question, mark 7 tilting system

reible · Post by **reible** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 11:54 pm

Hi,

For those of you who have upgraded or purchased the mark 7 system I have a few questions for you.

I have a general idea how the tilting works on the new system but a few things make me wonder if this new method would be an advantage even without the power pro.

I presently have 2 machines set up as 520's. One nagging issue has been the extension tables and a single alignment for use on both ends of the machine. (While it seems Nick had "solved" this issue using the set screw on the shoulder of the head rest.) I was never able to get my machines as close as I wanted to being universal. My solutions was to have an extension table for the right side and another for the left side.

Set of questions

(1) do the new base/arm assemblies have any adjustments like on the set screw on the head rest?

(2) has anyone attempted to use one extension table for both the right and left side and if so how did it work out?

(3) the old locking lever really pulled things together making the machine quite stable and held the alignment very well, how do you feel about the new system with the screws, still pull things together tight and aligned?

(4) has anyone shot pictures of the M-7 parts and wouldn't mind sharing them? Just the new end parts unless you want to do more.

(5) anyone using spt like the jig saw with the old straight legs, how is that working for you?

Other observations are of course welcome.

Thanks,

Ed

wa2crk · Post by **wa2crk** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 8:45 am

Ed;
I have had alignment with my 520 upgrade for quite q while now. I can not get the auxiliary table aligned on the left end of the machine either.

The first pic shows the offset of the aux table from front to back
[ATTACH]14679[/ATTACH]

This one shows a definite tilt downward of the aux table when it is on the left end of the machine.
[ATTACH]14680[/ATTACH]

This pic is of the proper alignment of the aux table on the right end of the machine.
[ATTACH]14681[/ATTACH]

I finally gave up on trying to align the aux table on the left end of the machine. I might also add that I never got the aux table aligned on both ends even when the machine was new in 1983.
Bill V

8iowa · Post by **8iowa** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:12 am

Ed:

Back in May, here in the U.P., I upgraded my 520 to both Power Pro and double tilt;

1. There are no "adjustment" screws on either end of the double tilt. I don't use the extension table on the left end, but I suspect that you would have to have a second extension table especially aligned on that end for best results.

2. The new double tilt locking screws are tight and secure. However, one must be sure that they are screwed in securely before tilting the machine. failure to do this could result in a disaster.

3. I modified my older lift assist with the new quick disconnect gas tube. However, the lift assist brackets on the way tubes had to be moved about 1 1/4 inches from the new end cap in order to make room for the double tilt locking screw. I also used a round rasp to to make a slight recess on the tie bar between the brackets to make room for the rod on the gas tube.

4. I see no reason why any SPT that was used on your old machine would not also work on the double tilt upgrade.

5. I have a double tilt upgrade "in the box" down in Gainesville, but I won't be down there until around the first of December. If you still need pictures of the parts then I'll be glad to post them. I've already "Winterized" my shop here in the U.P.

We had our first blast of Winter yesterday and are blanketed with about an inch of snow. I've been feeding 14 Trumpeter Swans on the lake every morning. Deer season starts next Tuesday.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:37 am

Rather than hijack this thread, I am going to open another thread:

Table Alignment Mark V Model 520

reible · Post by **reible** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 10:25 am

8iowa wrote:Ed:

Back in May, here in the U.P., I upgraded my 520 to both Power Pro and double tilt]Most of my SPT from the old days have the straight legs, the set screw I referenced is how you tweak them in to alignment. So may be a better question is did the SPT need any adjustments after the upgrade?[/color]

5. I have a double tilt upgrade "in the box" down in Gainesville, but I won't be down there until around the first of December. If you still need pictures of the parts then I'll be glad to post them. I've already "Winterized" my shop here in the U.P.

If the post still has no pictures I'll remind you of your offer. Might be nice to see them just out of the box anyway, before they are installed.

We had our first blast of Winter yesterday and are blanketed with about an inch of snow. I've been feeding 14 Trumpeter Swans on the lake every morning. Deer season starts next Tuesday.

Got a picture in my morning email of snow in Boulder Junction WI where my brother lives. We were up in the UP not so many days ago, we did see some very light snow very early one morning as we walked the board walk at Sunday Lake. A few years back we woke to 16" of snow towards the end of Oct so it's getting to be that time of year.

Thanks for the reply,

Ed

reible · Post by **reible** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 10:40 am

BTW my alignment is a LOT closer then pictured above by wa2crk. Sill off by any amount is still off. If it is not a sliding fit then I'm not going to be happy with it.

Spending the amount shopsmith wants for the kit would be a VERY big disappointment if the alignment got any worse. Or if I ended up having to buy different mounting posts for my old SPT to get them to align.

Ed

nuhobby · Post by **nuhobby** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 2:28 pm

The following recent thread suggested that the Mark 7 double-tilt should improve the alignment between the 2 ends of the machine. But I don't think a forum member has conclusively verified it yet.

See post # 7 here,
https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=8844

reible · Post by **reible** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 3:33 pm

Thanks for the post, I have now read that thread.

Not sure I believe the alignment issues will be better mostly because of manufacturing tolerances. This is especially true with machines made over the many many years of production, some will be better some worse, some may improve others may not. Since you have a mix of both your old parts and the newest parts, well maybe I'm missing something but I'm questioning how this all works together. Since I have been forced to make adjustments to other shopsmith new add-ons this major of design change scares me a bit.

Perhaps someone could post the instructions for doing this portion of the change over?

I have attached the original adjustment information I have from 1979 for those that might not have it. This is from a time that shopsmith sent such things out to owners, it has been years since they did that.

Ed

nuhobby wrote:The following recent thread suggested that the Mark 7 double-tilt should improve the alignment between the 2 ends of the machine. But I don't think a forum member has conclusively verified it yet.

See post # 7 here,
https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=8844

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 4:10 pm

I have never seen that sheet of adjustment tips (secrets). Thanks for posting it.

However, my machine has the setscrew (figure 5) but I do not see how it creates lateral movement. I have mine set now so that it does not come into play at all.