Shopsmith Forums

Hi guys. My head stock does not slide smoothly. This is an inherited machine (circa 1993) and hadn’t been used for 10 years when I got it. At that time, it wouldn’t move at all. After waxing the tubes (and table) with Trewax, it moves with difficulty. This wasn’t a big deal until I got a bandsaw and it now needs to move far left for the bandsaw and far right for the drill press. I’m a decent sized guy and easily lift it from the middle with my off hand to drill press mode so it isn’t from lack of effort.

Any tips?
Thanks!
Karl

Karl,

A couple things come to mind. The locks could be sticking a bit and not fully releasing the pressure. Turn to unlock them all the way and see if the lock wedges are moving out then back in when turning to lock in the Headstock Casting. When turned all the way to unlock the wedges should protrude slightly as seen in the picture below of the back side of the Headstock Casting. The front wedge will come out behind the lock handle. They could be mis-aligned causing a problem.

_ .
The other cause would be the rotation of the Way Tubes. There can be a very slight bow in the Way Tubes causing them to be further apart over the length of the tubes. Rotating the Way Tubes to get the Headstock and Carriage sliding smoothly will correct that cause.

Thanks. I will try that.

The table moves without difficulty so I think it may be the locks that you described.

It's all about friction and corrosion. In hindsight, I should have taken my 10ER down to the headstock and waxed inside the headstock. When I restored the speed changer and put it on, the increased friction from the parts slowed headstock movement a bit. Minwax is your friend.....use it a lot until things slide easily. It even helps the wood feed on top of your table.

Kevin

Months later, this is still a pain. I mostly use my SS for the bandsaw and drill press so I’m always moving the headstock. The lock does come out of the headstock when fully disengaged and even rattles a little if I wiggle the knob but the headstock is extremely hard to move. As in I put my entire 240 pounds into it and sometimes move the entire frame.

Any advice on how to remedy this?

Months later, this is still a pain. I mostly use my SS for the bandsaw and drill press so I’m always moving the headstock. The lock does come out of the headstock when fully disengaged and even rattles a little if I wiggle the knob but the headstock is extremely hard to move. As in I put my entire 240 pounds into it and sometimes move the entire frame.

Any advice on how to remedy this?

Maybe this video from Today’s Shopsmith with Michael Young will help.
https://youtu.be/xI7tD5WXTlw?is=AQY-HKa3AfLR0H-9

Karl,

Since you are getting the locks fully disengaged by your description DO check out the Mike Young You Tube video Larry provided the link to. That could very well solve the problem you are having.

For anyone else having trouble moving the Headstock and/or the Carriage on the Way Tubes this is the next step after cleaning, waxing and checking the Locks. For the Locks see my previous post earlier in this Topic.

Thanks guys. I will try spinning the way tubes. I hope that helps. I don't love skidding the entire machine across the floor when I try to move the headstock.
Karl

I spun the way tubes. They are definitely not true and rotating them helped some. I re-waxed the tubes and that helped some more. It isn’t buttery smooth but it takes <10 pounds of force to move the headstock which is a vast improvement.

Thanks guys!