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[R.U. Sirius]

I bought this almost-new Lortone flat lap that was apparently dropped at some point. You can see in the first picture the motor capacitor housing tilted relative to the rest of the machine. The shift/tilt is severe enough that the belt just falls off freely. It's only the motor base that got deformed, the rest seems solid and intact (praise the engineers!).

Finding a replacement cradle base that fits this motor is a hopeless endeavor in Canada (Grainger, for example only lists four bases for frame 48, all of them much shorter than the 8-5/16'' needed here.

So, my question is: is this fixable, and how? I have no problem trying to fix an electron microscope or a watch, but am clueless when it comes to straightening bent steel...

[Kaljaia]

Right person with the right hammer could do it in a minute. Maybe take it past a machine shop and ask? It'll probably lose its nice black powder coat in the process but it ought to flatten out.

[vitzitziltecpatl]

A couple of standard c-clamps and pieces of hardwood (3/4" thick or so) or angle iron and plywood will get you started. The plywood between the angle iron and the part, to protect the finish. If you don't have hardwood or angle iron, just use any rigid pieces of wood to protect the finish as you tighten the clamps across the bent areas. That will get it closer to where it should be.

Then comes hammer time. A dead-blow hammer is best, but a 3-4 lb "beater" will work. Heavier hammer lets you apply the force needed while "tapping" in a lighter and more controlled manner. If you have any pesky little bumps left, just use something like a piece of wood dowel to apply the impact directly to those points.

You'll probably have to square it up afterward, but it's easy - says the old ironworker - if you clamp it upside down to something, and then just tap the legs back into the correct position.

[Phishisgroovin]

bolt it down, it will straighten easily.
I just tossed one too. should have checked here first lol!