Shopsmith Forums

Old post but the issue still happens and I do not read the cause of this problem. I think this has happened recently with my Shopsmith, otherwise I would had noticed it earlier as well. Iam not sure if I did something wrong in my last overhaul, which obviously iam unable to determine or are these symptoms of some failure about to happen e.g. bearing or wrong setup of the speed shaft or poly v belt tension or alignment etc. I opened the headstock again and checked and re assembled etc. Everything looks and sounds normal but still gets very hot. The speed control shaft and sheaves get very hot and eventually the complete headstock. Does anyone know what could be wrong? Please help.

Thanks,
MK

I don't know if anything is wrong. Heat in the headstock is normal when running for a long time. There was a discussion some time ago about putting some extra cooling in the headstock which involved drilling some vent holes in the motor pan and installing a muffin fan of some sort on the motor cover that would run when the machine was switched on. As I recall this had some beneficial effect. I won't worry about the heat in mine until I see the paint blister.
Bill V

Thanks Bill. I also have one more headstock to compare. I will keep y'all posted.

When I have the heat problem and the head stock is hot , I put put. The machine drill pres mode , take back cover pan up and put few drops oil on the tail bearing and leave the machine up till cool. Next time I run the machine it is coller.

4 weeks back I did an overhaul, cleaned (inside out), lubed etc. Had not used it since. Last week I used it to rip few strips of a 4 ft board and noticed the control sheaves assembly gets hot (just one cut), did a few (5 - 6) and the assembly is very hot. Nothing seems abnormal otherwise, works well. I am in Houston TX, temps in 94 - 97, no ac in my shop. I have a ceiling fan over it , I have been using this way, never noticed the headstock getting this hot.

Thanks,
MK

I work in a shop that is above 85 degrees almost all spring, summer and fall. The headstock gets warm almost immediately and gets too warm to comfortably leave your hand on it. I have two machines and they are similar in heat generation. I doubt that you have a problem.

I have been trying to recall what changed from earlier! Yesterday night it came to me that I replaced the v belt with an original shopsmith v belt. I will try using the old belt today.

Thank you,
MK

milindkhurd wrote:I have been trying to recall what changed from earlier! Yesterday night it came to me that I replaced the v belt with an original shopsmith v belt. I will try using the old belt today.

Thank you,
MK

I have no hard data or facts...just an anecdote. When I moved the eccentric to adjust belt tension on my Mark V last time, I did notice that it "seemed" hotter after I tightened the belts. I think the tighter the belts, the hotter it might get. Of course, if they are too loose, then you can have belts slipping, but I wonder if there is a narrow sweet spot of tightening both belts sufficiently, but also not causing any undue added heat. Just a theory, so feel free to shoot holes in my hypothesis.

Maybe instead of switching to the old belt, try backing off the tension slightly with the new belt and compare?