hours and hour meter

[cham-ed]

I know about lubing every 10 hours and I guess at what is 10 hours of use to do that. But has anyone ever added an hour meter to their machine?

[Bruce]

I can't see the sense in adding an hour meter. Some people won't put ten hours on their machine in years of use, but they better be maintaining it at least annually anyway. On the other hand, if you're using it daily, you're apt to remember to do the maintenance.

[billmayo]

I installed hour meters on about a dozen Shopsmith MINIs and SHORTYs I sold in the 2003-2006 time frame. I found that no one was really tracking the hours on the meters to know when to lubricate the headstock. So I came up with a alternate solution that I find has worked for my customers. Mark your calendar to lubricate the Shopsmith each year during the Christmas period. Put the headstock in the drill press (upright) position, speed at FAST ands use 20 t0 40 drops (a couple of bottle squeezes) of oil in the control sheave. Then put at least 4 drops of oil on the motor shaft and key, wait a minute and do it again. Allow the oil to soak down inside the motor floating sheave. I normally operate the motor changing the speed slowly from FAST to SLOW and back to FAST. I use 20 to 40 drops of oil again in the control sheave and the same for the motor shaft. I still have at least one of the hour meter left but do not recommend using them as the above lubrication schedule has worked for most of my customers for many years. If you use the Shopsmith every day, you should move to a shorter time period. I do not believe you can over oil the headstock. I find the extra oil helps lubricate the speed control worm gear and quadrant. Yes, you get a sludge buildup inside the headstock but never saw that it hurt anything.

Hour Meter on Mark V.jpg (76.51 KiB) Viewed 1631 times

[dusty]

You did an excellent job, Bill. It looks as though it could be original equipment. I, however, find absolutely no need for a time in service indicator. I lub and clean on a very regular basis. I probably over do it. Now I understand that not every one has the time to spend in their shop like I do. I am in the shop every day and sometimes all day except when the meds or my knees get the best of me and I have just about kicked all of the meds.

[cham-ed]

Boy that is the information I wanted, thank you Bill! I am an antique Wheelhorse garden tractor fan and most of my friends are BIG fans of using a hour meter on their machines. On the other hand I often run my Wheelhorse nearly continuously for 1/2 to 1-1/2 hours at a time. Not on and off like a Shopsmith. But I appreciate the input Thank You