new shopsmith owner

sb352 · Post by **sb352** » Tue Nov 06, 2012 1:20 pm

hellp everybody:
I recently acquired a Shopsmith Mark V along with numerous attachments. Been reading up on the operation and maintenance thru this forum , and Sawdust sessions. Both have been very helpful. I lubricated the sheaves with oil and started working on my first project with the Shopsmith. Bear with me a little bit because I am still new to the woodworking hobby,probably because I didnt have enough extra time on my hands (Darn Kids). I started the Shopsmith on low speed and gradually incresed it to table saw speed and cut some 2x4 's. After finishing the cuts I tried to decrease the speed ,but it remained in high gear. The speed changer and dial are functioning and appears to still be connected to the sheaves. Any advice would be greatly appriciated.

wa2crk · Post by **wa2crk** » Tue Nov 06, 2012 2:02 pm

Hi SB and welcome to the forum,
My first guess is that the retaining loop that connects the speed control quadrant to the control sheave has come off the quadrant. This is mostly caused by a lack of lubrication in the past and/or a failure of the bearing in the end of control sheave. Remove the logo plate from the rear of the machine and have someone rotate the speed control handle while the machine is running. DO NOT PUT YOUR HAND IN THE HOLE WHILE DOING THIS!!! If the quadrant arm moves then all should be OK with the speed control.There is a retaining loop that connects the control sheave to the speed control quadrant.
WARNING!!! Do not put your hand in the inspection hole with the machine plugged in. Full line voltage is always present on the rear of the switch when the machine is plugged in.
Look at the photo.
[ATTACH]18982[/ATTACH]
The retaining loop is visible at the end of the control sheave.
NOTE!! The wiring is misplaced in this pic. The wires should be under a clip just behind the speed control.
Your problem CAN be fixed and I am sure others here will jump in to help.
One other word, "Don't make red sawdust" it is painful and difficult to clean up.
Bill V

mrhart · Post by **mrhart** » Tue Nov 06, 2012 3:38 pm

I'm guessing the "kids" had something to do with it. They're always guilty of something.
Welcome sir.

mgbbob · Post by **mgbbob** » Tue Nov 06, 2012 3:48 pm

When I purchased my 510 the previous owner said the clip had come off of the quad arm. He had the new parts. What I found out was the lower sheave was frozen. If yours changed speeds to start with then it can't be frozen but it might be reacting slowly.

I know there is a session on lubricating the lower sheave so you might try that. If I remember right you need to push in on the lower sheave to get to the oil hole. You will probably be able to feel if it is hanging up.

Bob

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue Nov 06, 2012 11:37 pm

mgbbob wrote:When I purchased my 510 the previous owner said the clip had come off of the quad arm. He had the new parts. What I found out was the lower sheave was frozen. If yours changed speeds to start with then it can't be frozen but it might be reacting slowly.

I know there is a session on lubricating the lower sheave so you might try that. If I remember right you need to push in on the lower sheave to get to the oil hole. You will probably be able to feel if it is hanging up.

Bob

The 'loop' is there to keep that 'button' from rotating, not to pull the control sheave.

When you set the speed to a 'high' setting, the control sheave opens up and the spring on the motor shaft should cause the floating sheave to move inward which results in a small diameter idler pulley and a larger diameter motor pulley.

When you then adjust the speed control to a slower speed setting, the control sheave is 'squeezing' the idler pulley and if the motor pulley does not open up, the belt will jam in the idler pulley.

A more likely condition is the speed control knob is slipping on the shaft. The outer speed dial would move towards slow, but the control sheave would not move.

Take the knob off and see if it has been slipping. The set screw should be tightened into a shallow hole in the shaft.

Since this condition will probably result in incorrect spreed indication on the dial, a high speed adjustment should be done.

Wish I had a simpler answer, but that's the way I see it. If doing a high speed adjustment is a 'mystery', get back and tell us and ye shall be pointed to it!

Welcome to the forum!

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue Nov 06, 2012 11:38 pm

mgbbob wrote:When I purchased my 510 the previous owner said the clip had come off of the quad arm. He had the new parts. What I found out was the lower sheave was frozen. If yours changed speeds to start with then it can't be frozen but it might be reacting slowly.

I know there is a session on lubricating the lower sheave so you might try that. If I remember right you need to push in on the lower sheave to get to the oil hole. You will probably be able to feel if it is hanging up.

Bob

The 'loop' is there to keep that 'button' from rotating, not to pull the control sheave.

When you set the speed to a 'high' setting, the control sheave opens up and the spring on the motor shaft should cause the floating sheave to move inward which results in a small diameter idler pulley and a larger diameter motor pulley.

When you then adjust the speed control to a slower speed setting, the control sheave is 'squeezing' the idler pulley and if the motor pulley does not open up, the belt will jam in the idler pulley.

A more likely condition is the speed control knob is slipping on the shaft. The outer speed dial would move towards slow, but the control sheave would not move.

Since increasing speed requires less torque, the knob probably did not slip then.

Take the knob off and see if it has been slipping. The set screw should be tightened into a shallow hole in the shaft.

Since this condition will probably result in incorrect speed indication on the dial, a high speed adjustment should be done.

Wish I had a simpler answer, but that's the way I see it. If doing a high speed adjustment is a 'mystery', get back and tell us and ye shall be pointed to it!

Welcome to the forum!

sb352 · Post by **sb352** » Wed Nov 07, 2012 8:41 am

Thanks for the info guys. the loop appears to be on the speed control quadrant, but I will double check when I get home. The Shopsmith seemed to be working fine prior to this. I used AG motor and bearing oil to lubricate the sheaves. I noticed on Sawdust seesion 21 I believe, the bottom sheave can be manually pushed in and out . I tried that but to no avail. Also the person I got the Shopsmith from marked the lower sheave to show were to lubricate and that was done,only using 2 to 3 drops of oil. I know the machine sat for a few years before I got it ,so I lubricated the two sheaves and tried to clean everything up inside prior to using it.

mgbbob · Post by **mgbbob** » Wed Nov 07, 2012 9:27 am

I think you need to push the bottom sheave in to get to the lubrication hole. It has been a while so I could be wrong. It should move in and out.

Mine was frozen solid and it took a lot of penetrating oil and patience to get it moving again. In the end it cleaned up and is working fine.

I like the idea of the control slipping. That is an easy fix and I would start there.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Wed Nov 07, 2012 11:26 am

The oil hole is on the floating sheave hub, and therefore can be accessed regardless of its position on the motor shaft, but it is easier to get to if the spring is not compressed(sheave 'in') when speed is set to high.