Lift Assist modification?

benush26 · Post by **benush26** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 3:43 pm

I ordered my Lift Assist in June and it arrived yesterday. Wow does it make a difference for an old fart with no arm strength and less balance!!:rolleyes:

However, I remember reading about the problem with the mounting brackets interfering with the Universal Tool Rest. Before I received it I began wondering about making a bracket that would attach to these
\/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ or the swivel base on the 500

[ATTACH]23091[/ATTACH]

rather than clamp on to the tubes. Could it even be plausible?

My thoughts are to fabricate some sort of angle iron brackets that attach the existing "J" arm and ball socket pieces that come in the kit. Really only eliminating the clamps that go on the tubes. Some drilling would be required, but angle iron on the back side also for strength so the bases don't have to absorb all the shock, stress.

Before I butcher anything (and thereby VOID ANY warranty)

, in the estimation of those that are using the UTR, would eliminating the mounting brackets from the tubes. be of any real use, help viable / measurable benefit?

BTW, when I talked to CS about this, no one had ever heard of the powers that be, trying to change the mounting method, so maybe it isn't that big a problem???

Input, advise and other bits of wit and wisdom requested.

Be well,

Ben

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 8:03 pm

Recommend installing the lift exactly as detailed in the instructions. Later, if you need modifications then do some thinking.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 8:08 pm

I would have to agree with Charlese. I believe you need to install it as designed and use it for a while before you conclude that it needs to be "fixed".

I have had mine for three or four years and have no complaints. If I had cabinets to put under the Mark V or if I was a turner, I might not say that.

benush26 · Post by **benush26** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 8:43 pm

Thanks for the quick feedback. We are about to get a quick reminder of winter on Monday and Tuesday, so am moving any and everything that might get frozen or snow bound by Sunday afternoon. Was going to experiment with the oldest 500 - which happens to need the most work, but may leave it and shuffle things in the garage so the work bench ( build set for this weekend) AND the work table (eta May 2014) have their own areas.

Had a buyer for the Craftsman RAS, but would cost way too much to replace it with a decent chop saw and found a nice place where it's usable and still tucked away. Now just need to figure out where the planer will call home!

Again thanks for the feedback. Mother Nature has changed my immediate plans and so that's probably a good thing!:rolleyes:

Be well,

Ben

BuckeyeDennis · Post by **BuckeyeDennis** » Fri Oct 25, 2013 9:31 pm

benush26 wrote:Thanks for the quick feedback. We are about to get a quick reminder of winter on Monday and Tuesday, so am moving any and everything that might get frozen or snow bound by Sunday afternoon. Was going to experiment with the oldest 500 - which happens to need the most work, but may leave it and shuffle things in the garage so the work bench ( build set for this weekend) AND the work table (eta May 2014) have their own areas.

Had a buyer for the Craftsman RAS, but would cost way too much to replace it with a decent chop saw and found a nice place where it's usable and still tucked away. Now just need to figure out where the planer will call home!

Again thanks for the feedback. Mother Nature has changed my immediate plans and so that's probably a good thing!:rolleyes:

Be well,
Ben

Hey Ben, I'm thinkin' that someone who has unusually good communication skills, and who is projecting an ETA of a specific month next spring for a hobby project, has gotta have some project-management experience under their belt.

Am I right? C'mon, inquiring minds want to know ...

texomawood · Post by **texomawood** » Sat Oct 26, 2013 9:45 am

I installed my lift assist per plan. When turning I found that I couldn't get close to the tail stock when working small objects. But instead of changing the mount on the lift assist I ordered a tailstock extenter, with a #2 morse taper. It moves the live center to the left far enough that the brackets don't interfere with mounting anything in the tailstock. I've never had issues with the universal tool rest in this set up.

fredsheldon · Post by **fredsheldon** » Sat Oct 26, 2013 10:20 am

I found I had to install 2 tailstock extenders to be able to fit between my large bowls and the live center. I was thinking of even adding a third one to see if it's still stable. I also ride the base up and over the bracket to gain another inch or two, works great.

benush26 · Post by **benush26** » Sat Oct 26, 2013 4:08 pm

BuckeyeDennis wrote:Hey Ben, I'm thinkin' that someone who has unusually good communication skills, and who is projecting an ETA of a specific month next spring for a hobby project, has gotta have some project-management experience under their belt.

Am I right? C'mon, inquiring minds want to know ...

There is that possibility......

Of course it could just be a trait of Shopsmith owners!

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue Oct 29, 2013 11:32 am

benush26 wrote:There is that possibility...... ]Of course it could just be a trait of Shopsmith owners[/B]!

Of course it is. Called planning ahead to minimize setup changes and improve 'work flow'.

claimdude · Post by **claimdude** » Tue Oct 29, 2013 11:02 pm

texomawood wrote:I installed my lift assist per plan. When turning I found that I couldn't get close to the tail stock when working small objects. But instead of changing the mount on the lift assist I ordered a tailstock extenter, with a #2 morse taper. It moves the live center to the left far enough that the brackets don't interfere with mounting anything in the tailstock. I've never had issues with the universal tool rest in this set up.

Texoma,

Where did you get the extender?

Thanks
Jack