Modification to 6 x 9 Combination Sander Roller Guard

[natie123]

I recently acquired a combination disk/belt sander of Eastern manufacture. One of the plus points of the tool is the quick release tension lever used when changing belts (Photo 1). Other models require a tedious process involving adjusting tension and re-tracking the belt every time you change belts. Unfortunately the roller guard/dust port, which needs to be removed when changing belts, is affixed with four M4 screws (one on the left-hand side and three on the right-hand side), which have to be unscrewed every time you change belts.
I do not want to use the tool without the ability to connect my shop vacuum to the dust port. I therefore drilled and tapped the hole on the left-hand side and the center hole on the right hand side to M5. I then inserted a section of M5 threaded rod on either side (Photo 2). The cover is then affixed with M5 wing-nuts and fender washers (Photo 3). It now takes a few seconds to unscrew the wing-nuts and remove the cover when changing belts (without using tools).