Question on tracking wheel

R.Flaherty

R.Flaherty

Joined
Sep 12, 2002
Messages
84
I have decided to make my own grinder. Is there any reason that the tracking wheel must be four inches rather than two inches in diameter?
Thanks in advance!
Ron
 
The main thing on the tracking wheel is that it is evenly crowned. It must not be flat. 3" - 4" is about the normal size.

There are places to save money on building a grinder. The frame, arms, motor, work rests, etc. can all be areas where economy and substitution are allowable. The tracking wheel, drive wheel, contact wheel, and idler wheels ... as well as the bearings in them ... are places where trying to save money often ends up costing you money. Of these, the tracking wheel is the most critical.
 
R.Flaherty said:
I have decided to make my own grinder. Is there any reason that the tracking wheel must be four inches rather than two inches in diameter?
Thanks in advance!
Ron
Click to expand...

The larger the wheel, the less severely the belt has to bend around them.
It's better on the belt


Bearings
A two inch wheel will be forced to run twice as fast as a four inch wheel.

That would be hard on the bearings and generate much more heat

The smaller wheel has less mass to absorb the heat.

Bearing failure
 
12345678910 said:
The larger the wheel, the less severely the belt has to bend around them.
It's better on the belt


Bearings
A two inch wheel will be forced to run twice as fast as a four inch wheel.

That would be hard on the bearings and generate much more heat

The smaller wheel has less mass to absorb the heat.

Bearing failure
Click to expand...

The 2" wheels on the platens of my machines run just as fast as the idler wheel?

I do agreed that a 4" may give more contact.
 
Check out ebay seller vwjackstraw. you can get a full set of wheels for $150 bucks or so that are very well made, and well worth the investment. In my opinion, these are made as well, if not better than any other wheels on the market, and quite a bit cheaper than a lot of the competition.

If you want to save a little more, oregonblademaker also sells some sets of wheels for even less, including a plastic set for about $70 IIRC.
 
knife to a gunfight said:
Check out ebay seller vwjackstraw. you can get a full set of wheels for $150 bucks or so that are very well made, and well worth the investment. In my opinion, these are made as well, if not better than any other wheels on the market, and quite a bit cheaper than a lot of the competition.
Click to expand...
+1 on vwjackstraw.
 
I agree with Andrew about using Jackstraw wheels. I used to have to change my idler wheel every couple years because of wear and I now have Jackstraw 4 inch idlers on both of my grinders and they wear much better than stock KMG idler wheels. Larry
 
I really like the wider race bearings he uses on the tracking wheel too. No need for bushings, just bolt and go. A regular nut can even be used as a spacer if need be.
 
Thanks for all of the replies. Great Information. I failed to say that I was making my own wheels so now I am off to order some four inch stock.
Ron
 
NC Biker said:
Only if your idler wheels are 2" in diameter. If your idler is 4", it only makes 1/2 a turn for every one complete turn of your 2" wheels.
Click to expand...

I understand that, What I meant is the 2" wheel on my Platen of my Hardcore Products are now about 18 years old and so is the idler which is 8" & none of them have needed replacing. I think when you get to 1" or less wheels there may be a shorter life span on the bearings.
 
Rhinoknives1 said:
I understand that, What I meant is the 2" wheel on my Platen of my Hardcore Products are now about 18 years old and so is the idler which is 8" & none of them have needed replacing. I think when you get to 1" or less wheels there may be a shorter life span on the bearings.
Click to expand...
I got ya, that makes sense. I hope I get that kind of life out of my bearings. I'm sure you're right about the 1" and smaller wheels, it's not hard to get the bearings in those going fast enough to create some serious heat.
 
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