One of the more frequent questions we've been getting in the Tech Services Department is, "How can I make my resurfacer wheel last longer?" The short answer is to maintain proper coolant and be sure to dress the wheel with a star dresser. This will give you better performance and the wheel should last longer.
Remember too, Goodson offers a 1-year abrasive warranty from the date of purchase. After a year, the bond will begin to break down and the wheel may fail, so be sure to use your abrasives promptly.
The other common question we get related to resurfacing wheels is, "Why did my wheel fall off the plate?"
The most common cause of failure we hear about in resurfacing wheels is plate separation. To prevent plate separation, we must first know what causes it. So here goes:
- A warped mounting flange
- Incomplete cleaning of the mounting flange
- Weak coolant
- Improperly mounting the wheel in the machine
Let’s look at each of these in more detail.
Warped Mounting Flange
For proper performance the mounting flange on your machine must be flat and warp-free. The wheels we ship out are true to within .003”. If your mounting flange is warped, you will have trouble getting the wheel to seat properly. It will also cause the wheel to deflect when pressure is put on it during the grinding process. This will cause the abrasive to separate from the plate over time.
Incomplete Flange Cleaning
When the mounting flange isn’t cleaned completely, you’re asking for trouble. The gunk (for want of a better term) that gets introduced during the grinding process, if not properly removed when mounting a new wheel will prevent proper mating of the flange and the wheel plate.
Think of it this way. When you change a wheel on your car, you make sure any road debris, rust, etc. is removed from the axle. Why? Because it will make proper mounting of the wheel more difficult and get in the way of proper balance, causing wheel wobble. Same principle.
Weak coolant
Weak grinding coolant in your machine will allow rust to build up between the wheel and plate. This rust will then weaken the abrasive bond, which causes the wheel and plate to separate.
Always check the concentration and pH of your coolant on a regular basis; especially if you don’t use the machine every day. Evaporation will change the coolant concentration and affect the grinding wheel.
Improper Wheel Mounting
An improperly mounted wheel – one that isn’t mounted perfectly flat against the flange surface – will wobble and won’t grind properly.
By following these tips and performing regular maintenance on your resurfacing machine you will not only extend the life of your grinding wheel, you’ll get better results in less time.
As always, if you have questions about this or any other technical issue related to our products, call the Tech Services Department at 1-800-533-8010 or 1-507-452-1830 or send us an email.