Tracking Wheel Question

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PaMtnBkr

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Dec 31, 2009
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I just about have my 2x72 belt grinder done and was curious how critical is it to have the tracking wheel crowned? Anybody know how big that crown is? I turned my own wheels and built my own grinder and am struggling a bit w/getting the tracking 100% Thanks, Don
 
PaMtnBkr said:
I just about have my 2x72 belt grinder done and was curious how critical is it to have the tracking wheel crowned? Anybody know how big that crown is? I turned my own wheels and built my own grinder and am struggling a bit w/getting the tracking 100% Thanks, Don
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You don't need much. Masking tape on the center will help, so that gives you an idea of how little thickness change helps.

I just used a cut down belt, 1/2" width, to drive the tracking wheel and an old belt to radius it a little on each side leaving the central 1/2" flat. If you have a metal working lathe you would use that.
 
It's not too essential, my grinder has a flat 3"x5" roller for my tracking wheel and does alright. It's on my list of things to replace but really isn't a huge priority for me.
 
PaMtnBkr said:
Thanks ernestrome! I didn't think there was much crown!
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Also, for a flat belt there should be a gently radiused crown, or a trapezoidal crown ie flat in the center the sloping to each side. Anything but a peak in the middle.
 
If it helps, the tracking wheel on my KMG is 3.5" at the center and tapers down by approximately 0.1" in diameter before it reaches the rounded off sides (which has a radius around 3/16"). Between the radiused sides it's about 2.2" wide. The tapers are flat and there's not much of a flat area in the middle.
 
Just wrap 2 or 3 layers of say 1" masking tape around the tracking wheel approximately at center and see how that works. The masking tape will probably last 3 or 4 years. Frank
 
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