Anyone replace bearings on an HF grinder?

[vintagefan]

I just picked up an HF grinder after work today, and I didn't do great, but it did solve an immediate need. My old grinder died, and I needed something cheap and effective to last me for however long it takes me to procure a high quality unit.

It's the 6" grinder w/lamp, item #37822. It came with the HF stand also, #42986. I got the pair for $20, probably could have gotten the guy down to $15, but he was a young dad and didn't look like he had a whole lot left to get rid of. I just didn't have the heart for it.

I was quite happy with the stand, because I didn't want to go to all of the effort of building a nice stand for a crappy grinder, but I'm also not a "park it on the bench" kind of guy either.

Either way, I tested it before purchase, and although the bearings definitely have some wear, they've got a bit more life before failure. They're still solid by feel, and run quietly, but you can tell they have been spun up and down quite a few times.

When they start to go, I'm hoping to have a nicer grinder already in place. I was planning on possibly replacing the bearings on this unit, and then using it for a wire wheel and a scotch-brite wheel.

Have any of you replaced the bearings on these units? If not, do you know of a (REALLY!) cheap place for bearings, as I don't want to sink a dime more into this unit than I have to.

Thanks!

 

[Burtonrider10022]

http://manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/37000-37999/37822.pdf


that's the owners manual for it. Second to last page is the parts diagram. #10 is the ball bearings, and it looks like it would be about 7 screws per side to get to the bearings.

 

[vintagefan]

http://manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/37000-37999/37822.pdf


that's the owners manual for it. Second to last page is the parts diagram. #10 is the ball bearings, and it looks like it would be about 7 screws per side to get to the bearings.

I might try and get ahold of them for fun, to see what they cost, but I was hoping to try and get a slightly better quality pair for cheap, if possible.

I already had it cracked open, in fact I'm happy I did, as the twine trussing holding the coils together was rotted and most of it fell off when I pulled the shaft/rotor/bearing assembly. I added a couple dabs of high temp epoxy onto some windings that were a bit loose since the outer wrap was gone. It's possible that could have been a failure point in the future.

I've probably already put more time than I should have into it, but luckily I enjoy my hobby time in my shop, so I don't really count it as money spent.

Either way, I was able to inspect the bearings out of the housing, and though they are well worn, they are still fairly reasonable for the time being.

 

[Burtonrider10022]

Take them to a local shop of some sort that has bearings and see if you can find a match? Maybe check eBay for another grinder that someone fried the motor on but still has good bearings and pick it up cheap?