Shopsmith Forums

I picked up the Tucson Model 500. I didn't know the difference in Mark V models and this one was so clean it looked practically new! It's a 1982 model with the Router attachment and dual lathe thingamajig (yeah, I'm new at this stuff) it also has a sharpener for tools and whatnot. He wanted $850, but he took $700 for it. The only thing missing was the rip fence, but I can find one on ebay fairly cheap. Should I buy the Shopsmith fence or is there a better after market fence?

Thanks for your help! I'm really looking forward to relaxing and the smell of fresh cut wood!
http://tucson.craigslist.org/tls/4591967151.html

Looks like you got a very good deal on a 500 used as a lathe, complete with a lathe duplicator .
To use the saw functions, recommend you buy a upgrade kit to a 510 or 520. Then you can buy the proper rip fence that fits the new rails.

I would say you got a pretty good haul there. Congratulations.

Well maybe not so good of a deal. I fired up the saw after setting it up. He told me that his father had two of them and I got the lower saw guard for a 510 that wouldn't fit and after trying to cross cut a 4x4 the saw quit turning, but the motor still runs. After taking it apart, I found that the inside was coated in moist sawdust. I'm going to blow everything out with shop air and make sure everything is clean. The small belt was taught, but the motor drive belt was extremely loose. Perhaps the belt just needs tightening?

JohnSWA wrote:Well maybe not so good of a deal. I fired up the saw after setting it up. He told me that his father had two of them and I got the lower saw guard for a 510 that wouldn't fit and after trying to cross cut a 4x4 the saw quit turning, but the motor still runs. After taking it apart, I found that the inside was coated in moist sawdust. I'm going to blow everything out with shop air and make sure everything is clean. The small belt was taught, but the motor drive belt was extremely loose. Perhaps the belt just needs tightening?

Tension stays pretty much the same on the small belt. The motor belt is another thing. Tension there is determined by the position of the sheaves. I believe you have a sheave that is not moving on the shaft as it should.

Finishing cleaning it out and lubricate it.

FWIW, my nephew uses his greenie for a lathe only excpt for some minimum band sawing. He does not change speed much and his sheaves got "stuck" in one place. Lubed them up and worked the speed changer a bit and back to okay.

Thanks for the ideas! I'll give that a try.

JohnSWA wrote:I picked up the Tucson Model 500. I didn't know the difference in Mark V models and this one was so clean it looked practically new! It's a 1982 model with the Router attachment and dual lathe thingamajig (yeah, I'm new at this stuff) it also has a sharpener for tools and whatnot. He wanted $850, but he took $700 for it. The only thing missing was the rip fence, but I can find one on ebay fairly cheap. Should I buy the Shopsmith fence or is there a better after market fence?

Thanks for your help! I'm really looking forward to relaxing and the smell of fresh cut wood!
http://tucson.craigslist.org/tls/4591967151.html

I don't know of any other fence that works on this table. If there are others, I am sure this group will set you (me) straight.

This one, on eBay right now, looks like a steal (if it is not somehow damaged).

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Shopsmith-500-Rip-Fence-Basic-Miter-/161384357932?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item259341e02c

Maybe not a steal. I just went back and looked at the ad again. They are asking $25 for shipping.

Mark 5 / Mark V 500 rip fences are very common on e-bay.

Be aware there are three different rip fences. The other two fit a Mark V 505,510 or a Mark V 520. The value/cost increases as the model numbers get bigger. The availability decreases especially for the 520.

Do not depend upon the item description by the seller being accurate!