Local repair shops in Pittsburgh

[ExtraMile]

Are there any, can someone point me in the general direction?

I would like to have my head stock repaired. My quill is malfunctioning and with my Essential Tremors, my shaky hands can no longer manage to cope with small repairs.

Heck, I even had to stop tying fly fishing lures, but that was years ago, now with decades of age, my shaking is far worse.

Please advise!

Late 70's Mark V.

[rjent]

Why don't you update it to a PowerPro or let SS repair it? By the time you buy the parts and pay the labor for someone to do the repair, you will probably come close to the cost of a PP. (Ohio is not THAT far away from you LOL)

There are a few ways to do it:

You could have SS repair the one you have. It won't be cheap, but you know what you got

You could take/send your unit and have them upgrade it to a PP $1750.00
You can purchase a refurbished one $1,949.00
and
You can just buy a new one. $2,119.00
That is only 500 dollars from yours refurbished, to new .....

All of those options seem to be within a few hundred dollars of each other ....


After using my Mark 7 for a year and having a 10ER and a 500 to compare to, I don't find those prices unreasonable. I will do this to the 500 in a year or two.

Just my .02

[GeorgeM]

Hi

If you would give us a little more detail as to the problem, we'd be better able to assist you. Once we know the problem, we may be able to help a friend or relative fix your issue. -- Think of "hands without the tremor Also, http://www.jacobs-repairshop.com may be able to repair your problem for much less than an upgrade. Yes an upgrade would be nice, but $ is $.

Regards GeorgeM

[ExtraMile]

I emailed Jacob. Now to wait and see, just what he will be charging me.

And yes, my cash flow is rather stagnant, so no PP for me.

The way I see it, currently the SS is being used as a SPT and if his quote is to high, the demand on the SS, just became lighter.

Dare I say, I will just get a stand alone (another manufacturer) lathe and the SS will be used for the Band Saw, Joiner and 12 inch Disk Sander.

This is not to say, that my SS Mark V 510 is going anywhere. It is just going to be used less, until I can get my stagnant cash flow, flowing.

Sure, anyone would like a PP, but when my bank account is drained, the PP must wait.

[rjent]

I emailed Jacob. Now to wait and see, just what he will be charging me.

And yes, my cash flow is rather stagnant, so no PP for me.

The way I see it, currently the SS is being used as a SPT and if his quote is to high, the demand on the SS, just became lighter.

Dare I say, I will just get a stand alone (another manufacturer) lathe and the SS will be used for the Band Saw, Joiner and 12 inch Disk Sander.

This is not to say, that my SS Mark V 510 is going anywhere. It is just going to be used less, until I can get my stagnant cash flow, flowing.

Sure, anyone would like a PP, but when my bank account is drained, the PP must wait.

All good ideas. Let us know what Jacob wants to do it for. If you have someone coming my way, I'll do it for you for free. Like George said, if you know someone who can do the "hands" part, that is a very good option. These are not hard to repair at all, but like you pointed out, you need steady hands to do it.

I am serious, let me know. I have a lot less experience than most here, I have taken the 500 apart just for fun, but I did build racing automatics and racing engines back in the day, I think I can handle it ....

[RobertTaylor]

He actually has not specified what his quill problems are. The problem is most likely in the spring or halfdog setscrew/keyway if he can still use the Shopsmith to power his SPT's. It is certainly cheaper to ship a quill or pinion assembly rather than the headstock. Just my $.02, Bob

[ExtraMile]

I have stated my issue, with the headstock, in a previous post, months ago.
I see no use in, revisiting the issue.

It is the spring housing.

Here is Jacobs reply and oh guess what, he wont be getting my head stock. The man knows just one thing, replace, replace, replace. No thanks!

Hi Chris - I can't give you a quote until I have disassembled the machine, but the typical (almost 40 years old) 1970's machine runs $350-400. Labor is $175 unless motor work is involved, then it is $225. Your spring/housing is $25. All of these machines need bearings replaced due to age - quill $20, drive sleeve $45, both belts likely $22+$25, the on/off switch $20, possibly other worn/damaged parts, plus return shipping to your state, shown in a tavle on my website. See my website for all this info and more. Thanks for checking. Jacob

[ExtraMile]

I will most likely, just send it to Truth of Consequences or just buy a Grizzly bench top lathe. Or both! I can get a grizzly, for less than $400

Grizzly is closing their doors in Muncy, PA and moving to a much larger facility, somewhere in Wyoming! So, everything is at barn burner pricing, at this store/facility!

[BigSky]

It seems to me that you received a very reasonable quote from Jacob.

[JPG]

Can you get the quill feed assembly removed from the headstock?

If so, send it to me and I will 'fix' it and return it to you.

If it is the quill return spring all those washers and wingnuts etc. can stay with you. Only the shaft, spring housing and spring need travel.

Tie a string on the 'switch side' shaft so as to capture the domed washer as the shaft is removed so that total teardown will not be required later.

Be careful to not lose the sleeve and woodruf key.