Shopsmith Forums

Hello, I am a beginner and i recently bought a Mark V second hand. I have been slowly restoring the tools while i immerse myself in the shopsmith world.

This weekend i've been restoring the 6" belt sander and i've come to find that the drive drum does not have a rubber sleeve on it. After restoring and re-assembling, the belt doesn't spin with the drum even with enough tension, there's clearly just not enough friction and the drum can't grab onto the belt.

Where can I get a replacement rubber sleeve for the drive drum? I looked on the shopsmith website and they dont seem to sell it, only selling the entire drive drum assembly. I dont need the whole assembly as the drum and bearings are fine, and its too costly to buy that whole assembly anyway.

I cant find anything on ebay or other online places either.

Does anyone know where I can get a replacement rubber sleeve for the drive drum? OR is there an alternative to a rubber sleeve, like double sided tape or something like that?

Thank you!

kkambos15,

Welcome to the Shopsmith Forum.

Unfortunately, Shopsmith hasn't had just the sleeve available for the Belt Sander Drive Drum for decades. You could try calling Shopsmith Customer Service to see if you can get just the Sleeve. I don't know of an alternative source for the Sleeve, so the only other options are to spend 149.95 for a new one or find a used one.

One thought of a possible solution would be a section of a larger diameter, just smaller than the Drum diameter, bicycle innertube glued to the Drum. Use an innertube from as large of a bicycle tire as you can get to have it be the straightest possible 6" section. I would use the same type of glue they supply with the rubber Bandsaw Tires. It may work or I could be way out lost in a field somewhere.

viewtopic.php?t=32485&start=10
Maybe this will help. I was able to order just the rubber sleeve but for the life of me I can’t find the part number or the paperwork.

What Larry got is a piece of bicycle innertube based on the marking. I'll try to remember to look at the Belt Sander when I am in the shop to see what the sleeve looks like.

Here is a link to a tube with the same markings (Dimensions).

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Schrader-Automat ... c84f2&th=1

Don't get a Self Sealing Innertube for this as it has a Self Sealing fluid inside the tube.

Found my paperwork.

chapmanruss wrote: Sat May 30, 2026 1:26 pm Don't get a Self Sealing Innertube for this as it has a Self Sealing fluid inside the tube.

Good point. This is the first one that came up in the search.

larryhrockisland wrote: Sat May 30, 2026 1:47 pm Found my paperwork.
IMG_2058.jpeg

Maybe Andrew will start put this back in the inventory.

Larry's paperwork gives the part number as 502932 for the Belt Sander Drive Sleeve, so a place to start. That may help when contacting Customer Service about getting an original OEM rubber sleeve.

I did get out to the shop yesterday and looked at two of the Driver Drum Assemblies. I believe that a section of bicycle innertube could be a workable substitute. The rubber sleeve on the Driver Drum Assembly is very tight on it. One seemed to be glued on while the other I am not sure it is. The Glue Shopsmith supplies with the Rubber Bandsaw Tires is a contact cement. I would recommend checking any glue on a piece of scrap innertube for compatibility prior to actual use.

Below is a Driver Drum Assembly.

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