Shopsmith Forums

My new to me belt sander, viewtopic.php?p=306657#p306657, needs some tlc. I already ordered and received a new drive sleeve but I should have waited to see what else I needed . My unit only had one spring washer but based on the manual, Geoff Bakers youtube video, https://youtu.be/vyAqXFSBm7o?t=102 and JPG's assembly thread, http://www.shopsmith.com/ss_forum/viewt ... 202#p94202 two are required and my castings seem to be slightly different at the bearing cavities from what I can make out in the other posts. The spring clip was on the trunnion casting side. I don't know if anybody's had it apart before and the PO didn't know how to tension the belt, he didn't have any other Shopsmith equipment. Somebody got in the casting pretty good with the belts.

I'm happy to order the washer from Shopsmith if needed and I don't know if I can source it locally. I'll make a better list this time . I may as well get the dust collection upgrade and the auxiliary CAP-SHAFT. I should be able to get the bearings locally. If I’m reading right the bearing is a Fafnir 202KDD5.

The bearing is 5/8" x 35mm x 11mm. Different vendors use different part#. When I have gone into a bearing shop, the clerks measure the bearing rather than read the part#. Yes you read the fafnir part# correctly.

You will likely be disappointed with the shaft guard. Used to be pot metal. Today is plastic.

Shielded ("ZZ") bearings are standard/OEM and that's what I used on mine. And I think that's a mistake. This is a very dusty low/mid RPM environment that screams for sealed bearings IMO. I would definitely choose 'RS' (sealed) over 'ZZ' (shielded) style bearings in the future. As I do for all things Shopsmith when available.

- David

The parts diagram and list show that washer on both sides. It is part number 502961 currently listed simply as washer but older parts lists call it a finger washer. It has been some time since I had a Belt Sander apart and I don't recall for sure, but it appears from the diagrams it does belong on both sides.

The damage to the frame sides is similar to one I had a few years ago that I restored except I did not replace the belt damaged parts. On that one not only were the frames worn down by the belt but one mounting rod for the table was worn almost halfway through. You can see the worn end from the back side of the belt of that table rod in the picture below. You cannot see where it is worn from the front side of the belt. It still worked fine even with that belt wear but is a good reminder to watch the belt tracking.

_ .
Sorry to hear the shaft cap has been changed to plastic.

Russ, maybe I wound up with the one you refurbished . I picked it up in Broken Bow,OK. I downloaded the Belt Sander old parts page, viewtopic.php?p=94096#p94096 and it shows 502961 washer-finger - one required, on the trunion casting side. The bearing well on the trunion side casting is 11mm deep and the one on the outboard casting is 9.12mm. The finger washer is about 2mm and was in the trunion side casting when disassembled. Part 274474 - roll pin for the torsion spring is a loose pin on mine, not a spring or tension pin. Maybe it was replaced by the last owner because it seems a little shorter than the one shown on the parts page.

I looked at some earlier (1972, 1957 & 1955) Belt Sander Owner's Manuals and those do not show a second finger washer on the outboard side of the Drive Drum. That must be a later addition to the Belt Sander. The Belt Sander In the picture above is from 1989 and is the copyright year of the Manual I checked besides the online service section. It is those little changes that make it hard to give and get good advice. Just curious as to when your Belt Sander was made.

The only label on it is in the first picture in this post. viewtopic.php?p=306657#p306657
You thought it it might be the 70’s because of the Tipp City label. I wonder if the Fafnir bearings might help with the timeframe? The old parts page has a date of 7/27 and copyright 1955.

Sorry I forgot about the other thread being yours that included the discussion about the stand.

My Belt Sander is also an early Shopsmith Inc. one at S/N SS3465 made in December 1977. I have not had the need to take it apart so I am not sure if it has 1 or 2 finger washers. As for putting a date to yours, mine has a sticker like yours with the cast in M Logo but from Vandalia. The Serial Number Plate has Tipp City still which with the Vandalia sticker still occurred into 1981. I guess they had a lot of the Tipp City Serial Number Plates made up before moving to Vandalia. It wasn't until the end of 1988 or early 1989 that the cast on logo changed from the Magna M to the SS Logo and Shopsmith. Yours having the Tipp City sticker would have yours made before mine.

Thanks. I think it’s safe to say I don’t need the second finger washer

The belt sander is back together, new bearings and drive sleeve on the drive roller, runs good. There is a little play left to right in the tension roller, about 3/32”. It shifts back and forth while running but seems to track ok, just a little touchy to set the tracking. I set it up to use on the Shopsmith for the speed control. I have my jointer set up to run at 5520 rpm on the stand and storage beside it for the belt sander. I still need to add a switch for the Craftsman motor and it may need bearings too. Ordered the auxiliary shaft cover and some sanding belts from the mothership. Pretty happy at this point. Thanks for all the help.