KMG and 1.5 HP motor experience

[alexkuzn]

I got my KMG last week. I am enjoying every minute I am working on it. I am really happy you guys talked me into buying it!

It's a setup with pulleys and 1.5 HP "WEG" Brasilian brand motor from eBay that seems to be a good quality product but it can be bogged down when heavy grinding.

Is it just my motor or all 1.5 HP motors suppose to be like that?

BTW I want to get a glass platen. Where is the best place(cheap and good quality) to get it?

Thanks,
Alex

[Andrew Garrett]

It never fails to amaze me how differently things work for different people.

I have a 1HP farm duty that I bought at Tractor Supply. I have it set up with pulleys to power my MT II.

I have tried to bog it down but can't. The belt will spin on both the drive wheel and the serrated rubber contact-wheel before the motor will give in the slightest! That's not to say that this slippage is easy to achieve either! I have to lean into it with considerable force (enough to push a light car on level ground).

I'm sure your motor is fine. I just like to marvel at the diverse experiences of newbies like me.

How much steel are you trying to hog? I use my band saw for as much as I can to save my belts.

Enjoy!!

[alexkuzn]

I am grinding 3/16 blade and I don't have to push it too hard against platen to make it slowdown.
May be my v-belt is slipping?

My motor:
http://catalog.wegelectric.com/produtoInformacao.asp
search for Catalog Number: 00158ES1BF56C

[Andrew Garrett]

If you can hear the motor bogging down, it's not your belt. Is it a 1750RPM motor?

[alexkuzn]

Yes it's a 1750 RPM

[Andrew Garrett]

Maybe one of the pro can help with this one. It could be wheel ratios I suppose. I'm just not too sure.

But hey..., you're grinding steel on a first class machine! How bad can it be?

[Jeremy Krammes]

I'm currently using a 1.5 HP with step pullys on my KMG. I have stoped the belt on my platen, but the motor kept on spinning. You shouldn't have to use that much pressure. I was using a dull belt.

Jeremy

[hogcat]

I have said before, you get what you pay for in a motor. A cheap low price motor that says 1 horse is not a true 1 horse motor. I have a shop vac that says 6 horsepower, but no way is it 6hp!!!! I have a 1 horse Dayton motor that will not bog down on 1 to 1 ratio on my KMG. I tried and broke the belt!!!! It cost $150.00 but it is strong. I have a friend who has the same KMG with a Harbor Freight 1.5 horse and it will bog down easy!!!

[philip bradford]

A few things come to mind and without actually seeing your setup I'm only guessing.

First, just because the motor claims to be 1 1/2 HP doesn't really mean it is. It might be or it might really be equivalent to a 3/4 to 1hp high quality motor. I'm not familar with the brand you are using.

Second, If the belt is not tight with a "good belt", it could just be slipping.

Third, If you are running at slow speed, it is much easier to stall the belt than running at a fast speed. Of course it could be a combination of these.

As far as glass platens go, I've been very happy with mine from Steve Pryor. It wasn't very expensive and you can find his web address by just searching pyroceram.

Hope that helps.

Philip

[alexkuzn]

Update:

as someone suggested it was a problem with my wiring.
I was using 14 gauge extention cord and it was robbing a lot of power.
I just got 10 gauge extention and it made a big difference.

[hammerdownnow]

Good tips guys. What a great resourse this place is for solving problems.

[Don Halter]

Andrew,
I've been considering one of those motors. They seem to have good prices and decent motors. Which one did you get?

Alex,
Wiring makes a big difference. My entire shop is run off a single 20A circuit, then 150' of 12 ga extension cord. I tried to go through and set it up with parallel and series outlets to maximize th eloads I can put on it, but my Grizzly will still dim the lights If I
'm grinding large surface/contact area items. On my old set-up, that motor wouldn't bog down for anything. I have 300' of #6 cable so I can run a 50A 220 line out to the shop. if it ever cools off down here, I'll dig the lines and lay the cable! My wife gets a little annoyed when she's walking out behind the house after dark and I turn on the grinder, or any other 1hp motored item. Our large dawn-dusk yar- light tuns off for a minute when I power those up and it gets rather dark out in the country at night, without light.

[alexkuzn]

I have the same motor as eBay #7543282503
it's a good solid quality motor and can be wired for 115v or 220v. "WEG" is a Brasilian brand.
For $70 it's a steal. I paid $95 a week ago.

I am going to upgrade my garage wiring. I decided to go for 220v line. I was told that motor runs better on 220v than on 115v.

Does anyone know exactly why 220v is better than 115v?

Thanks,
Alex

[alexkuzn]

Here is an update on 115v vs. 220v wiring based on my research

If you have a choice always go for 220v. wiring
You'll be able to use longer wires(extension) without loosing much power due to less amperage for 220v line.
Voltage dropping with 220v is less compared to 115v.
It's also "make your house circuitry more balanced" (quote from licenced electrician)

BTW It costs the same to make a 115 v or 220 v line.