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Setting Wheel Bearing Clearances

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  2. Purpose Statement
    1. Define a procedure to gain constancy in method of adjustment of Carriage Bearing clearance to prevent binding and other performance problems
  3. Scope
    1. All ESAB Cutting Machines with Flat Cross Axis Rails and "V" Cross Axis Rails
  4. References
    1. N/A
  2. Procedure
  • NOTE 1: Carriages must be fully assembled before wheels are adjusted for clearances. Weight distribution may be different before final assembly of the carriages.
  • NOTE 2: Due to variance in rail thickness or spacing tolerance between rails, it is important to make the following adjustments on the same location on the rail.
  1. Flat Rails
    1. Upper Rail Carriage Wheels . Because of center of gravity of the carriage being located out away from the rails, force is always going to be on the Rear Eccentric Bearing Assembly. The Front Fixed Bearing Assembly is relegated to being a guide wheel only. This is the wheel that requires clearance of .003 inch space between Rail and Wheel.
      1. Loosen lock nut on the Rear Eccentric Bearing Assembly ½ turn.
      2. Place a piece of .003 steel shim stock between the radial surface of the Front Fixed Bearing and the front surface of the top rail.
      3. Using a tool, ex. 5/32 in., a 4 mm Internal Hex wrench (Allen) or a 3/16 in drive pin punch, inserted in to the hole in the shaft of the Rear Eccentric Bearing Assembly, rotate the eccentric assembly either clockwise or counter-clockwise until the .003 in. shim stock begins to be pinched between the Front Fixed Bearing and the rail.
      4. Tighten the Lock Nut of the Rear Eccentric Bearing Assembly
      5. Roll the Carriage off the shim to remove.
      6. Repeat procedure for the right handed and left handed side of all carriages.

     

  2. Lower Carriage Wheels

    1. Loosen Bearing Shaft Set Screws for the Back Guide Bearing and the Bottom Guide Bearing.
    2. Place .003 in. shim stock between each of the bearings to be adjusted and the lower cross axis rail.
    3. Using a Special thin (.25 in.) ¾ inch (or 19 mm) wrench, adjust the hex portion of bearing shaft to rotate and pinch the shim stock against the rail.
    4. Roll the carriage off the shim to remove it.
    5. Repeat for Right hand and Left-hand side of all carriages.
    1. Carriage design variations. Carriages mounted on flat rail beams may vary in appearance. However, the concept is the same with the same bearing positions being spaced away from the rail by .003.

     

  1. "V" Type Cross Axis Rails
    1. Loosen the locking bolt located in the center of the lower bearing in the back of the assembly. Loosen ¼ turn.
    2. Rotate Eccentric Shaft so that lower bearing will slide when pressure is applied by pinching the "V" wheel between the thumb / index finger and rolling the carriage.
    3. It is possible to have too much clearance between the rail and the "V" wheel. To test for this condition, grip the bottom of the carriage with both hands and pull towards you. There should be a maximum of .03 in. movement at the torch tip as the result of this action. Adjust the eccentrics until both pinch (4.2.2.) and pull (4.2.3.) conditions have been met.
    4. Tighten locking screw while holding the Eccentric Hex with a wrench and re-test wheel bearing clearance, pinch and pull.
    5. Repeat for Left and Right-hand side lower eccentric bearings.