Why Does My Belt Keep Coming Off My Belt Sander
An improperly tracked belt will misalign or slide off its rollers while in use. Inadequate tracking can cause the belt to wear out or break too soon. Several problems with laser eye, belt cuts, improper abrasive storage, uneven rollers, or tension pressure might lead to improper tracking. This article aims to list and fix the most common belt slippage issues, including belt sanders that won't track. So let's start by understanding all the causes in general and then the solution.
Why Does The Belt Sander's Belt Slip?
You should anticipate the following causes if your belt sander belt keeps coming off.
- Tracking issue with the belt sander.
- Belt quality issue with the belt sander.
- Worn-out belt issue.
- Roller dust issue.
- Installation difficulty.
- Size mismatch issue.
- Tension lever difficulty.
According to experts, these are the most common causes of the belt not staying on the sander track. Also, It is necessary to choose genuine belt sander supplies to avoid such common causes. In the following paragraphs, we'll explain how these issues cause the belt on your belt sander to slip. We'll also explain how to resolve those problems.
How To Resolve Belt Sander Problems?
Tracking Issue With The Belt Sander
Belt tracking issues are the primary, most significant, and most frequent cause of belt sander belt slippage or skidding. For this, we must identify the underlying cause of the issue. Problematic rollers may cause belt-tracking issues. The biggest problem here is adjusting. Nevertheless, there may also be other explanations, which we've covered below.
Fixing Belt Sander Tracking Issue?
Please follow the procedures below to resolve the belt sander won't track issue.
- You may find the belt sander tracking knob on the side of the roller if you take the belt sander. The belt's tension can be adjusted to be tighter or looser.
- Now, tighten or loosen it using the appropriate tool. Excessive typing can shorten the belt's lifespan. On the other hand, a belt may slide if the adjustment is too loose. Make the necessary adjustments to get the sander belt to spin smoothly.
- Finally, if the belt shifts to one side in particular, that indicates that that side is experiencing the least resistance. You should tighten that side.
Belt Quality Issue With The Belt Sander
Due to poor belt quality, another issue exists. Even when you see the right number on the belt, you receive belts with limited lifespans and poor sizing when you purchase less expensive alternatives. Because of this, you need to be careful when selecting sandpaper quality. You know the answer to this dilemma at this point.
Fixing Quality Assurance Issues.
- Even if it costs more, choose only the best-reviewed companies and the appropriate products.
Worn-Out Belt Issue
Just by reading the headline, you've already realized the problem. Eventually, the belt will become problematic. Belt sanders of any brand will experience the same problem with a worn-out belt, whether Craftsman or Makita. This issue's resolution is also not particularly difficult.
Fixing Well-Worn Belt
- Check to see if your belt sander's belt is slipping after removing and replacing the old belt. Use other methods to troubleshoot if it slides again.
Roller Dust Issue
Everything close to the sanding area will pick up dust as you sand. Sanding tools are also included. Due to uniform strain on both sides, the rollers and the belt spin in the right direction. Yet, due to dust buildup, it may be out of balance and make rollers slick. This issue can also be resolved in a very straightforward manner.
Fixing The Roller Dust Issue
- Remove the belt, then thoroughly. Other sander components can be cleaned simultaneously with the rollers.
Installation Difficulty
Making the belt move in the wrong direction when mounting it on a belt sander is a frequent error. Not all belt sanders consider this a problem, but many do. After cleaning, you should also confirm that all parts are assembled correctly.
Fixing Installation Issues
- Before you put the belt on, look at the inside with your hands. You'll see signs indicating the way.
- It will be sufficient to insert it while holding it in the direction the sander is spinning to solve this problem.
Size Mismatch Issue
To stay on course, belt size is crucial. You'll notice a millimeter variation between the printed size and the real size of less expensive belts. Even a millimeter difference can seem significant. Moreover, it may occur if you move brands because no two brands produce identical goods.
Fixing Size Mismatching
- The solution is to get high-quality belts from well-known manufacturers, and if you've experienced superior performance from a certain brand, stick with it.
Tension Lever Difficulty
The tension lever issue with the sander is the final contributing factor to the belt sander belt slippage issue. The tension lever is also responsible for belt tracking. No matter how often you tighten the rollers, if something isn't operating properly, you'll notice that the belt is coming loose. The worn-out spring inside the lever causes it.
Fixing The Tension Lever Issue
- Remove the belt sander and the screws next to the tension lever to fix this problem.
- Then remove the cover, swap out the lever spring for a new one, and assemble everything. This will fix the tension lever problem.
Conclusion
Now that we've covered practically all the reasons why a belt sander belt might come off if the issue persists, it might still be with the belt sander's tracking system. Although it's more experimental, there is a solution. This approach has helped many belt sander owners fix their machines. As a result, you can use this hack since it has been successfully used.
