Shopsmith Forums

Hello all,having a problem keeping tension on belt sander. while it was running ,a set screw fell inside the belt and jammed lower roller. Don't know where it came from. now the tensioner knob backs off by it's self. any Ideas?

See if a table mount set screw is 'missing'. There are 4.

Belt tension setting can be 'confusing'.

Rotate the knob counter clockwise until the catch pops out.

If when you turn the knob counter clockwise, the belt tension increases, the knob has been turned counter clockwise too far. Rotate the knob clockwise until the catch pops out. The belt tension should be loose(inserting/removal position). Then depress the catch and the knob should automatically rotate clockwise and set the tension.

Mine seems to work fine; but that catch never pops out. I did by it used, is there some way of correcting this.

[quote="Jack Wilson"]Mine seems to work fine]
The catch/latch should not pop out when the belt is under tension. It should pop out when you release tension to change belts.


Here are some instructions from inside a Shopsmith belt sander. Note the instructions regarding retensioning the drum. Picture courtesy of reible.

Thanks, SD