Shopsmith Forums

As far as using the tail stock...I use it till I can't use it anymore. Plus I have always tried to round and balance large blocks the best I can.

The outside bearings are the sealed type on the top spindle. The top spindles actually work by one sliding into the other. There are 2 small needle bearings the shaft rides on. There is nothing other than those needle bearings that hold any kind of grease in. I actually got a brand new top spindle ...

Nothing about adding grease. Only to adjust the belts.

The 1st speed reducer I got from Shopsmith burned up the needle bearings after about 16 hours of time making bowls. Shopsmith doesn't mention anything about greasing the bearings after any hours of use. Is anyone else having any issues with these needle bearings or the shaft wearing out due to lack ...

Yes the bearings freeze up...why because Shopsmith builds a faulty product. There is no way but to tear apart the speed reducer and grease up these bearings. I would think you need to tear this apart about every 10 hours of use and regrease. These needle bearings can't hold the grease in very well ...

I've had issues with my speed reducer a couple of times now. First time the needle bearings both dried up, luckily only 1 bearing came apart. Just was using it again yesterday and the smaller needle bearing in the top spindle dried up and ended up wearing the shaft down. Now the shaft is worn down ...