Belt Sander Knob

[bobroosth]

The release button on my knob has no spring tension. Does anyone have a picture of what the spring inside should look like? And how that button interfaces with the rest of the idler mechanism?

I would like to ask Shopsmith support, but they are not currently taking calls.

[chapmanruss]

bobroosth,

Sorry I don't have a picture of the inside of the Tension Knob Assembly. Attached is a PDF parts diagram with a different view of how the parts go together. I don't know if it is any more helpful then the one in the Service Parts section of the website. It's been a several years since I have had a Belt Sander apart. I don't recall exactly how the Latch Spring, part reference number 50 in the drawings, goes into the Tension Knob Assembly. Hopefully someone will chime in maybe with a picture that shows it in place.

.

Belt Sander Illustrated Parts List Redrawn - Everett L. Davis.pdf

(680.09 KiB) Downloaded 1258 times

[bobroosth]

It is a bit better than the website, but not nearly high enough resolution. I would guess I need one of 48, 49, or 50. I can see a very small spring in mine, but it is badly rusted an it is not at all clear how that button interfaces with the rest of the mechanism.

Thank you for finding the PDF.

[chapmanruss]

Checking the Shopsmith website under parts, the Latch Spring is currently not available by itself. The Tension Knob Assembly part number 502874 which includes parts 48 to 54 is listed as available at the link below. This may be the only way to buy a new replacement part for any of the Tension Knob Assembly parts reference numbers 48 to 54. There are many of the Shopsmith tools parts that are only available as an assembly.


https://www.shopsmith.com/product-page/ ... b-assembly

[larryhrockisland]

Take a look at Scott’s videos on My Growth Rings
https://youtu.be/Tkd4tXRlGPs?si=xYlPlvqYgNSm8vfm

Also Geoffrey Baker
https://youtu.be/vyAqXFSBm7o?si=_ux4cX3RzIprRQFR
and his Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17kDLi7R5W/

[bobroosth]

Thanks for the store link. I suppose I could have looked for that. Ordered. We'll see how quickly it ships. The new owner seemed to say they would not take an order that was not shippable.

And yes, I saw those two YouTube videos. Neither addressed my issue.

[chapmanruss]

When you receive it get a picture of the inside view you were looking for to share.

[bobroosth]

Will do. I see that it shipped. Should be here next week.

[bobroosth]

Arrived today. The only problem was the spring. Mine was rusted an broken. Photos of both attached. Now I have to install and see if that is the only problem.

PXL_20260128_025137551.jpg (348.78 KiB) Viewed 52157 times

PXL_20260211_214802021.jpg (304.29 KiB) Viewed 52157 times

[chapmanruss]

bobroosth,

The picture shows why the individual parts are not sold separately.

Thanks for posting it. The upper picture clearly shows the broken spring and the second picture shows how the spring should look.

I do remember getting everything back together on the Belt Sander and adjusted was a bit of a challenge. Unfortunately, it being a challenge is what I remember and not how I did it.