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  1. #1
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    Default Belt grinder tracking wheel question

    The tracking wheel on my almost complete belt grinder is an ebay ali one, and it seems to have a very high crown, which I think is causing it to be very (too) sensitive.
    A tiny bit of movement has the belt darting across the wheels, so I was wondering if reducing the height of the crown, and widening it somewhat, might reduce the sensitivity?
    Cheers.

    Grinder tracking wheel 1.jpg

  2. #2
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    That does look high. It might be worth trying a few wraps of electrical tape around the outside of the wheel and say one wrap in the area between the outside and middle of the crown.

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by BobL View Post
    That does look high. It might be worth trying a few wraps of electrical tape around the outside of the wheel and say one wrap in the area between the outside and middle of the crown.
    To dummy up what I was going to do, but keep it reversible?

  4. #4
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Quote Originally Posted by ptrott View Post
    To dummy up what I was going to do, but keep it reversible?
    yep

  5. #5
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    I bought my wheels from kmg. That looks to be about the same. I did take a lot of time ensuring that all wheels are centerally aligned radially.
    My adjustment is 1/2 unc thread.
    Also is the angular adjustment for the tracking wheel too long from pivot point?

  6. #6
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    Alexandra Vic
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    How wide is the wheel relative to the belt you are running? A narrow belt on a wide high crown wheel is much more sensitive than a wider belt on the same wheel and initial placement is more critical. Also how much tension are you running? Sometimes helps to back off the tension a little initially while you tune everything, as this can help desensitise the tracking, then slowing increase the tension to what you want to run at once you have beaten the tracking demon. Above comments apply to long belt grinders, not sure about how applicable the might be to knife style belt grinders, as the additional wheels/rollers in the system would influence everything as well, and a misaligned roller might have more effect than the tracking adjust can cope with.
    I used to be an engineer, I'm not an engineer any more, but on the really good days I can remember when I was.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by eskimo View Post
    I bought my wheels from kmg. That looks to be about the same. I did take a lot of time ensuring that all wheels are centerally aligned radially.
    My adjustment is 1/2 unc thread.
    Also is the angular adjustment for the tracking wheel too long from pivot point?
    The tracking is done on this one radially. It is based on the Kalamazoo model.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by malb View Post
    How wide is the wheel relative to the belt you are running? A narrow belt on a wide high crown wheel is much more sensitive than a wider belt on the same wheel and initial placement is more critical. Also how much tension are you running? Sometimes helps to back off the tension a little initially while you tune everything, as this can help desensitise the tracking, then slowing increase the tension to what you want to run at once you have beaten the tracking demon. Above comments apply to long belt grinders, not sure about how applicable the might be to knife style belt grinders, as the additional wheels/rollers in the system would influence everything as well, and a misaligned roller might have more effect than the tracking adjust can cope with.
    Thanks to Bobs suggestion, which resulted in the need of fresh underwear when the electrical tape let go at 5000+ RPM, I have it sorted.
    The tracking wheel now has a barely descernable crown and is much less sensitive, but still very effective. The V shape has been remodeled into a very smooth gentle curve from one side to the other.
    F.Y.I. the tracking wheel is 65mm wide, the drive wheel is 55mm wide and 200mm diam, and the belt is 1220 x 50. There are only the two wheels on this grinder. It is attached to an Abbott and Ashby 8" bench grinder.
    Thanks for the assistance, much appreciated )

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