Northern Hyd grinder, making it work (pics)

[sugarbush]

I wonder how hard it will be to find a .20 ball bearing?
I knew I was going to lose one of them and was being careful not to, but did anyway. I measured the remaining one and it was 4.93 mm or .194 inches so I guess that is 5mm, right?

I was taking off the locking lever for the second time because the nut keeps backing off. I had really tightened up but it loosened up anyway.
Should I try Loctite?
Also does graphite have a adverse effect on aluminum? I thought about coating the locking lever shaft with graphite to make it catch less, but I seem to recall that graphite interacts with al. from a rifle forum that I visit sometimes.
Dan

try a bb from a shotgun shell.

 

[Butch(OH)]

Can you mail your spare ball to Dan? So he can have two matching balls again?LOL
I took mine apart on a towel so they would not roll away..

Check again this photo from my first post and notice my drawer of bearing balls beside the grinder, I figgured one of you sharpies would notice and nail me for it long before this, LOL
<IMG SRC=http://tinypic.com/30rp82g.jpg>

 

[danl]

Do you think using steel balls will wear it more?
I went searching for the lost ball with a sweeper magnet and decided I should check the other one for ferrous content and it seemed to have none.
I guess it could be titanium !!!!!!!
Maybe it is stainless steel, I just assumed it was aluminum.

I really have the base of mine polished up used 600 grit emory cloth and some Mothers Al polish with a buffing wheel on my drill press. I can see my self in mine now. Probably a little excessive. But I was irritated at losing the ball and had to work on somthing. The next closest ball bearing in my shop was 1/2 inch don't think that would work too good.
Dan

 

[Haywire Haywood]

I used a buffing wheel on my drill press too, but it's a course one. More like soft scotchbrite than a polishing pad. No mirror here. I did spray both surfaces down with some aerosol graphite I had in the shop. Works 100% better now. Still have both my balls too.

Ian

 

[olyman]

you can also find single ball bearings at any good bearing outlet-----in various sizes---------

 

[danl]

"Well stocked hardware store" "good bearing outlet"
Therein lies the rub!!! Shakespeare maybe????

Yall obviously don't live in the Missouri Ozarks. We did recently get a Home Depot nearby. but I haven't been up to the challenge of actually trying to find some there or someone there who was willing to help look.

What exactly is the function of those bearings, I'm gonna quit using the other word, since everyone seems to think I have lost something personal.
When you rotate the table for the 10 deg. angle do they stay in the holes in the base or in the spring loaded holes in the table and what do they do????
I'm sure I'm ignorant and the answer is obvious.
Thanks
Dan

 

[tawilson]

They will set into the dimples to lock the vise in the O setting. They stay on the end of the springs.

 

[jstarnes]

OK, think about hand filing. Some chain you are supposed to keep the file flat (90 degrees to the bar) Some are at 10 degrees (file handle down). To get the 10 degrees with the grinder requires the third axis movement that is built into the vise itself, see picture #4 above. In other words your 60 degree side angle is set by angling the entire grinder head at the back of the machine. The 30 or 25 degree top angle is with the swiveling vise and the 0 or 10 degree angle is set within the vise itself. You loosen the hand nut under the vise and push or pull it to the stops either side of the zero detent balls. Which way you move it depends on which cutters you are working on, rights or lefts, always tilt it so the leading point of the cutter is tilted down. This is what replicates the lowering of the file handle down 10 degrees when hand filing. Clear as mud yet? sorry, I can post another pic if need be later tonight.

I'm feeling a little stupid here acting like a chain grinder 'spert when I have owned one for three whole days, maybe one of the real sperts could chime in here and explain better??

Thanks a million!!! Just purchased one!!!
Thanks for the tips

 

[SmokinDodge]

"Well stocked hardware store" "good bearing outlet"
Therein lies the rub!!! Shakespeare maybe????

Yall obviously don't live in the Missouri Ozarks. We did recently get a Home Depot nearby.

Actually I do, right at the north edge of Morgan county. Let me guess your around the Bagnell Damn area with the new Home Depot. If your willing to drive to California Missouri or are ever passing throught stop at Sweets hardware north of the stop light. They have everything from ball bearings to buggy bumpers. (You have to ask for the buggy bumpers, they are in the back lol) The entire staff has a personality of toast but they are a damn fine hardware store.

 

[North Wood]

great post broke down and ordered one today to replace the HF one

 

[drmiller100]

ok, so stupid questions.

i am supposed to run it at 10 degrees tilt for my 3/8 chain. So, I put the base gizmo lined up on the notch. Is this 10 degrees?????

how do you guys line up the cutting edge side to side? The stupid little spring loaded chain stop gizmo keeps loosening its nuts, so it moves in and out, and is inconsistent as all heck. mark the chain guide, and line it up wiht a rivet???

i've never used a chain grinder, so pardon if questions are dumb.

 

[Adam217]

I purchased one of these grinders as well, also my first experience with a chain grinder. The outside lines are the 10° marks. Not all 3/8 chain uses the 10° tilt, look at the guide provided in the manual or the manufactures documentation for your chain. You may also want to get the Oregon manual for their 511a grinder, this grinder is a copy of it, their manual is far better and is available in PDF format on their website.

For a quick fix on the chain stop I put some tread tape, the thin Teflon stuff you put on pipe fittings, a few wraps of that stuff and it will tighten it up enough so it doesn't vibrate around anymore and is still easily adjustable. You will have to move it a little bit to keep it centered properly when switching from one side of the chain to the other.

I have had a good time with this grinder, once setup properly and you get a few chains done it becomes very fast and easy to use and will keep your chains sharper and more consistent, it really helped straighten out some older hand filed chains.


P.S. I have been able to find all the grind angles for all manufactures of chain except Stihl, if anybody knows where I can find that info that would be great.

 

[drmiller100]

thanks! great idea on the teflon tape!

makes perfect sense now that you explain that......

so when I was using it, I was leaving the chain stop "centered". Then adjusting the gizmo that moves the chainstop for side to side.

wrong???

 

[ericjeeper]

As for grind angles.

I have found out it is an operator preference. some even want 25 degrees for winter cutting. And the 10 degree is pretty evident by looking at how the grinder attacks the tooth.You can see that the tooth has a slight lean to it.by the way the grind tapers going out to the end of the tooth.(I found this out on the very first chain I ground wrong). But the next time I ran it through I corrected my mistake.(after someone told me to use the chart that came with the grinder).Gee read instructions? who would have thunk huh?

 

[bytehoven]

I found this Stihl .pdf file on chain sharpening.

http://www.stihllibrary.com/pdf/SharpAdvice061301final.pdf

It does not go into specifics, but has some interesting info, especially on diagnosing various forms of chain & bar wear.

 

[woodchux]

if anybody knows where I can find that info that would be great.

 

[Adam217]

Too funny, I forgot that was there, I was looking for some up to date documentation from Stihl, that manual didn't list RSC chain.

As for centering the chain, I adjusted the center stopper bolt so that the vise bars look to have an even amount of bow to them while looking from above with it clamped tight, adjustments must be made while loose. I think you want to move the chain stop a little in or out depending on what side of the chain you are sharpening to center it behind the cutter.

Try the manual from this page http://www.oregonchain.com/accessories.htm , you want the "User Manual for 511A Bench Chain Grinder" . I goes through the setup process step by step.

 

[kevinj]

Thanks A Lot !!
Good info here also !!

 

[jrclen]

When I pick up a tool (or anything else) made in China I expect that I will need to do some finish work that really should have been done at the factory.

Great post. My stepson dropped off one of these grinders today for me to figure out and mount in the basement. I'll use your tips to finish it.

 

[ms310]

Ok so how many of you guys with the 193020 chinese knock off get the razor sharp results? I have used mine now for about 3 months and am seriousley thinking of going back to hand filing. I have read alot on as today and plan on trying it again i have 6 chains in the shop i am going to hit today, and will put the 10 degree angle on them, however i have never had one of these chains cut my hand like they do when i file them.