HF drum sander broke (now FIXED), but got lucky!

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  • leehljp
    Just me
    • Dec 2002
    • 8429
    • Tunica, MS
    • BT3000/3100

    HF drum sander broke (now FIXED), but got lucky!

    I am in the middle of building a set of bunk beds for my daughter in Missouri. It has 40 curved slats that needed to be sanded. Pull out the HF Oscillating Drum Sander and go to town. I have had the sander 2 years and only used it a couple of times for a few minutes both times.

    Today, I got to number 38 on the slats and it quit oscillating!. I finished the last two without it oscillating. THEN I came inside and looked up HF and wanted to look at the PDF manual. The sander has been discontinued and therefore no PDF to download to look up what might be wrong. Drats!

    Look up new sander on HF. Too expensive!
    Look on ebay - they have one cheaper - a Grizzly. - Me: Hey, that is the same model as the HF one that I have! I looked at the online parts and then go outside and take the motor assembly off of the sander. I discovered that one of the timing belts had jumped off and melted through.

    I came back in and went to Grizzly.com and even found the parts - and they have them in stock in the Springfield, Missouri Grizzly store! $1.50.

    BEST PART: LOML went to Springfield yesterday to help our daughter with some weekend work. She is going to go to the store tomorrow (Saturday) and pick up two belts and another small part for my track saw. Total cost will be $6.00 plus tax.

    Most of the time, a tool breaks in the middle of a project. I got lucky today, it happened at the end. And finding parts is usually a hit or miss proposition, in my case, it was a HIT. and then to have someone there to get the part, and bring it back to me Monday!

    Got lucky today. Doesn't usually happen this way! Had to brag a bit! I am happy.
    Last edited by leehljp; 10-17-2015, 01:48 PM.
    Hank Lee

    Experience is what you get when you don't get what you wanted!
  • Bill in Buena Park
    Veteran Member
    • Nov 2007
    • 1865
    • Buena Park, CA
    • CM 21829

    #2
    Thanks Hank - great story, glad it worked out. For those of us with the same HF OSC, could you share the Grizzly model, and the Grizzly part number for the belt?
    Bill in Buena Park

    Comment

    • leehljp
      Just me
      • Dec 2002
      • 8429
      • Tunica, MS
      • BT3000/3100

      #3
      Glad to do this:

      The Grizzly model G0739 is equivalent to the discontinued HF model.
      <h1>G0739 Benchtop 1/2 HP Oscillating Spindle Sander</h1> <h2>Sand nearly any curve for a fraction of the cost of a floor spindle sander.</h2> <p>Don't let the compact size fool you. The G0739 Benchtop 1/2 HP Oscillating Spindle Sander with a cast-iron table will handle just about any job you throw at it.</p> <p>Sand inside and outside curves of all shapes and sizes with the six included 4-1/2" long sanding sleeves, ranging in size from 1/2" to 3" in diameter.</p> <p>The oscillating movement of the spindle sands workpieces more efficiently. Versus non-oscillation sanders, these machines burn less, remove more, and wear the sandpaper less. <p>Your sanding sleeves, drums, table inserts, and spindle washers will never be far out of reach with the built-in storage, designed to keep all of your components organized and handy.</p> <p>The compact size of the machine makes it portable for moving around a job site or off your workbench when you need the space. <p>The paddle safety switch with removable key helps prevent unauthorized use or accidental startups.</p> <p>Like all Grizzly spindle sanders, the G0739 comes with a 1-year warranty covering parts and assures the unit is free from factory defects. (Consumables are not covered by the warranty.)</p> <p>The G0739 manual was written by our U.S. based Technical Documentation Department is packed with useful information.</p> <p>The Grizzly Technical Support team is U.S. based. Parts for the spindle sander may be available online and shipped from the Grizzly parts warehouse in Springfield, MO.</p> <p style="color:red;">CSA certified</p> <h4>SPECIFICATIONS:</h4><ul> <li>Motor: 1/2 HP, 120V, single-phase, 3.5A</li> <li>Table size: 11-1/2" x 15"</li> <li>Spindle speed: 2000 RPM</li> <li>Spindle stroke: 5/8"</li> <li>Spindle oscillations: 58 SPM</li> <li>Spindle diameter: 1/2"</li> <li>Sanding drum length: 4-1/2"</li> <li>Sanding drum diameters: 3/4", 1", 1-1/2", 2", 3"</li> <li>Dust port size: 1-1/2"</li> <li>Footprint: 14" x 15-1/2"</li> <li>Overall dimensions: 15-9/16" W x 14-1/8" D x 17" H</li> <li>Approximate shipping weight: 33 lbs.</li></ul> <h4>INCLUDES:</h4><ul> <li>(5) Rubber sanding drums: 3/4", 1", 1-1/2", 2", 3" diameter</li> <li>(6) 80-grit sanding sleeves: 1/2", 3/4", 1", 1-1/2", 2", 3" diameter</li> <li>(6) Table inserts</li> <li>(3) Spindle washers</li> <li>Spindle wrench</li></ul>


      Parts list is here:


      the timing belt is part number P0739014 (1/4 inch belt)
      the drive belt is P0739013 (3/8 inch belt)

      The grizzly model is on sale and there are a couple of other newer model spindle sanders in the catalog. This suggests that this one may be discontinued soon. I have a PDF of the parts list in case I need to order in the future.

      I think I could probably order from HF by calling them and giving the HF model number. But because it is discontinued, the PDF is not downloadable from the web site. Since this happened on Friday night, I knew I could not get the customer service center until today (Monday). It worked out better with LOML going to Grizzly. She will be home on Tuesday (instead of Monday) with the parts.
      Last edited by leehljp; 10-05-2015, 06:03 AM.
      Hank Lee

      Experience is what you get when you don't get what you wanted!

      Comment

      • Bill in Buena Park
        Veteran Member
        • Nov 2007
        • 1865
        • Buena Park, CA
        • CM 21829

        #4
        Thank you sir!
        Bill in Buena Park

        Comment

        • billwmeyer
          Veteran Member
          • Feb 2003
          • 1858
          • Weir, Ks, USA.
          • BT3000

          #5
          That's a great store. I love going there. Make sure she goes on Saturday because they are closed on Sunday.
          "I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in."-Kenny Rogers

          Comment

          • dbhost
            Slow and steady
            • Apr 2008
            • 9209
            • League City, Texas
            • Ryobi BT3100

            #6
            Saw what you will about Harbor Freight's tools, and I agree a good number of them are clean misses. But I have found a good number of the models they produce are identical to, or excruciatingly close to other Chinese imported tools so much so that many if not all of the important components are a direct swap over. Where HF items seem to lack is in the fit and finish department.

            I am glad to know your sander drive belts were available. However I am curious, did you ever narrow down WHY the belt broke / melted?
            Please like and subscribe to my YouTube channel. Please check out and subscribe to my Workshop Blog.

            Comment

            • leehljp
              Just me
              • Dec 2002
              • 8429
              • Tunica, MS
              • BT3000/3100

              #7
              Originally posted by dbhost

              I am glad to know your sander drive belts were available. However I am curious, did you ever narrow down WHY the belt broke / melted?
              No, I have not figured that out yet. I did look for what happened. The belt was burned from the backside, indicating that it was on backwards or turned over at some point.

              As for me, I had been using it for about 1 hour, smoothing down some bandsaw cuts on about 40 - 1x3x2ft by 3/4. I cut 4 small cutouts on each board. I did a good job of cutting on the lines, so all I had to do was basically sand the BS blade marks. No forced sanding, just continuous for about 60+ minutes.

              The gear that it fits on is about 1/2 inch thick, but the belt is 1/4 inch and ribbed. I am thinking that something caused it to jump the rib notch and then probably turned over and then burned. The belt is called a timing belt as it is timed for oscillating with the spindle speed.

              LOML, decided to stay one more day, so it will be Wednesday before I get the belt and Thursday evening before I can repair it. At that point, I will take a closer look.
              Hank Lee

              Experience is what you get when you don't get what you wanted!

              Comment

              • Relative
                Established Member
                • Mar 2007
                • 109
                • Garden Grove, CA
                • Ridgid R4512

                #8
                Is your HF model 61246? If so, I have the manual ... for future reference.

                Mike
                Attached Files
                Veterans are people who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check payable to the United States of America, for an amount up to and including their life.

                Comment

                • leehljp
                  Just me
                  • Dec 2002
                  • 8429
                  • Tunica, MS
                  • BT3000/3100

                  #9
                  Thanks! That is it. I downloaded it, and have the Grizzly PDF also.
                  Hank Lee

                  Experience is what you get when you don't get what you wanted!

                  Comment

                  • cwsmith
                    Veteran Member
                    • Dec 2005
                    • 2737
                    • NY Southern Tier, USA.
                    • BT3100-1

                    #10
                    It's great that you found that Grizzly was a duplicate and you were able to get both parts and the manual.

                    Perusing the Grizzly catalog every now and then, I've noticed that they have a number of tools that are lookalikes to the HF offerings. A couple of years ago I bought the HF dovetail jig, and the only faults I could find with it were the finish (the comb was very rough with lots of burrs) and the really terrible manual. It took only a few minutes to deburr the comb and I found a much better manual for a lookalike that cost three times as much. At the time, Grizzly offered a similar model too.

                    CWS
                    Think it Through Before You Do!

                    Comment

                    • Stytooner
                      Roll Tide RIP Lee
                      • Dec 2002
                      • 4301
                      • Robertsdale, AL, USA.
                      • BT3100

                      #11
                      The 1 x 30 belt sanders are the same as well.
                      Lee

                      Comment

                      • Relative
                        Established Member
                        • Mar 2007
                        • 109
                        • Garden Grove, CA
                        • Ridgid R4512

                        #12
                        Not only the HF and Grizzly are similar, the Triton TSPS450 and the Shop Fox W1831 have the same parts diagram except for the shape of the cast iron top ... The HF is round the rest have an odd shape, but are identical.

                        Mike
                        Veterans are people who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check payable to the United States of America, for an amount up to and including their life.

                        Comment

                        • leehljp
                          Just me
                          • Dec 2002
                          • 8429
                          • Tunica, MS
                          • BT3000/3100

                          #13
                          Originally posted by dbhost

                          I am glad to know your sander drive belts were available. However I am curious, did you ever narrow down WHY the belt broke / melted?

                          I have re-assembled my HF oscillating spindle sander and it is working fine. I did have a problem along the way, but discovered the cause of the original problem and fixed it in an unorthodox and unscientific manner.


                          The timing belt had melted. It was rubbing against the bottom retainer ring - a metal ring that apparently is supposed to keeps the belt from jumping off of the timing gear. The metal ring is somewhat sharp. However, there is an idler wheel that in my opinion SHOULD guide the timing belt.


                          When I put the motor housing, gears and belt back together, I tried it out. Immediately the new belt started rubbing against the metal retainer ring. That wasn’t right. The idler wheel was apparently throwing it off. I couldn’t see or tell the idler gear being off of vertical, but it was causing the belt to run to the bottom of the timing gear and rub against the retaining ring.


                          I took it back apart. The idler wheel needed to be tweaked. It is plastic on a metal spindle and held on by a spring retaining ring that I could not remove. (I found my retaining ring tool but not the pins ). The idler wheel spindle was mounted on a metal ring held on by 4 screws. I loosened all 4 screws, and I added a washer under one screw, figuring that if all 4 are tightened, it would tweak the idler wheel in the right direction to keep the belt off of the bottom retainer ring. I tightened all 4 screws and the washer forced the distortion of the ring holding the idler wheel in the right direction - by my figuring. I assembled the motor, gear and spindle housing again and gave it a test.


                          It ran perfectly and the timing belt was running in the center of the gear. I assembled the sander and it is working fine now.
                          Last edited by leehljp; 10-17-2015, 01:59 PM.
                          Hank Lee

                          Experience is what you get when you don't get what you wanted!

                          Comment

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