Shopsmith Forums

All,
I bought a used Menards clone belt sander, I did not make the purchase since it was out of town so I did not talk to the seller. No manual either. I am/may have a belt tension problem or I just dont know how to use the system, looks and acts like a SS though. So I need some instruction on that.
Second I can get the belt tight to run it seems, but I have a tracking problem and wants to run off to the side, so I do not run it but a second or 2. So I need basic help with that too. I noticed that the non active adjusting side has an internal adjustment/set up also. So also need help info on this. I did not put a straight edge on the idler roller but looks crowned.
TIA.
Bob

Shopsmith has a nice adjusting thumbwheel on the drive side to track the belt. I have no experience with the Chinese copy. If there is no adjuster there, it wouldn't be surprising. Usually, you get what you pay for. Shopsmith isn't cheap, but their tools really work.

If you know the actual brand name, do a Google search on the internet for a manual.

garys wrote:Shopsmith has a nice adjusting thumbwheel on the drive side to track the belt. I have no experience with the Chinese copy. If there is no adjuster there, it wouldn't be surprising. Usually, you get what you pay for. Shopsmith isn't cheap, but their tools really work.

If you know the actual brand name, do a Google search on the internet for a manual.

Ahhhh hope springs eternal.

The 'internal' opposite side adjusting is best left until after ascertaining it needs so. Make sure the intended operator adjustment does not work first. Only if the operator adjustment is off range should the opposite one be tweaked. Belt length can affect that.

The tension adjustment is non-intuitive.(bass ackwards sorta)

Hold the idler drum to prevent its rotating throughout all the steps below

Depress the catch in the knob to release all tension(if any there). It should turn clockwise until all spring derived torque is depleted.

Release the catch. Rotate the knob counter clockwise 4 turns until the catch clicks the fourth time.

This assumes the clone is an accurate clone. If not, good luck!:D

As alwasys thanks JPG, that is what I needed!!! It does have the same belt tension thingy by the turny knob like a SS. I watched the rebuild of it on SS, Identical.
Since I started this thread this morning, I indulged into the Menards clone 6" jointer I got at the same time, from the same guy. Identical too except for 2 bolts on each side to mount/hold in the cutter head, and a lousy finish on the cast iron tables and fence.

Got er working and tracking for now. Just seems not to be consistent with the release and resetting. I think there is an internal problem that a rebuilding will need to be done later.

rbursek wrote:Got er working and tracking for now. Just seems not to be consistent with the release and resetting. I think there is an internal problem that a rebuilding will need to be done later.

Have you 'crowned' the belt?;)