How to Replace the Housing O-Ring on a Porter Cable Sander

Housing O-Ring Missing? It's time to face the fix. Whether you are a master carpenter or a seasonal sander, eReplacementParts.com provides the parts, procedures and facts you need to fearlessly fix what fails you.

The housing O-ring provides a cushion between the gray motor housing and the black pad housing. Over time, the housing O-ring will deteriorate and crack. When this happens, you'll likely notice increased movement between the two housings.

Replacing the housing O-ring is very easy to do. This article provides step-by-step instructions for removing and installing the housing O-ring on a Porter Cable Quicksand 333 series sander.

Let's get started.

REMOVING THE HOUSING O-RING [top] 1. Remove the sanding pad.

Remove the (3) screws from the sander pad.

Remove the sanding pad from the sander.

  2. Remove the clutch belt.

Remove the clutch belt from the fixed pulley and the pad support pulley.

  3. Remove the pad housing.

Remove the (2) screws from the pad housing.

Separate the two halves of the pad housing.

Separate the sander from the pad housing.

  4. Remove the housing O-ring.

Use a screwdriver to pry the O-ring out of the groove in the housing.

Work around the edges of the O-ring; stretching it around the pad support assembly as you move.

Remove the O-ring from the sander.

  INSTALLING THE NEW HOUSING O-RING [top] 5. Install the housing O-Ring.

Install the new housing O-ring into the groove on the motor housing.

  REASSEMBLING THE UNIT [top] 6. Reinstall the pad housing.

Install one half of the pad housing onto the sander (the seam should align with the seam on the motor housing).

Install the second half of the pad housing onto the sander.

Secure the pad housing with the (2) screws.

  7. Reinstall the clutch belt.

Install the clutch belt onto the fixed (small) pulley.

Stretch the clutch belt onto one side of the pad support.

Rotate the pad support to seat the clutch belt.

  8. Reinstall the sanding pad.

For easy alignment: pass a small screwdriver through one of the screw holes on the sander pad; then insert the end of the screwdriver into one of the holes on the pad support.

Install the sanding pad.

Secure the sander pad with the (3) screws.

Sanding can be a demanding task. But you don't have to rough-up your accountant to smooth-out your countertops. As you just learned, repairing your own power tools is simple when you follow our step-by-step guides. Not only did you expand sander functionality at a fraction of the cost of replacement; you have taken the edge off all future repairs.

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