Question On My GIB Build.

[Dennis Towns]

Thank you again.

 

[NC Biker]

BTW, How important is reverse on a grinder ? It wouldn't be a big deal for me to add it. Thanks again.

I have a reverse switch on mine only because I use the same VFD to run my disc grinder. With the disc you always want it spinning down, so depending on which side of the blade you're grinding you will need to reverse direction. I've never found a need to reverse the belt grinder.

 

[Ken H>]

For sharpening blades I like reverse on my 2X72" grinder. Other than sharpening - don't see the need for reverse.

 

[Dennis Towns]

I did go ahead and ordered the forward reverse switch and the off / on switch.
Does this look like the way it should be tracking ? The tracking wheel has approx 3/8 bushing behind it. Do I need less bushing there and knock my drive wheel further on the shaft ? The way it is right here in the pics the belt is pretty close on the contact wheels. New territory to me. Thanks

 

[Ken H>]

Is one view in forward and next in reverse? From what I can see the belt doesn't even move on the tracking wheel, nor the platen wheels... Oh, your question isn't so much as a question, but bragging on how well it tracks? That good, you can brag for sure.

 

[NC Biker]

Cooter, it's hard to tell from a photo if you have all the wheels in alignment. I'll give you measurements, but depending on what wheels you're using my measurements might be different than yours. You have to locate the center of all your wheels and get all the centers in alignment. The way I did it was to measure to the edge of each wheel from the edge of constant point on the machine (like the vertical upright), then add half the width of that wheel to the measurement. Do this for each wheel and adjust with spacers and when all the measurement off the constant are the same, your golden. I can tell you that my 2" platen wheels are pretty close to the 1/2" plate that the wheels mount to. By close I mean about 2mm. My 2-1/4"wide drive wheel is 13mm from it's 1/2" mounting plate. My 2-1/2" wide tracking wheel is 33.5 mm off the 1/2' thick idler arm.

Hope this helps!

 

[Dennis Towns]

Thank you, that gives me a little more insight. Ok, I will try to figure all that. I did not reverse it, that is just 2 different angles. I didn't measure anything. I ran it a little and it wasn't near enough to center on my tracking wheel so I added about an 1/8" spacer.

 

[Dennis Towns]

I am not sure I know what I am doing. My 2" contact wheels are .060 less than 2mm off their plate, then my drive wheel is 2 1/4" and the mounting face is recessed a 1/2" more than the contact wheels plate. So I think I have to add the 1/2" and the .060 that my contact wheels are spaced and then center of my drive should be .560 + 1.125 =1.685 to center ??? And then I get to my tracking wheel, oh he--, now it is a 2 1/2" and the arm coming off that upright plate I built taller has a washer between them, probably .040-.050 thick, I didn't pull it to see but its not much. But that pivot arm sits I think 2" in. I need to think this thru, I get turned around. If I had hair I would be jerking it out about now. I thought I was doing good cause the belt was on all the wheels. LOL

 

[Dennis Towns]

It sounded simple enough before I went to the shop. Then I got all these number rolling around in this empty head. Remember them little games you would roll the bb's around inside trying to get them on a dimple ? Thats what inside my head is like. LOL

 

[Ken H>]

Just take a look at the wheels, try to make sure the center of all wheels are in line. If wheels are the same width, then measuring from inside edge of wheel to some common point on the frame will give you a good idea. Then roll the wheels with belt on wheels - you'll get a good idea then if it will track. AS long as the belt doesn't run off wheels, you might be able to adjust the tracking wheel to center belt.

 

[NC Biker]

It sounded simple enough before I went to the shop. Then I got all these number rolling around in this empty head. Remember them little games you would roll the bb's around inside trying to get them on a dimple ? Thats what inside my head is like. LOL

Yeah, it's confusing and I didn't get mine perfect the first try. It took a little tweeking. Don't pay to much attention to my numbers. Just sketch it out and try to get the center of your wheels aligned with one another.

 

[Dennis Towns]

I think I got it close. I wound it up to full speed and nothing flung apart. BOY, that belt humming demands attention. That is gonna take some getting use to. I just got ambushed by 3 Raccoons . Sitting here typing this post my alarm sensor to the open air section of my shop has driveway sensors I uncover every night. Alarm goes off barefooted .357 and flash light I show up and have these coons running right at me. Hell I couldn't even kick at them. It was retreat or start shooting .357 at 2:00 a.m. would not be good, so I retreated got boots and bat. They were gone. Whew! Anyway , how bad is it when a belt flies apart ?

 

[NC Biker]

how bad is it when a belt flies apart ?

It will certainly get your attention with a loud bang as the shock slams the tracking arm up. The belt stops moving, but depending on where it breaks it can launch itself forward off the top platen wheel. I always wear a ball cap when grinding, so I don't end up with a 2" stripe of road rash down my face.

 

[Dennis Towns]

LOL. Yea I always wear one anyway. I shave my own head I don't need a machine doing it for me. At least not yet. I put a 60# shock so it has some pressure.