old Dela sanding center 31-280

Re: old Dela sanding center 31-280

Larry Clinton At Frankfort, (Central) Indiana

Assuming the belt is properly tensioned (first fix) and that didn't fix the issue.

If you can remove the belt guard and reach the belt easily you can purchase a belt dressing spray (Permatex 80073 Belt Dressing and Conditioner, 12 oz. net Aerosol Can from Amazon $13 -$14 can). Probably available at Automotive supply houses in your area also, spray on belt with machine running - BE VERY CAREFUL around the running belt - no loose sleeves, gloves etc.

Re: old Dela sanding center 31-280

Eliot

I don’t really know how to get at the belt. That’s what I need help with.

Looks like you get access behind the disc  *LINK*


https://www.ereplacementparts.com/delta-31280-type-sander-parts-c-3275_3512_3545.html

Re: Looks like you get access behind the disc

eliot

It turns out ( and I did it all by myself!) that if you lift up the linear part of the sander to its vertical position, then right under there is a black plastic box that houses the motor. So it was almost a snap to take off the box and tighten the belt. I say "almost" because I had a real misery when I unscrewed the motor (which I shouldn't have done.) There are three motor hold-down bolts that you have to adjust slightly to re tension the belt on the pulley. BUT--and here's the problem-- getting the bolts back into their slots was practically impossible. ( They are more or less hidden under the motor.) I finally did it by taking off the pulley altogether so I could have more room to shift things around. Honestly, it nearly killed me to be bending over for all that time; but I finally got it all done. At 82, it's not all my other aches and pains that get me; it's my back that gives out.

Incidentally, when I called Delta for help, I got nothing; they knew nothing, and referred me to "E- reprair parts -something -or-other", who knew even less. Lots of talk though. So, the old saying is true," If you want something done right, do it yourself "

Re: Looks like you get access behind the disc

Barry Irby

Congrats on fixing it. My version of that sander is not on a stand. I would have tried going in from underneath. You got a few years on me, but I know what you are talking about. I have found a few muscles in my back I did not know I had.

Re: Looks like you get access behind the disc

eliot

Yes, exactly: I was prepared (and unhappy about the effort) to try going in from under the machine. So I was really happy to see that it was just a matter of taking off a few screws from the bottom lip of this plastic box, which sits up top, to get at the motor easily. But because of my inexperience with this sort of thing, I made the mistake (which you would think is a small mistake) of taking out the motor mount screws. It's really hard to get them back in. I have to admit that this more or less unimportant , but successful, repair gave me a real lift!

Funny about customer service....

John in NM

The expertise vanished when production moved overseas, and customer service soon vanished as well.

Even in the late 1990's when I never would have called Delta with a technical question, I once called Oliver for information about adjusting one of their old, big jointers. Oliver was still in business, but by then they had ceased making woodworking machines and moved to bread slicing machines and sterile packaging machinery. They still had staff who had built the jointers however, and found me an old guy who took time out of his day to explain how to adjust the two beds back to co-planar. Every now and then I see their old logo on a bread slicer in a walk in bakery

This is not to be confused with the current Oliver machinery, I don't know if that is a different company that bought the name or if they revived their wood line.

Oliver now is just an importer

Figured as much...

Re: Funny about customer service....

Jesse Cloud

I remember how amazed I was when I called Steel City, in its youth, for help fixing some minor issues with a bandsaw I bought. I was blown away when someone answered the phone right away. And he knew the product inside out. He suggested a solution and said to call him back if that didn't solve the problem.

It didn't, so I called back and he gave another more difficult solution, again offering call-back if needed. Second solution worked like a charm.

Last time I called Steel City I got a recording saying their goal was to respond to customer service calls within five days. I got a call eventually. He knew nothing about the saw, but sent me a part that worked.

Next time I called there was no answer. Not sure if the company even exists now.

Re: Funny about customer service....

Walt

IIRC Steel City was founded by some Delta veterans. I'm not sure what happened but yeah they folded.