Shopsmith "Help Kit" first rate!

pinkiewerewolf · Post by **pinkiewerewolf** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:29 pm

The help kit arrived today and I am very pleased with the contents.
Especially the Mark V Alignment & Maintenance manual that is part of the kit as it is illustrated very well. It would make (and is in my case) a great tool to be used with "The Shopsmith Journals" that Rick has produced.
Also included are some of the common hardware that can ( and once again is in my case) be missing after time or when you purchse an older unit. The Pocket Oiler, a very nice 5/32 T-Wrench (Eklind no less!) a couple shop rags and a can of Top-Cote.

If more companies knew their customers like Shopsmith, there would be more "Help kits" on the market containing frequently used and lost supplies.

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 11:33 pm

Yes Pinkie, they are nice, in fact every Mark V owner should have one.

osx-addict · Post by **osx-addict** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 12:31 am

I was tempted to get one but opted not to.. I did buy the DVD for maint/alignment though and bought the T-wrench (mine was missing).. My stuff is supposed to arrive on Tuesday or Wednesday IIRC..

johnm · Post by **johnm** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 5:47 pm

The alignment instructions in the help kit are much better than what is included in the SS manual (at least the replacement manual that I got for my "greenie"). I went through the whole alignment procedure this weekend and really tuned things up nicely. Finished with a nice coat of Johnson's paste wax on the tables and the way tubes.

Everything operates nice and smoothly and blade, table, and mitre guage are all true to one another. All I need are my saw guards and I'm ready to go. Can't wait!

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 11:43 pm

johnm wrote:The alignment instructions in the help kit are much better than what is included in the SS manual ..............

I agree, John]http://www.ridgidforum.com/forum/images ... umbup2.gif[/IMG]

timster68 · Post by **timster68** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 6:09 pm

Is there any way to just buy the alignment manual or is it a "package" deal?

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 6:51 pm

a1gutterman wrote:......the manual that comes with the Help Kit seems to be more detailed!

Tim, how is it more detailed? Can you give an example?

Is it more detailed or is it just more inline with what has been presented in the Sawdust Sessions and on Rick's DVD.

Does it contradict any of the "old procedures".

Nick]http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/productmanuals.htm[/URL]

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:17 pm

Hi Dusty,
I am just doing a quick look at the forum tonight, due to weariness and exhaustion. I will be turning in early. I will compare the documentation that I have and get back to you with some examples in a day or two, but just let me say this for now: When I was looking at them before, I thought that there were both more illustrations and more written instruction on the manual sent with the Help Kit then there is in my 1995 510 original owners manual.

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 12:17 am

dusty wrote:Tim, how is it more detailed? Can you give an example?

Is it more detailed or is it just more inline with what has been presented in the Sawdust Sessions and on Rick's DVD.

Does it contradict any of the "old procedures".

Nick]http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/productmanuals.htm[/URL]

Hi Dusty,
As I promised, I am back to explain the differences. Okay, I discovered that there are no real differences.

What I was used to before I got the Help Kit, was my manual. My manual, from 1995, does not include any info on the 520 of course, but it does have a complete chapter on the alignment of the 500 (which I never looked at before, or at least not for several years, as I had the 510 from the get-go), and it has a complete chapter on the alignment of the 510. As I said, I was used to my manual, and was only looking at the 510 alignment procedures.

I spent the time to go through both manuals tonight, page by page.

The "new" Alignment and Maintenance manual that comes with the Help Kit includes ALL of the old info for Models 500 and 510, plus the 520. Instead of showing it seperately for each model, like my owners manual does, it uses a different format: All three models are grouped for each procedure, and the differences are shown, "side by side" shall we say. [It DOES NOT have any additional or contradictory information.]

That is why I noticed more written instructions and more illustrations.

Besides the different format, the only differences at all, are the references to illustrations (same illustrations); as they used a different method to "number" them. So, if you do not have the "new" manual, you are not missing anything. That is, as long as you received alignment instructions for your 520 update.

There you have it. My apologies for misleading you.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 4:24 am

Thank you, Tim. You have been a lot of help and you have saved me a few dollars. I now see no need to obtain a new manual. I just couldn't stand "Not Having" the latest instruction manual.

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