Belt sander assembly question

[trainguytom]

I have a "goldie" belt sander that I disassembled a while ago to restore & will get to it some day, I'm sure, but I recently found a later gray one and after taking off the backup plate to clean up some rust, I'm getting ready to put it back on.
Since I have the manual for it, I didn't really pay attention to all the parts when I took it apart, figuring that in a pinch I could rely on the parts explosion pic to re-assemble.
What I'm wondering is: I have 12 (as the manual says) 1/8" washers that are part of the backup plate/screw/clip assembly, but I think I really should only use 6, one for each screw. I referred to my older belt sander manual because I thought I only needed 6, and it shows only 6 washers in the parts list. I think 2 per screw as a spacer makes the belt ride too high above the frame & one for each screw appears to be best. So why do I have & why does the newer parts pic show 12. ( I really wish I had looked closer when I took it apart.

[billmayo]

All versions of the belt sanders used 12 of the washers. I have not seen any with 6 washers. I have assembled one with 6 washers and did not see any problems when using this sander.

[JPG]

Note last three pix this 'post'.

http://www.shopsmith.com/ss_forum/viewt ... 213#p94213

[trainguytom]

Thanks for the info. The earlier Magna beltsander manual dated 1955 only shows 6 washers required and the manual dated 7/72 lists 12 washers even though the exploded pic shows one washer per hole, identical to the pic in the 1955 manual. It just looked to me like 2 washers puts the belt too high.
oh well, sounds like as long as the belt rides above the side castings I'm okay.