred

 

[ERIK KNIVES]

David, your grinder mods got me motivated to get the Fellhoelter inspired gas tension going on my NWG. I advocate the NWG for people with some fab skills - I love it's versatility and I would be happy to put mine up against some production options, but, like you, my next grinder will most likely be a GIB with variable speed. I got the parts you listed for the piston but knew I had some geometry to work out as we have different machines. My parts have been sitting in a drawer for some time. Today, I got off the horse and chopped some tubing off the top end of my grinder (back of the tracking arm - mine was longer than most) to get the gas piston to fit. It fit - tracking went to hell. Way too much angle in my tracking arm for the tracking adjustment to work. After a moment of silence and another type of condolence, I got the welder and some scrap iron out. I put an upright on the front of the tracking arm to accommodate the piston. Now, the thing tracks and responds like a dream, but I will swap that 20 lb piston for a 40 lb one when I have a need to order from MM Carr. Thanks for sharing your build. EA

 

[ERIK KNIVES]

World's first coil over spring on a gas shock for a grinder - or maybe not, I have no idea. It rocks. EA

 

[efleming]

Funny... I just ordered a 40lb from McMaster-Carr today. My 20 seemed a little soft for one of my grinders. I like your set up Erik.

 

[Brian Ayres]

Ha! My piston is too weak for my GIB too. I moved my tracking arm out and swapped the rear spring for the piston but it was NOT enough weight. Impossible to use. I moved it back to the original mount and added the rear spring again. Now it runs and tracks great. Piston in front pushing up and a spring in back pulling down.

 

[JGarrison Knives]

I only have a 1 1/2 hp motor and its only bogged down on me a couple times. Im not sure if I read it in one of Brians posts but who uses a rubber drive wheel, Im thinking about getting one?

 

[David Sharp]

The first person i know of who uses rubber drive wheels is Brian Fellhoelter. Beaumont know sells them.

I have 20lb gas springs on my GIB and KMG, work fine.

 

[PT Doc]

Wat is the reasoning for using a rubber drive wheel! I chatted with a grinder maker on another site and did not get the answer I expected. Thanks