switching from kmg to tw-90, wheel compatibility?

[john april]

just took delivery of a new tw-90. is there an adapter or a way which i could use my old KMG wheels on new tw-90 arms ? the bearing configuration look totally different from each other. or am i stuck buying all new wheels, bearings and arms ? thanks for any insight.

 

[Drew Riley]

just took delivery of a new tw-90. is there an adapter or a way which i could use my old KMG wheels on new tw-90 arms ? the bearing configuration look totally different from each other. or am i stuck buying all new wheels, bearings and arms ? thanks for any insight.

If I'm not mistaken, the Tw-90 small wheels and attachment are modeled after Bader style wheels, which I believe are smaller bearings. Your best option would likely be to make a new 1 1/4" tool arm and attach your KMG small wheel attachment to that, though you will have to keep the spacing/position of the KMG's small wheel attachment vs. the TW-90's, as far as left and right of centerline goes.

 

[DanF]

Let us know how the new grinder works out please, likely to be my next grinder if all goes well.

 

[john april]

thanks guys. i was speaking of the larger contact wheels, like 4" and 10". looks good so far dan.

 

[Drew Riley]

thanks guys. i was speaking of the larger contact wheels, like 4" and 10". looks good so far dan.

I gotcha. KMG's are a through axle wheel design, and if I'm not mistaken, Travis uses a stub shaft on kind of a split bushing design? I would think you could put a similar stub shaft on your KMGs to swap wheels on the same tool arm. Not sure if Travis offers just that part, but I would think you could make them easily enough.

 

[john april]

thanks for the reply. i took the split ring off the tw-90 contact wheel, and i could not pull it off by hand. the axles are different sizes, so i guess i will need to re configure the kmg wheels. another thought was to have the kmg arms milled down to 1 1/4" so they will fit the tw-90 without any other modifications. i wrote the company for more advice on the matter.

 

[Tin.Man]

Just get some esteem or bader arms both are 1.25 like the tw90 then use a half inch bolt ti mount your kmg wheels to the arms.

 

[john april]

thank you, i will check that out.

 

[Mitchell Knives]

Call Travis; he has an adapter.

I have one and it works great.

I can take a picture if you would like.

 

[john april]

thanks mitchell knives ! i sent him an email for suggestions. picture would be great. is it an adapter that the old kmg axle will screw into ? is it easy to change wheels on it ? it would be nice to buy one arm and use different wheels on it.

 

[Alan Davis Knives]

Here are a couple of pics of the adapter that Travis has. It is a 3/4” dowel drilled and tapped.

 

[john april]

thank you alan. now i understand how they work. and they look inexpensive

 

[Alan Davis Knives]

thank you alan. now i understand how they work. and they look inexpensive

I don't remember exactly, but it was not very much. Seems like $10 -$20.

 

[Mitchell Knives]

Looks like Alan beat me to it.

You may also need this adapter if you are using larger wheels.

I needed this to use my 14" KMG wheel.