Sick Belt Sander

[ozziebluesman]

G'day to you all,

I bought a new Ryobi Belt Sander in 2007 and it has been a great tool but it has been used a lot. The rubber drive belt was replaced last year after I broke it but I don't remember it getting a growl like it is developing now. Is it worth looking for replacement parts or just buy a new one?

Cheers

Alan

[Kim]

I don't 'know' this will be the case Alan but I would imagine that what you describe would be cheaply and easily fixed with an 'off the shelf' bearing replacement from any bearing supply business. The only way to know would be to pull it apart and find out what's worn. You can quickly identify an RS roller bearing by how it feels. If it's rough when turning by hand then it's cactus. I would look at the couple of bearings at the jokey roller end first, that would be quick and easy. Remove the belt and give it a spin...if it doesn't then that's probably your fix right there, use a drift to knock one of the old ones out, take it with you and buy a pair from a bearing place, and drive the new ones in using the old bearing for a start, and then finish with a slightly undersized socket that will rest nicely on the lip of the outer race, but not upon the seal of the replacement bearing.

The plus in DIY is that just about 'any' replacement bearing will more than likely be of superior quality to the cheap nasty originals, so the machine will be better than new when ur done. For the work involved compared to the cost of components, I would lean towards paying a bit more for bearings so you don't need to do the job again anytime soon

Cheers

Kim

[P Bill]

Similar story with my drop saw. It started to howl and I thought it was the bearing, demounted everything, got at the bearing and the bearing was fine. Blew everything out, reassembled, problem solved. That was about 7-8 years ago. Go figure.

[Bob Connor]

I've got one of those Ryobi belt sanders Alan. Great machine and mine howls like a banshee too. I've replaced the belt once.

Regards