Help with bench grinder

[Fromey]

Warning: Dumb question to follow

I recently bought an Axminster cheapo bench grinder and tool rest;

http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-ax ... rod789070/

and

http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-ax ... rod364782/

Unfortunately, the metal supports for the tool rests affixed to the bench grinder are in the way, so I disassembled the wheels and removed them.

Now that I've reattached the wheels I've found that when I screw up the locking nut for a wheel, it gets to about finger tension and then the threaded axle that runs through the bench grinder starts to turn, so I can't tighten the nut very much. The two threads are in opposite directions, so if I try to hold one of the bolts while I tighten the other, it just undoes it. There's insufficient axle protruding from the nuts so that I can't get a pair of locking pliers on them. Thus, there seems to be no way to lock the axle so I can tighten the nuts up fully. There is no information about this in the manual.

Is this normal? Will they tighten themselves up through centrifugal force once I turn the grinder on, or will the wheels come off?! Or am I to tighten one wheel while the other is removed and I can hold the axle and then hope there's enough tension on the first wheel to allow the second wheel to be tightened?

Thanks in advance.

 

[powertools]

On my grinder (not the same make as yours) I can put an allen key into the end of the shaft to hold it.

 

[Roughcut]

Warning: Dumb question to follow

I recently bought an Axminster cheapo bench grinder and tool rest;

http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-ax ... rod789070/

and

http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-ax ... rod364782/

Unfortunately, the metal supports for the tool rests affixed to the bench grinder are in the way, so I disassembled the wheels and removed them.

Now that I've reattached the wheels I've found that when I screw up the locking nut for a wheel, it gets to about finger tension and then the threaded axle that runs through the bench grinder starts to turn, so I can't tighten the nut very much. The two threads are in opposite directions, so if I try to hold one of the bolts while I tighten the other, it just undoes it. There's insufficient axle protruding from the nuts so that I can't get a pair of locking pliers on them. Thus, there seems to be no way to lock the axle so I can tighten the nuts up fully. There is no information about this in the manual.

Is this normal? Will they tighten themselves up through centrifugal force once I turn the grinder on, or will the wheels come off?! Or am I to tighten one wheel while the other is removed and I can hold the axle and then hope there's enough tension on the first wheel to allow the second wheel to be tightened?

Thanks in advance.

Because the two threads are in opposite directions can't you just do the nut up hand tight and then use 2 spanners (one on each nut) and then tighten them up in opposite direction to each other?
I presume it's a left handed thread so both nuts will be tightened anti-clockwise.

 

[Chrispy]

I find that by holding the stone in one hand and spanner in the other on the nut to tighten up don't over do it though.

 

[Spindle]

Hi

Rather than risk damage to the grinder shaft by gripping with pliers I'd get another nut of the correct size, (so you have a total of three). Use two of the nuts on one end of the grinder spindle locking them together, then the shaft can be secured with a spanner on one of these nuts whilst the wheel, flange and nut are tightened at the other end. Holding the wheel should allow you to tighten the other side.

All of the above if the spindle does not have allen key recesses in the ends.

Regards Mick

 

[CHJ]

.......Because the two threads are in opposite directions can't you just do the nut up hand tight and then use 2 spanners (one on each nut) and then tighten them up in opposite direction to each other?
I presume it's a left handed thread so both nuts will be tightened anti-clockwise.

Have another think about it !!!



Standing in front of the grinder both nuts tighten with their top edge going away from you.

 

[CHJ]

........ Or am I to tighten one wheel while the other is removed and I can hold the axle and then hope there's enough tension on the first wheel to allow the second wheel to be tightened?
.

Fit both wheels with their pressure buffer paper washers.
Tighten both nuts as tight as possible with fingers.
Fit socket spanner on one nut and apply short sharp rotational shock that will pinch the nut up before the armature can gain momentum.
Then do likewise on the other end.

If you have a low power battery powered drill driver you can set it to lowest torque and use that to nip the nuts up with suitable socket.

Do not over tighten, just sufficient to prevent you moving the two wheels against each other on the shaft by hand. They will tend to self tighten in use.


If you have removed the fixed support brackets completely (as opposed to just cutting off the overhang) make sure that the stone guards are still clear of the wheels when fitted back without the spacing supplied by the bracket..

 

[Chrispy]

Heres another dum question, how did you undo it in the first place? how ever you did just reverse the procedure.

 

[Fromey]

Thanks for the feedback. CHJ, your comments seemed the most sensible and that's what I have done (there's no allen key hole in the end of the axles). Sees to be working fine at the moment. As you say, because the screws are in the opposite direction, if you use one to tighten the other against, it just unscrews the fixed nut. As to how I got to this situation, that's easy, I took one wheel off and then the other, never suspecting I would run into this situation.