Tips on removing stuck wheel on bench grinder

[jd5000]

Any tips on removing a wheel on old bench grinder where the nut is stuck? I was able to remove the wheel on the right, but the wheel on the left isn't budging. I squirted some PB blaster. And, yes, I know that the left side has reverse threads.

Any tips welcome.

 

[WWheeler]

I've had to clamp locking soft jaw pliers (or would have used a rag or cardboard and a pair of vise grips) on the wheel just tight enough to hold it against the grinder housing so I can shock the wrench on the nut with a deadblow in the proper direction.

 

[timgunn1962]

An impact wrench is likely to make it a bit easier: It's usually difficult to hold the shaft against steady torque.

If you can get 2 nuts on the RH-threaded end, you might be able to hold the shaft that way. In the past, I've used a G-clamp and a couple of bits of leather on the wheel to jam against the inside guard, but only when the wheel is never going to see further use anyway.

 

[FrankLee]

Any tips on removing a wheel on old bench grinder where the nut is stuck? I was able to remove the wheel on the right, but the wheel on the left isn't budging. I squirted some PB blaster. And, yes, I know that the left side has reverse threads.

Any tips welcome.

You need a RH jam nut...

Procedure:

• use a wrench on each arbor nut
• remove the right side nut first
• remove the outer flange and stone
• thread the jam nut and the original nut back onto the right side arbor and tighten them against each other
• use wrenches on the right side outer jam nut and on the left side nut
• remove the left side nut
• remove the left outer flange and stone
• loosen and remove the jam nuts from the right side arbor

True jam nuts are about half the thickness of a standard nut. However, any nut can be a jam nut when tightened against another nut. There are many applications for using jams nuts.

 

[Achilleus]

You need a RH jam nut...

Pure genius! Love it!

 

[jd5000]

Thanks for all the tips.

Well, the good news is that I was able to get the bolt off.

The bad news is that the nut shattered.

 

[micromind]

Impact with deep socket.

Just for basic info, to loosen the nut on any rotating wheel, turn it in the direction of normal rotation. Some are right-hand threads, some are left.

 

[NoUserName]

Any tips on removing a wheel on old bench grinder where the nut is stuck? I was able to remove the wheel on the right, but the wheel on the left isn't budging. I squirted some PB blaster. And, yes, I know that the left side has reverse threads.

Any tips welcome.

Left side of a bench grinder is reverse threaded...IE: lefty tighty, righty loosey. Based on the shatter pattern, I can tell that you impacted it turning left until it blew apart.

Edit: I misspoke. The above should have read that the pattern shows you impacted turning left (tightening).

 

[jd5000]

Left side of a bench grinder is reverse threaded...IE: lefty tighty, righty loosey. Based on the shatter pattern, I can tell that you impacted it turning right until it blew apart.

No, I was going in the correct direction.

 

[NoUserName]

No, I was going in the correct direction.

That's not what the damage to the nut indicates, the sheering indicates you were going left in an attempt to loosen which in fact was tightening it. It also explains why, as you explained, your right side came off easily but that you struggled with the left side. There's no evidence of cross threading or threadlock use either that otherwise could've been the reason for a struggle IF you had been going in the correct direction. But, ok...

 

[micromind]

When removing a bolt or nut on a saw or grinder, loosen is always in the direction of rotation, tighten is always opposite.

This is because when the blade or wheel is loaded up, the bolt/nut will tighten.

 

[rust in the eye]

That's not what the damage to the nut indicates, the sheering indicates you were going left in an attempt to loosen which in fact was tightening it. It also explains why, as you explained, your right side came off easily but that you struggled with the left side. There's no evidence of cross threading or threadlock use either that otherwise could've been the reason for a struggle IF you had been going in the correct direction. But, ok...

It's possible the nut was previously impacted on which would explain a lot.

 

[seber]

The wrench marks show it was cranked in the proper direction. The extremely rough threads would explain the problem. Mcmaster sells left hand nuts. You will also need a new thrust washer. You will find them listed as arbor shims. Make sure you get one thick enough to be stable on the shaft.

 

[jd5000]

The wrench marks show it was cranked in the proper direction. The extremely rough threads would explain the problem. Mcmaster sells left hand nuts. You will also need a new thrust washer. You will find them listed as arbor shims. Make sure you get one thick enough to be stable on the shaft.

I had the wheel wedged everywhere (probably had 10 wedges in there). Even used penetrating oil overnight on threads. Wasn't budging. Used a wrench about two feet long, wasn't budging. Added a 3-4 foot pipe to wrench. Went slow, but that is when the nut busted.

Note, I did not have a six-sided socket that was big enough to fit (I do now) so I was using the wrench.

I was turning in the proper direction, though.

 

[micromind]

You guys and all your fancy wrenches, pipes and other stuff..........the solution is much simpler.....

1) Get a VFD.

2) Program the frequency limit for the max HZ listed on the nameplate.

3) Hook it up to said grinder.

4) Switch it on.

Soon, the wheel will explode.

Caution. Danger. Warning. Pelegro. Do not stand in the line of fire. In fact, do not be anywhere near it........

 

[RoninB4]

-Whatever wheel came off the left side I would be very hesitant to use again due to the trouble with removing the nut. If there was enough stress to shatter the nut then there may very well be stress fractures in the wheel itself. "Ringing" the wheel may not present enough indication of a fracture and/or an undetected fracture may propagate into a much larger one that ends in catastrophic failure during use. Ever seen a grinding wheel explode? It happens so fast/suddenly you won't have time to react. Toss the wheel, it isn't worth the risk IMO.

 

[jd5000]

-Whatever wheel came off the left side I would be very hesitant to use again due to the trouble with removing the nut. If there was enough stress to shatter the nut then there may very well be stress fractures in the wheel itself. "Ringing" the wheel may not present enough indication of a fracture and/or an undetected fracture may propagate into a much larger one that ends in catastrophic failure during use. Ever seen a grinding wheel explode? It happens so fast/suddenly you won't have time to react. Toss the wheel, it isn't worth the risk IMO.

It was tossed the second it came off the grinder

 

[RoninB4]

It was tossed the second it came off the grinder

-Perhaps I should have mentioned that a broken grinding wheel can still sometimes be repurposed by using the broken sections as a hand held stone. If the side of the wheel hasn't been used during it's life (bad habit to do) then the center of the wheel can be broken out and if the remaining section is still flat enough then it's still an abrasive that can be used for rough stoning/deburring of surfaces/edges and save your better quality India stones for other tasks. I've got a section of a thread grinding wheel that I use now and then because it's flat and fine grained. You do still have to use the section with oil to avoid clogging, same as any other abrasive. Just a suggestion, hope it helps someone.

 

[TedsGMC]

How I got the wheels off of my '75 Craftsman grinder after I purchased it was I tilted the grinder in a vertical position and than used WD-40 on the nut and let it soak in for about an hour than a few more squirts and an hour or two of being saturated in WD I was able to free the nut off of the shaft. I also used a socket wrench and was careful not to force it as this could break the nut off of the shaft and then the grinder would be useless. But before I put new wheels on the grinder I made sure the threads were clean and I put a dab of lithuium grease on the shaft threads to keep it from rusting and make it easier to remove the wheels. In this case WD and a few hours of patience worked like charm.