KMG question

[Adam Reese]

Alright guys and gals,

I was finally able to get a kmg a couple of weeks ago. Well, I just got around to putting it together and trying it out last night, and a little bit tonight. I have the 1.5 hp motor with the step pulley set-up.

I only got to grind with it for about 30 minutes or so last night and about the same amount of time tonight. I did notice that the motor started to get kind of warm and I was wondering if this is normal. Does ya'lls motors get warm/hot when grinding?


I have it wired for 110v now, but I am considering changing it to 220v because I already have a 220 plug in my shop for my welder. Will this help it run cooler? I am just new to bigger equipment like this, seeing as my other sanders are a 4x36 and 1x30 HF special.

Oh, and how tight/loose should the drive belt be?


Thanks,
-Adam

 

[AVigil]

The motor will get hot. That is normal. Listen and look at your motor, if it is running quietly and smoothly you are good to go.

As for belt tension, it should be "Taut". If it is to loose the motor will bog down.

 

[AWGunS]

Had the same question after I set my KMG up. It gets hot to the touch, but never any hotter, even after running several hours pretty much continously. Mine is wired for 220 too, so as far as less heat than 110, I doubt it.

Belt has to be taught as suggested in the previous post. Not real tight, as that will places undue stress on the shaft/ bearings. A 1/2" (half inch) of deflection when you push on the belt between pulleys is good.

Something from experience. I was grinding one afternoon and noticed that the grinder seemed to be stalling very easily when I was flat grinding a blade like object. Checked all the wheels on the grinder for issues, no problems, Check belt tension and it was rather loose. So loose that the belt was slipping on the motor pulley,causing the stalling I was experiencing. Glazed up the belt a little, but I tightened it back up and it has run fine since.

 

[Adam Reese]

Thanks for the info guys, I feel a lot better now. I was scared to death I was going to burn up my new motor.

-Adam

 

[watercrawl]

Another thing I've learned is that in order to get the grinding belt a little tighter a little easier, lightly tighten the handle that tightens against the tooling arm...then pull the arm and it won't slide back as easily before you tighten that handle down. That doesn't quite sound right in words, but I know what I mean. . I'm not big enough to just use the tension arm to get ky belts as tight as I want then without damn near pulling a few muscles.

 

[Fellhoelter]

Another thing I've learned is that in order to get the grinding belt a little tighter a little easier, lightly tighten the handle that tightens against the tooling arm...then pull the arm and it won't slide back as easily before you tighten that handle down. That doesn't quite sound right in words, but I know what I mean. . I'm not big enough to just use the tension arm to get ky belts as tight as I want then without damn near pulling a few muscles.

The KMG tension arm sucks.

Build an extension for it and add a foot of leverage.

Makes a world of difference.

Had mine for about 4 hours before I snapped and fixed it.