Shopsmith Forums

After all these many years, I am having trouble with my belt sander. Actually, I seem to have two problems.

First, I just cannot keep the proper level of tension on the belt and as a result, the belt creeps off the drive wheel to the left.

This all started when I decided to install a new sanding belt. Up until I did that, the belt tracked fine and the tension knob stayed where it was set. Now, when I adjust the tension it seems that the tension know nevers locks in place. When I turn the sander on, I can seen the tension knob slowly moving counter clockwise will it releases tension.

I notice that none of my new sanding belts have the Shopsmith name on them. Is this normal? I don't have any of my old belts to check. I do recall that when I received this order of belts, they all looked different than previous belts. I bought these just before Shopsmith came out with new belts and new abrasives.

I'm wondering if these belts are possibly a different size.

It's a good thing I bought that RO sander or I'd be doing everything by hand.

Hi Dusty,

Do you have the operating manual for your belt sander? I had the same problem a few weeks ago and found the solution in the manual. It is on page #25 and titled TENSIONING THE IDLE DRUM.

If you do not have the manual, I can type the directions here.

dusty wrote:After all these many years, I am having trouble with my belt sander. Actually, I seem to have two problems.

First, I just cannot keep the proper level of tension on the belt and as a result, the belt creeps off the drive wheel to the left.

This all started when I decided to install a new sanding belt. Up until I did that, the belt tracked fine and the tension knob stayed where it was set. Now, when I adjust the tension it seems that the tension know nevers locks in place. When I turn the sander on, I can seen the tension knob slowly moving counter clockwise will it releases tension.

I notice that none of my new sanding belts have the Shopsmith name on them. Is this normal? I don't have any of my old belts to check. I do recall that when I received this order of belts, they all looked different than previous belts. I bought these just before Shopsmith came out with new belts and new abrasives.

I'm wondering if these belts are possibly a different size.

It's a good thing I bought that RO sander or I'd be doing everything by hand.

I believe you have a belt that is slightly longer than the ones you have been using. If you refer to your manual you will find that by turning the nut on the pin (part 1 in this diagram) in conjunction with turning the tracking thumbwheel, you can adjust for different length belts.

S Brian wrote:Hi Dusty,

Do you have the operating manual for your belt sander? I had the same problem a few weeks ago and found the solution in the manual. It is on page #25 and titled TENSIONING THE IDLE DRUM.

If you do not have the manual, I can type the directions here.

Thank you for the offer. I have the manual.

SDSSmith wrote:I believe you have a belt that is slightly longer than the ones you have been using. If you refer to your manual you will find that by turning the nut on the pin (part 1 in this diagram) in conjunction with turning the tracking thumbwheel, you can adjust for different length belts.

Thanks, Rob. I guess I might be ignoring the obvious because I have changed out belts so many time without having this problem. That coupled with the fact that I have purchased ALL of my belts from Shopsmith and expected (maybe unwisely) that they are all the same size.

I have the belt on now and it is tracking OKAY but I believe I have it too tight now.

I adjusted the nut that you directed me too, Rob, and then adjusted the tension control to approximate the same height on that side. However, the tension knob does not work correctly.

You have most probably put me on the right track to recovery. The belt, whatever size it is, can be made to work correctly. I just need to fine tune my skills in doing this installation/adjustment.

In all these years, I have never had to mess with this.

This may be a good reason for why all of my sanding belts need to come from Shopsmith. Which brings me back to my earlier question.

Are the Shopsmith belts so marked with anything that indicates they are Shopsmith?

dusty wrote:Thanks, Rob. I guess I might be ignoring the obvious because I have changed out belts so many time without having this problem. That coupled with the fact that I have purchased ALL of my belts from Shopsmith and expected (maybe unwisely) that they are all the same size.

To be clear, along with the nut on the pin you should be adjusting the tracking knob (part 4) in the diagram. This way you keep the upper drum 'level'.

SDSSmith wrote:To be clear, along with the nut on the pin you should be adjusting the tracking knob (part 4) in the diagram. This way you keep the upper drum 'level'.

Yes, I understand. However, it does leave me wondering why there is not an external control on both sides.

Dusty,

I have 3 unused belts, none say shopsmith but rather have a trademark of "Deer" all are AL-oxide.

I might have an old belt that un-seamed that I saved for the sandpaper but I could not locate it this morning. It would be quite old now so perhaps it might have a different manufacture or hey even say shopsmith.

Ed

reible wrote:Dusty,

I have 3 unused belts, none say shopsmith but rather have a trademark of "Deer" all are AL-oxide.

I might have an old belt that un-seamed that I saved for the sandpaper but I could not locate it this morning. It would be quite old now so perhaps it might have a different manufacture or hey even say shopsmith.

Ed

Thanks, Ed. I suspect that there is more than one belt manufacturer involved and that they are just not all identical. In the beginning, I had an extraordinarily good supply of consumables in my shop. Belts for the belt sander were included. I would bet that those belts were all from the same manufacturer and were therefore close to identical in dimension. As a result, I got spoiled.

I guess I should start budgeting for a resupply. I have three new belts and one of them is coarse. I hardly ever use a coarse grit belt on the belt sander. Using the coarse grit, if you have a muscle twitch at the wrong time it can be all over.