Grinder: Motor Spins but Grinding Wheel Doesn't
If the motor spins but the grinding wheel doesn't on your grinder, chances are that one of these parts will need to be replaced: the gears, flange, spindle, and coupler. Read our troubleshooting guide for tips on how you can fix this common issue yourself as quickly and easily as possible. Refer to your owner's manual for specific instructions for your model.
Flanges
Worn flanges will have a problem gripping the grinding disc, preventing it from spinning or slipping. As flanges wear, replace them as maintenance. Remove the lock nut, the outer flange, grinding disc and inner flange. Reinstall with a new inner flange, grinding disc and inner flange. Reinstall with a new inner flange, grinding disc, a new outer flange and lock nut. The diameter of a flange must be equal to, or greater than, one-third of the wheel’s diameter. Now, secure the lock nut. Some grinding discs have built-in flanges – it is possible to have a defective one. Try a new one to see if this solves the issue.
Worn flanges will have a problem gripping the grinding disc, preventing it from spinning or slipping. As flanges wear, replace them as maintenance. Remove the lock nut, the outer flange, grinding disc and inner flange. Reinstall with a new inner flange, grinding disc and inner flange. Reinstall with a new inner flange, grinding disc, a new outer flange and lock nut. The diameter of a flange must be equal to, or greater than, one-third of the wheel’s diameter. Now, secure the lock nut. Some grinding discs have built-in flanges – it is possible to have a defective one. Try a new one to see if this solves the issue.
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Gears
Gears transmit power. A broken gear will not be able to transmit power from the motor to the grinding wheel. To inspect for a broken gear, remove the wheel cover and handle. Remove the screws securing the spindle box assembly to the gear box assembly and separate. The following procedure will vary on all models. If you notice a broken gear, remove the bearing with a bearing separator or puller. Remove the retaining ring securing the spindle gear. Take out the spindle gear, with the woodruff key, and install the new spindle gear (with the woodruff key), making sure the woodruff key stays in place.
Reinstall the retaining ring, followed by the bearing, using a socket that only makes contact with the inner bearing race to avoid damage. Tap into place with a hammer. With the spindle box assembly removed, you can inspect the armature gear inside the gear housing....
Reinstall the retaining ring, followed by the bearing, using a socket that only makes contact with the inner bearing race to avoid damage. Tap into place with a hammer. With the spindle box assembly removed, you can inspect the armature gear inside the gear housing....
Gears transmit power. A broken gear will not be able to transmit power from the motor to the grinding wheel. To inspect for a broken gear, remove the wheel cover and handle. Remove the screws securing the spindle box assembly to the gear box assembly and separate. The following procedure will vary on all models. If you notice a broken gear, remove the bearing with a bearing separator or puller. Remove the retaining ring securing the spindle gear. Take out the spindle gear, with the woodruff key, and install the new spindle gear (with the woodruff key), making sure the woodruff key stays in place.
Reinstall the retaining ring, followed by the bearing, using a socket that only makes contact with the inner bearing race to avoid damage. Tap into place with a hammer. With the spindle box assembly removed, you can inspect the armature gear inside the gear housing.
To replace the armature gear, remove the housing off the grinder. Remove the retaining clip, or nut, and pull the gear off. Install the new armature gear and reinstall the retaining ring or nut. Reassemble the gear housing onto the grinder. Repack the spindle box with fresh grease and then reinstall the spindle box assembly to the gear box housing. Reattach the wheel cover and handle. Then, reinstall the grinder wheel, with flanges, and secure with the lock nut.
Reinstall the retaining ring, followed by the bearing, using a socket that only makes contact with the inner bearing race to avoid damage. Tap into place with a hammer. With the spindle box assembly removed, you can inspect the armature gear inside the gear housing.
To replace the armature gear, remove the housing off the grinder. Remove the retaining clip, or nut, and pull the gear off. Install the new armature gear and reinstall the retaining ring or nut. Reassemble the gear housing onto the grinder. Repack the spindle box with fresh grease and then reinstall the spindle box assembly to the gear box housing. Reattach the wheel cover and handle. Then, reinstall the grinder wheel, with flanges, and secure with the lock nut.
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Spindles
A broken spindle will not be able to transmit power. The spindle is located inside the spindle box assembly. It is threaded on one end to mount the grinding wheels, while the other end houses the bearing and spindle gear. If the spindle is broken, it will need to be replaced.
To replace a broken spindle, begin by removing the wheel cover and the handle. Remove the spindle box assembly from the gear box housing. Depending on your model, the bearing and gear placement may be in reversed position on the spindle. Remove the spindle bearing using a bearing separator or a bearing puller. Remove the retaining ring, wave washer – if your unit has one – and the spindle gear, with the woodruff key. Remove the spindle housing from the spindle, followed by the labyrinth ring.
Install the parts in reverse order onto the new spindle. Make sure the...
To replace a broken spindle, begin by removing the wheel cover and the handle. Remove the spindle box assembly from the gear box housing. Depending on your model, the bearing and gear placement may be in reversed position on the spindle. Remove the spindle bearing using a bearing separator or a bearing puller. Remove the retaining ring, wave washer – if your unit has one – and the spindle gear, with the woodruff key. Remove the spindle housing from the spindle, followed by the labyrinth ring.
Install the parts in reverse order onto the new spindle. Make sure the...
A broken spindle will not be able to transmit power. The spindle is located inside the spindle box assembly. It is threaded on one end to mount the grinding wheels, while the other end houses the bearing and spindle gear. If the spindle is broken, it will need to be replaced.
To replace a broken spindle, begin by removing the wheel cover and the handle. Remove the spindle box assembly from the gear box housing. Depending on your model, the bearing and gear placement may be in reversed position on the spindle. Remove the spindle bearing using a bearing separator or a bearing puller. Remove the retaining ring, wave washer – if your unit has one – and the spindle gear, with the woodruff key. Remove the spindle housing from the spindle, followed by the labyrinth ring.
Install the parts in reverse order onto the new spindle. Make sure the woodruff key stays in place when installing the spindle gear. When installing the bearing, place a socket that only makes contact with the inner race of the bearing to avoid damage. Tap in place with a hammer. Pack the spindle box assembly with new grease and then reattach the spindle assembly box to the gear box housing. Install the wheel cover and handle. Reinstall the inner flange, grinding wheel and outer flange onto the spindle and tighten with the lock nut.
To replace a broken spindle, begin by removing the wheel cover and the handle. Remove the spindle box assembly from the gear box housing. Depending on your model, the bearing and gear placement may be in reversed position on the spindle. Remove the spindle bearing using a bearing separator or a bearing puller. Remove the retaining ring, wave washer – if your unit has one – and the spindle gear, with the woodruff key. Remove the spindle housing from the spindle, followed by the labyrinth ring.
Install the parts in reverse order onto the new spindle. Make sure the woodruff key stays in place when installing the spindle gear. When installing the bearing, place a socket that only makes contact with the inner race of the bearing to avoid damage. Tap in place with a hammer. Pack the spindle box assembly with new grease and then reattach the spindle assembly box to the gear box housing. Install the wheel cover and handle. Reinstall the inner flange, grinding wheel and outer flange onto the spindle and tighten with the lock nut.
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Couplers
On certain applications, such as a wire brush, a coupler nut may be used to secure it to the grinder. Make sure the threads are in good working order and the nut is tight. If the threads are wearing, install a new coupler nut.
On certain applications, such as a wire brush, a coupler nut may be used to secure it to the grinder. Make sure the threads are in good working order and the nut is tight. If the threads are wearing, install a new coupler nut.
Find your Couplers here
