Always wanted to try grinding a bedbar. A few weeks ago, an opportunity presented itself. Had a customer bedbar in poor shape and wound up saving the bedbar. After talking to @MikeRollinsSIP about how their system works we figured out what I wanted to do for my set up. Also @jaydotseedot explained to me about these 123 blocks which made this set up so much easier.
New tools. I had a dial gauge, but the digital was easier to zero out for reference.
Originally going to do this after next top dressing but the bedknives wouldn't let me lol.
Clean the bedbar surface well after removing bedknife.
The video above shows six inches of space under the bedbar on levelling plate .
Stacking the 123 blocks on end and putting bedbar on top I'm able to take readings.
Was interesting to see how of they were. All three bedbars were different too.
Measuring at the pivot bolts I'm able to measure distance difference on each end. @Canadian79 (these are all twitter handles) suggested just laying the bar flat on leveling table and measure pivot bolts from top which make total sense. But I found it cool to see how wonky these bars are lol .
This first one I did was .32 mm off.
No to mount bedbar on grinder I had to place 2 nuts here. They must be tall enough to tip bar over enough for a full surface grind.
Secure it on one of the nutted areas with a large C clamp.
Scratch bedbar first like you would setting up a new bedknife to find the closest point to center. Then move stone back so it's not touching. Hook up dial indicator and zero both ends the best you can. On the high side I took off halve of the .32mm
A few videos. The JRM stone surprisingly made quick work of it. Allow double your usual grind time to do this. It's A intime grind for me anyway. We will see how they are next bedknife change.
First attempt went very well.
Second bar is the one that had a big gap. Almost done grinding but you can reely see it.
All done,clean up threads and lube before putting on new bedbar.
Things I noticed, bedknife sat flat to bar, also when flipping from top face to front face there was little adjustment difference. Yes, I had to move stone back to clear for flipping but setting up ends there was little to do.
Last bar looks like it had a little twist on one end.
After installing bedbar with new knife I rechecked squaring to front rollers. All mine, were good.
So excited to try it out tomorrow
I forgot the seat made a new home on one of the tractors. lol
So I switched it to the other unit. Going out tomorrow and interested to see if there is a difference from the tech vision. We always see something.
I was planning on only doing this to the green's units, but we have at least thirty reels, and I'd say only one sets up easily from top grind to front face.
After tomorrow's trial will see about picking away at the rest of them when bedknives are do for replacement.
They mowed 12 to 6 today. Nice and flat no weird lines. Once they dried wheel marks are not noticeable at all.
Bents looken great at .120"
Going to be worth the trouble to do the other unit .
