New casters

[terrydowning]

[quote="JPG40504"]I sure hope SS has them in stock!]

Thanks for bursting my bubble.

I may have to order form Menard's now (This will also help out Tom )

[JPG]

...even more questions... and I thought the works great on both my machines was going to suffice. (I'm so naive sometimes...also sarcastic, I suppose)
Okay, First, when retracted, I can spin them around without them touching the floor. Next, in either low or high rise position, they roll & pivot great. In any position, they clear everything on my goldie oldie & my 80-something 510. I wasn't aware of any differences in caster assemblies or legs (other than gauge of leg material) over the years. I've had greenies, goldies, and grays. Maybe I just never paid attention to differences as I never seemed to have more than one torn down at a time.
Now, all I have to do is wait for somebody to get some & take me off the hook.
(Doesn't anyone live near a Menards so they can just stop in & buy them & put an end to all the suspense? It's even killing me, now. I'm beginning to have this weird fear that, regardless of my experience, they won't fit anyone else's machine except mine, and I'll have to slink quietly off into no-shopsmith land, forever banished until I can (after a respectable amount of time has elapsed) sneak back on the "Smith' sites with a new name & writing style. (did I mention the sarcasm thing?)

Now you are acting paranoid!:D

Ain't nobody gonna banish anyone!

I would be the last to accuse anyone else of sarcasm!:rolleyes:

I think you are safe since you referred to spinning when raised and roll in both raised positions.

Only thing left is pivot radius, and that would only be a concern with very old caster assemblies, and is easily overcome.(The new biggie ones have that 'issue' AIUI)



It has taken a while to get all this good news(details).

I am sorry if I lumped you in with the Dayton folks(it works 'fine') since it appears you did not deserve as such.

I have to conclude that the 'Menards' caster rests on the bottom of the piston when lowered and there is clearance when raised. If it rolls when lowered to both positions, all is well!!!!!!! Dimension off the floor is suspect in the 'first' position due to tolerances etc, but should be greater than near zero!

Ya finally convinced me! If I had not already gotten some 3" brand x I would already have ordered some!

[JPG]

Thanks for bursting my bubble.

I may have to order form Menard's now (This will also help out Tom )

I did not mean to imply that they were either out of stock, or no longer available. Only a call to CS can determine that.

My later ("no longer available") comment was regarding another part.

Albeit it is caster assembly related

[trainguytom]

JPG40504, first of all, if you already have new casters that would prevent you from getting more, that only means one thing...you need another Shopsmith.

Also, now I'm curious, as to what you mean by "pivot radius". Is that when you kinda "swirl" the machine around so the caster does a "360"? I did do that, and while it's fun to do (sarcasm, again), there's plenty of clearance to all parts.

I sure hope this turns out well for all who try these, I have another real cool cheap improvement to talk about, but I don't want to go too far out on that limb just yet...can't handle the stress.

[terrydowning]

I have another real cool cheap improvement to talk about, but I don't want to go too far out on that limb just yet...can't handle the stress.

Please just start a different thread..

[JPG]

JPG40504, first of all, if you already have new casters that would prevent you from getting more, that only means one thing...you need another Shopsmith.

Also, now I'm curious, as to what you mean by "pivot radius". Is that when you kinda "swirl" the machine around so the caster does a "360"? I did do that, and while it's fun to do (sarcasm, again), there's plenty of clearance to all parts.

I sure hope this turns out well for all who try these, I have another real cool cheap improvement to talk about, but I don't want to go too far out on that limb just yet...can't handle the stress.

OOOH but I do have 4(1 currently operating) and the biggie casters went to the long storage rack.

Pivot radius: The caster rotates about the stem. The wheel axle is a given radius from the stem. The Menard's one looks larger.

PM me and I will 'critique' in private.

[woodworking-dave]

I just found a set of replacement casters at my local Menards in the hardware area. They are ball bearing pressure fit, hard rubber or nylon, or something similar, & the right size for direct replacement...no drilling, no changing anything. All 4 cast me about $16.00. I've been using them for a month or 2 & they work great. The machines move at my fingertips. If you can't find them there, Grainger has that size, too but @ around $9.00, I think.

The casters Shopsmith is selling are 3" in diameter thats why you have to drill another set of holes. The 3" roll a lot easier than the 2". Dave

[trainguytom]

The casters Shopsmith is selling are 3" in diameter thats why you have to drill another set of holes. The 3" roll a lot easier than the 2". Dave

If you're comparing to the old standard Smith casters, I'm sure 3" ones work better. What I found is that the 2 inchers that I bought roll & pivot MUCH better than those original Shopsmith casters & they're a drop in-no drilling. I'm sure the ball bearings & newer wheel composition help a lot.
From my experience (and this is on a reasonably smooth concrete basement floor, so maybe there are a lot of machines that roll over way rougher terrain, & my experience wouldn't be valid there) these $4 drop-ins save time, money and are a big improvement over my old casters. (So there, that's my story & I'm stickin' to it)
Also, (will I never shut up???) I think I saw 3" casters in the same bin at Menards, so, if a guy wanted to re-drill, he could. I think they were also about $4.
Okay, I'm really done...no, really.

[JPG]

If you're comparing to the old standard Smith casters, I'm sure 3" ones work better. What I found is that the 2 inchers that I bought roll & pivot MUCH better than those original Shopsmith casters & they're a drop in-no drilling. I'm sure the ball bearings & newer wheel composition help a lot.
From my experience (and this is on a reasonably smooth concrete basement floor, so maybe there are a lot of machines that roll over way rougher terrain, & my experience wouldn't be valid there) these $4 drop-ins save time, money and are a big improvement over my old casters. (So there, that's my story & I'm stickin' to it)
Also, (will I never shut up???) I think I saw 3" casters in the same bin at Menards, so, if a guy wanted to re-drill, he could. I think they were also about $4.
Okay, I'm really done...no, really.

They cost a bit more.
http://www.menards.com/main/tools-hardware/builders-hardware/utility-hardware/casters/3-dyna-tread-friction-stem-caster/p-1469161-c-9698.htm

The stem on these is too long, and the item has expired. It may get relisted.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/150385619475?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649



One thing not mentioned is the fact the SS version also as bearings in the wheels(axle) .(IIRC)

[cooch366]

Shipped yesterday (it will be almost 2 weeks to get them from Menards)

Photos will follow...

when installed. Haven't got a delivery date yet. But will keep you posted

Steve