Speedbloc paper clamp broke (ping Leon)

Two years of very light use on this guy and one of the clamps that hold the paper, that I have never even used, just broke, or at least slipped out of whack. I use the PSA rolls so I don't need the clamps, but it's sticking out at an angle and rubbing against the housing so it's unusable atm. I didn't really notice any particular sound of something breaking, just started to vibrate and make a lot more noise.

I can't really see inside of it too well, especially on the non-broken side to see what it's supposed to look like in there. The exploded view on the parts diagram on the website doesn't help a whole lot either. It looks like I need to take the housing off to get any access to that area? I didn't see any way of getting the bottom off when I took off the pad via the 4 screws on the underside.

This was the best shot I could get showing the inside:

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spring looks like it's still on the post like it's supposed to be, so I don't understand what happened. It doesn't look like there's supposed to be any connection at the corners.

I can see in a google search something similar happened to Leon, so any words of wisdom before I start taking it apart?

-Leuf

Reply to
Leuf
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Went ahead and took off the housing. Yep, it broke. The rod that runs through the spring snapped in half. Guess they don't make em like they used to.

Now the question is, do I take the other side off or replace the broken rod - $1.86 plus $8 shipping. Ridiculous

-Leuf

Reply to
Leuf

Well it is unfortunate that the clamp bloke so soon. Mine lasted 12 years before it broke. My spring broke. You have to replace the pad assembly. If you take the clamps off, the sander will not run properly. Why? I do no know but mine would hardly run after taking the clamps off and it was a real PIA putting them back on.

If your pins came loose they can be put back in place if nothing is actually broken or worn out. The clamp pivot pins have notches near the ends that engage with the clamp. You have to hold you mouth just right and slip the pin back in.

Reply to
Leon

I would buy the pin and a new pad assembly to perhaps save on the shipping. I fortunately live in Houston and was able to go to the PC repair shop for parts.

Reply to
Leon

Just as a follow up. I bought mine in 1989 and finally replaced it in 2005. I was impressed enough with the performance to buy another.

Reply to
Leon

Any way to make this a PSA or Velcro only sander, without the clamps? I love the action, but I'd rather have the ability to flush sand on all 4 sides, and clamping and unclamping paper is just plain

*wasteful*. JP
Reply to
Jay Pique

I ended up putting it back together to see if I could finish up what I was doing. It seemed to run just ducky without one clamp, I thought it would be unbalanced and unhappy about that, but it seemed fine.

I briefly tried to get off the one that wasn't broken, for balance, but gave up after a couple minutes. I figured it would take less work to reassemble it and test it than to try to get it back on (if I ever managed to get it off) if it turned out I needed them.

I like the sander, but I tend to use it on small parts which I find easier to hold the sander up and bring the part to it rather than try to find some way of keeping the part on the bench. And it's a wee bit heavy to be holding up like that, which is why it's only seen light use.

I've actually thought about bench mounting a sheet sander for this type of work. The tapered round housing on the speedbloc doesn't really lend itself, else I'd probably use it for that.

-Leuf

Reply to
Leuf

The clamps don't extend past the pad so they don't get in the way. Well, until they break anyway :)

-Leuf

Reply to
Leuf

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