Shopsmith Forums

Hi folks! Thanks for some amazing content, I have been browsing through threads and gleaning lots of good information. I have already downloaded a pile of pdf's for future reference.

I recently picked up a 1955 that runs, but is missing some parts (minor stuff like a chuck, lathe ends, disc sander). It is in fairly good shape and I have knocked off most of the surface rust and dust, polished all the way tubes and tables with Johnson Paste Wax. I intend on getting this tuned up since it is so old and probably needs a lot of basic TLC.

Does someone have a step by step list of things to run through in order to diagnose what needs attention? I am looking for a basic guidebook to walk me through determining what I will need to replace/repair.

First and foremost is make sure the movable sheaves/shafts are well lubricated with light weight ,machine oil.

After that, what doesn't work correctly/what is excessively worn.

There are several good videos on lubrication the sheaves on YouTube, just take your pick.

You'll take off the belt cover to do the lubrication. I don't know if the nameplate on the back of the headstock has an access hole behind it but take off the nameplate if it does. Before lubing use a vacuum, compressed air, and soft brushes to clean out the inside of the headstock everywhere you can reach. I'm recalling something about very old machines not having a lubrication hole on the upper sheaves and you just have to get some oil on the inner shaft and run the speed up and down to spread it around on the shaft.

After lubing the sheaves run it up and down the range of the speed dial a few times to get the oil spread around. It shouldn't take all that much effort to turn the speed dial from one end to the other, if it's difficult to take it through the full speed range then you have a problem to diagnose.

I'll say once again how I enjoying hearing about users who are bringing a Greenie back into use. Same way I started with Shopsmiths, and the Greenies were nearly 30 years younger back then.

Neither movable sheave has lubrication holes on the early greenies.

Serial289988,

You have already been given some of the most important things to start with from JPG and Ed. If you name (Serial289988) is the serial number of your Mark 5 it was made in February of 1955. That makes it a Greenie with the "A" Headstock. The "A" Headstock did not have the access hole behind the back logo plate to access lubricating the Idler Sheave and the back of the Speed Control. Getting to those parts means removing the motor pan and the belt to the motor from the main housing. Not a bad idea at this point anyway to get things cleaned out and properly lubricated.

If you don't have a manual for your Mark 5 a restored copy can be found at the Maintenance and Repair section for Shopsmith Large Format Drawings, Illustrations and More by Everett Davis. This will be one of the first three topics. In it you will find a wealth of information on the Shopsmith tools. Some are directly linked there and others are on “My Google Drive” with documents too large to be directly linked. Everett has become the Shopsmith historian by saving and restoring manuals and other documents. You will need a google account to access them. Under the Mark 5 category is restored Owner's Guides and yours will be the second release. Besides the documents there is always someone here to help.

Check out Jacob Anderson's headstock repair videos.