Baldor Grinder bearing cover?

[Crank1]

Hey folks I'm seeking a little help or opinions on my 8" baldor grinder. After waiting entirely too long on my multitool attachment from Vansant I'm ready to put it together.

The first thing you have to do to make room for the belt sander attachment is to remove the original 8" wheel and guard.

Now, under the wheel guard is a small 1/4" thick piece of insulation, then a wavy washer to hold tension on a few other flat washer/shims which are directly in front of the spindle bearings. I'm assuming this all needs to stay in place but the new piece that bolts to where the guard was originally has a larger bore for the spindle and the holes are slotted... Which to makes me think debris could get past them and to the bearings, has anyone ever removed the guards and ran it like that or what do I need to do to make this thing work?
Thanks everyone, hope some of this makes some sense

 

[Willapa27]

First, a general comment. Baldor parts lists and parts diagrams do not make it easy on the consumer. For instance, parts diagrams do not show all parts - e.g., the bearing shims, tension ring, and 1/4" insulation ring you mention - if it is insulation.

It is my opinion the insulation ring may be a debris shield. Possibly, you could make one out of a similar material with a larger diameter.

In closing, I have a question I hope you will be kind enough to answer: I am converting my 8" Baldor grinder to a grinder/buffer, which means I removed one wheel guard and am replacing it with a Baldor buffer bearing retainer (end plate), since it is not safe to use a buff with a guard.

You mentioned the three flat bearing shims go directly against the bearing with the tension ring on top, held in place by either the Vansant device or, originally, the wheel guard. Are you certain about that order of assembly? It seems to make sense, but I seem to remember the tension ring went directly against the bearing, with the shims on top.

Please advise.

 

[Crank1]

Do you have a link or picture to one of the end plates? I'm all ready to actually make one in my machining class since I didn't see that as an option.

As far as the order if things. From outside in is insulation ring, tension ring, then shims, but I did remove the outer 2 pieces and may have gotten them flipped but the shims were definitely inside

 

[Willapa27]

Baldor calls it a bearing retainer, Part No. RB3010. What Baldor calls the end plate is actually the cone-shaped piece held to the armature housing by the four long thru bolts, which I don't think you are saying you need. The bearing retainer is for the 3/4 HP buffer such as the 333B. I'm not sure you want or need this, but you can go to the Baldor site or Google this to see that part on the buffer. It is not totally flat on the outside, and the inside has a machined ring to properly locate the retainer and depress the tension spring. At any rate, it also fits the 8107W 8" grinder and, I assume, other 3/4 HP grinders. I'm not able to post the picture for you because I have no URL to assign it to.

Baldor parts are available from Applied Industrial Technologies, and finding that out was like pulling teeth.

If there's something else, let me know.

 

[Willapa27]

I was wrong. The bearing cover is flat but would have to be made more flat by disc sanding or machining. An alternative to buying the bearing cover is to cut down the right side wheel guard and then bolt it back on. Parts are cheaper through Allied than in the Baldor parts list. I now have an extra right side cast iron wheel guard, sans tool rest and fasteners, new, for forty dollars, buyer pays actual shipping.

I guess we all wish we were Bill Gates and could afford a Baldor 602E-MT multi tool. That is one rock solid guy.

 

[Crank1]

Yea I noticed I could cut the original down but I've got a nice hunk if steel I think I'm gonna widdle out while wasting time at school anyway.