I have a Redie

[oddie]

Some have a Goldie. Others have a Greenie. A few have a Brownie. But I have a Redie.

[ATTACH]16394[/ATTACH]

While there may be some red ones out there, I believe this is one of a very few done by Shopsmith itself. Not for production, but for internal use. Each leg has this:

[ATTACH]16395[/ATTACH]

and the previous owner has strong ties with SS. And the red paint job is really sloppy with lots of overspray. BTW the MK 5 was very dirty, some rust but a lot of sawdust and dirt.

I bought this off eBay from here in Dayton because I wanted to upgrade my 500 to a 510. I've cleaned up the 510 items and have finished the upgrade. No sawdust yet.

Now to the rest of the items and some questions.

I can't tell what powerhead I really have. It is a Gilmer, the drive belt has the keys going across the belt and the quill has six splines. There is no SN. There is no evidence one ever existed. See this:

[ATTACH]16396[/ATTACH]

The tag says it has a 1 1/8 hp motor but I haven't look at it to see what's really there. The logo badge on the back does NOT cover a repair access hole, it covers a lot of casting metal. The belt cover has eight screw holes. You can see four in the picture above but when I got it there were only three screws used, at the waist and on top. WHAT KIND DO I REALLLY HAVE? The only prize for being right is the warm spot in your heart that you helped me with my problem.

Next, is it worth it to convert this gilmer to a poly? I plan to convert this to a form of mini to power my SPTs. What would have to have done to do the conversion? Is this casting different from a casting used for a poly?

Thanks for reading about my confusion.

[dusty]

I hope, for your sake, that the quanity of the paint job is not mirrored in general maintenance. Hopefully the innards are clean and well lubricated.

The inspection unit -- I wonder which inspections need a functional Mark V to complete.

I have a serial number plate that looks just like yours - no serial number.

[JPG]

Some have a Goldie. Others have a Greenie. A few have a Brownie. But I have a Redie.

[ATTACH]16394[/ATTACH]

While there may be some red ones out there, I believe this is one of a very few done by Shopsmith itself. Not for production, but for internal use. Each leg has this:

[ATTACH]16395[/ATTACH]

and the previous owner has strong ties with SS. And the red paint job is really sloppy with lots of overspray. BTW the MK 5 was very dirty, some rust but a lot of sawdust and dirt.

I bought this off eBay from here in Dayton because I wanted to upgrade my 500 to a 510. I've cleaned up the 510 items and have finished the upgrade. No sawdust yet.

Now to the rest of the items and some questions.

I can't tell what powerhead I really have. It is a Gilmer, the drive belt has the keys going across the belt and the quill has six splines. There is no SN. There is no evidence one ever existed. See this:

[ATTACH]16396[/ATTACH]

The tag says it has a 1 1/8 hp motor but I haven't look at it to see what's really there. The logo badge on the back does NOT cover a repair access hole, it covers a lot of casting metal. The belt cover has eight screw holes. You can see four in the picture above but when I got it there were only three screws used, at the waist and on top. WHAT KIND DO I REALLLY HAVE? The only prize for being right is the warm spot in your heart that you helped me with my problem.

Next, is it worth it to convert this gilmer to a poly? I plan to convert this to a form of mini to power my SPTs. What would have to have done to do the conversion? Is this casting different from a casting used for a poly?

Thanks for reading about my confusion.

The casting is an "A" casting, so Gilmer makes sense. The vent plate is not 'original' so anything it says is irrelevant. It may just have a larger motor. Only looking will determine that.

Poly conversion possible, but will include :eek:idler shaft, main shaft, quill, belt:eek:! No mods to the casting.

Hardly worth it for driving spt's!

[billmayo]

I used Gilmer Drive headstocks on most of the MINI and SHORTY Shopsmiths I sold and/or assemblied for customers. I find the 3/4 HP motor has ample HP for driving any SPT or attachment on the MINI or the SHORTY.

[oddie]

JPG:

To help with my learning curve, what info in my post led you to conclude the vent plate was not the original? In my very limited experience, I've seen only one kind of plate.

Based on what's been said so far, what color do I really have? Many used parts are listed as being for a specific color and I don't know enough to realize utility on other machines.

If I repaint it, can I paint with all the mechanicals inside or should I remove everything and essentially rebuild it?

If I want to cut an access hole in the casting, what should I use to cut the hole?

Is there such a thing as a double bearing quill for a gilmer? If I run only SPTs with this, do I care about a second bearing?

Thanks in advance.

[robinson46176]

I have seen a few (very few) antique tractors even come to shows painted like that... (shudder)


.

[billmayo]

JPG:

To help with my learning curve, what info in my post led you to conclude the vent plate was not the original? In my very limited experience, I've seen only one kind of plate.

Based on what's been said so far, what color do I really have? Many used parts are listed as being for a specific color and I don't know enough to realize utility on other machines.

If I repaint it, can I paint with all the mechanicals inside or should I remove everything and essentially rebuild it?

If I want to cut an access hole in the casting, what should I use to cut the hole?

Is there such a thing as a double bearing quill for a gilmer? If I run only SPTs with this, do I care about a second bearing?

Thanks in advance.

The vent plate is the one used on the later Shopsmith headstocks (1988? & later) that have a date stamped on a sticker on the belt housing. I ordered a few from Shopsmith and they look identical to yours.

I always remove all the internal headstock parts as it is difficult to check bearings and other parts inside the headstock. I find any mark V part can be used in a Mark V headstock and will work. However I try to use the latest version of each part and/or recondition the part. I have a 2 page rebuilding checklist if intersted. I find no reason to paint any inside part other than to make it look pretty. I recommend a really good scrubbing of the housing (casing) insides to remove all metal particles, crud and grease. I use Eastwood self-etching grey or black primer on any aluminum parts before the final paint coats. I like the Rusteoleum Hammered Paints. I brought a few cans of Rusteoleum Metallic charcoal paint to try next.

I have been using a carbite tip 3 1/8" (largest that still holds the logo cover) hole saw with a centering jig to drill the access hole in the older Greenie housings. I round off the hole edges to prevent cuts to my hand. I drill holes in the half moon parts of the LOGO cover and use 2 screws in a bracket to hold the cover.

For 95% of your Shopsmith work including the SPTs, the single bearing Gilmer quill (with a tight or new quill bearing) will be OK. I only recommend using the double bearing quills for arbor attachments (saw blade, router, sanding drum/disk) where you can be placing a high side thrust load on the arbor. However, I will have some more double bearing Gilmer quills available next month if anyone is interested.

[Culprit]

However, I will have some more double bearing Gilmer quills available next month if anyone is interested.

Sign me up!

[JPG]

JPG:

To help with my learning curve, what info in my post led you to conclude the vent plate was not the original? In my very limited experience, I've seen only one kind of plate. lack of a stamped s/n and the "V".

Based on what's been said so far, what color do I really have? Many used parts are listed as being for a specific color and I don't know enough to realize utility on other machines. It is an early Greenie ("A" headstock)

If I repaint it, can I paint with all the mechanicals inside or should I remove everything and essentially rebuild it(bearings)

If I want to cut an access hole in the casting, what should I use to cut the hole? Oil holes re more important. IMHO I would not bother with 'access' hole.

Is there such a thing as a double bearing quill for a gilmer? If I run only SPTs with this, do I care about a second bearing? No and No. But Bill is making some.

Thanks in advance.

See de blue!

Do realize many sellers on E-bay do not themselves have a clue! Caveat Emptor!

[algale]

The lack of the stamped serial number on the plate might be consistent with the idea that the machine was not sold to the public but used by Shopsmith for some internal purpose, as the original poster stated.