Tracking problems on my grinder

[skillgannon]

In just the past couple of weeks I started having tracking problems. It seems the be getting worse. It's started by having problems with my 8" rubberized wheel. I thought it might have been from catching a edge on it.(I have used contact cement to repair it and it seems fine.) Last night I couldn't get my gator belt to track on center and other belts were hard to center and moved to the side at random times. I have a Esteem with a 2 HP anf VFD. I locktighted all the screw when i assembled the grinder.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Have you made sure the tension is enough? Some belts need more tension than others.

Also, some belts will "warp" as they age. This makes them wobble or track poorly. They may also take a "set" when hanging on a peg. I have had gator belts that hung on the wall a long time wobble when used.

Cold and heat also affects belts as well as the grinder. I suspect it is pretty cold up there right now.

 

[Natlek]

In just the past couple of weeks I started having tracking problems. It seems the be getting worse. It's started by having problems with my 8" rubberized wheel. I thought it might have been from catching a edge on it.(I have used contact cement to repair it and it seems fine.) Last night I couldn't get my gator belt to track on center and other belts were hard to center and moved to the side at random times. I have a Esteem with a 2 HP anf VFD. I locktighted all the screw when i assembled the grinder.

Did tracking problem exist only with contact wheel ? Maybe from damage and repair is unbalanced now ? 8 inch wheel need to be very well balanced . . .

 

[weo]

They may also take a "set" when hanging on a peg. I have had gator belts that hung on the wall a long time wobble when used.

I've been wondering the same thing lately. I just figured it was due to the cold and my hydraulic tensioner not working as well. But, I've got my belts hanging on the wall around 2"dia pipes with another section of pipe at the bottom to keep a little tension on them to have them hang straight.
~billyO

 

[skillgannon]

I have the spring tensioner. I just have my belts hanging over whatever I could find, mostly clamp handles.

I thought it was the wheel to start with but it runs smooth and I am having problems with the platen as well. J weight and gator belts are the worst.

 

[kuraki]

Jumping is usually from lack of tension.

Wobbling is usually from belts taking a set, stretching unevenly.

Does a belt in question, when set at the highest possible tension and allowed to run without adjustment or grinding for a few minutes begin to wobble less?

 

[john april]

also some belts can take a set very quickly ( 1 minute!) if they are left on the grinder tensioned but not running. the belt will then go from side to side. but you said it was random, so that is probably not the case. answering natleks question will greatly help diagnose the situation. did you check to make sure the tracking wheel is snug on its axle and not wobbly? if you push on a wheel/platen, and the belt moves to one side, that means there is not enough tension on the belt.

 

[skillgannon]

also some belts can take a set very quickly ( 1 minute!) if they are left on the grinder tensioned but not running. the belt will then go from side to side. but you said it was random, so that is probably not the case. answering natleks question will greatly help diagnose the situation. did you check to make sure the tracking wheel is snug on its axle and not wobbly? if you push on a wheel/platen, and the belt moves to one side, that means there is not enough tension on the belt.

I checked for wobble and didn't find any.

Yes the problem has started in the last 2 weeks and is getting worse. It has been getting colder though no ice on my water bucket. My finger were turning numb trying grind last night.

It seems to be all belts but some are worse.

The belts are running smooth but wants to jump off of center. Some belts run well and in the center after fine tuning but if pushed from the side will pop over about 3/4".

 

[kuraki]

The belts are running smooth but wants to jump off of center. Some belts run well and in the center after fine tuning but if pushed from the side will pop over about 3/4".

It doesn't explain why this would just started, but I've only encountered that when too many wheels in the system are crowned. My grinders have always tracked left/right the most predictably when only the tracking wheel is crowned.

 

[Howard1]

Just throwing it out there: I had tracking issues when my grinder was new. The belts kept moving left. My grinder, has a multi adjustable set up for the top tracking wheel. I adjusted the top wheel to flat and I never had a problem since. Could your top tracking wheel have been misaligned?