NWG Frame Kit drive and tracking wheel alignment/side questions?

[duffy99]

Sorry for the simple questions , anyone that has built this or similar have advice ?

So after my 2nd hand custom built grinder I bought for $1000 turned out to be a lemon. Plus after countless hours of f@ckery and replacing parts still didn't work properly and killed my knife making enthusiasm and desire for months I bought the NWG Frame Kit from Tracy @ Usaknifemaker . I had already purchased a 10" wheel , platen + wheels, KMG tracking wheel , small wheel attachment + wheels and was gifted a used 3/4" shaft KMG drive wheel from a bubble jig maker . I also bought a new Leeson 2 hp 3 phase motor for it too.

I built it to the point of adding the tracking and drive wheels which is where I have a few questions ( some/all simple and stupid)

1. For the tracking wheel which way do you mount it , what should I use for a spacer? I looked at lots of photo's and most have it with the recessed side out but others the opposite ( including KMG's website) the weight is more on one side so it makes sense to me to have the heavy side in .How much play if any should there be .When I mocked it up it the belt rides on the inside not center .

2. For the Drive wheel which way should it go and should the shaft be even with the edge of the wheel? Am I missing something to put in the recessed side?

3. I assume that the drive , tracking and contact/ platen wheels should all be inline but the way the kit is assembled the tracking wheel and the provided tool arm with 1/2" added to the end don't line up with a 10" wheel on it . I'm going to add spacers to line up the attachments once I figure out the drive and tracking wheel.

Here is some pics to explain what I mean

 

[Justin King]

With kit grinders you will generally have to make/buy/improvise some spacers to get everything aligned right. I could be wrong but I don't think the wheel offset matters, I would set it up whichever way creates the fewest alignment/clearance issues. The drive shaft should ideally be long enough to go all the way through the drive wheel, but as long as you have 3/4 length or so inside the wheel I don't think you will have a problem. Much less than that I would be uncomfortable about.

 

[ERIK KNIVES]

For spacers on you tracking wheel and contact wheels use machine bushings (washers with small OD compared to the ID so they sit on the bearing and don't rub the wheel). Don't over tighten, just to the point the wheel stops to spin freely, then back it off. I use lock nuts on mine.

 

[The_cutting_edge]

hey duffy. good to see you around again. We still need to get together sometime and shoot the breeze, my wife's eyes just glaze over whenever I stat talking knives. lol

 

[duffy99]

hey duffy. good to see you around again. We still need to get together sometime and shoot the breeze, my wife's eyes just glaze over whenever I stat talking knives. lol

For sure , once I get this grinder tweaked and all the attachments sorted and the " shop" up and running again.