New owner of an older machine.
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- chapmanruss
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 4528
- Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2014 8:16 pm
- Location: near Portland, Oregon
Re: New owner of an older machine.
For the Speed Control Assembly the part that gets worn the most is the Quadrant Assembly (AKA Porkchop) Part Number 504221 and reference 86 in the parts list and diagram from the manual I previously posted. It is shown below. The Teeth are the common wear point and can cause the Speed Control to be hard to turn. It has two spring steel parts that are riveted to the Casting. If either of the two spring steel parts or the teeth are damaged the Quadrant Assembly should be replaced. This can be done by just replacing the Quadrant Assembly itself or the Speed Control Assembly shown in the second picture below.
_ . .
Let us know what problems you are running into and we can help you through them. Remember pictures do help a lot when describing anything.
_ . .
Let us know what problems you are running into and we can help you through them. Remember pictures do help a lot when describing anything.
Russ
Mark V completely upgraded to Mark 7
Mark V 520
All SPT's, 2 Power Stations & Crafter's Station
Model 10ER S/N R64000 first one I restored on bench w/ metal ends & retractable casters.
Has Speed Changer, 4E Jointer, Jig Saw with lamp, a complete set of original accessories & much more.
Model 10E's S/N's 1076 & 1077 oldest ones I have restored. Mark 2 S/N 85959 restored.
Mark V completely upgraded to Mark 7
Mark V 520
All SPT's, 2 Power Stations & Crafter's Station
Model 10ER S/N R64000 first one I restored on bench w/ metal ends & retractable casters.
Has Speed Changer, 4E Jointer, Jig Saw with lamp, a complete set of original accessories & much more.
Model 10E's S/N's 1076 & 1077 oldest ones I have restored. Mark 2 S/N 85959 restored.
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GetterDone
- Gold Member
- Posts: 405
- Joined: Sat Jul 20, 2024 3:45 pm
- Location: TN
Re: New owner of an older machine.
You may also consider doing the Bill Mayo Speed Control Quadrant modification in the link below.
Link: download/file.php?id=34357
Link: download/file.php?id=34357
Dwayne
1st Shopsmith Machine= SS Mark V /Jan./1984
2nd Shopsmith Machine= SS Mark V / Mar./1984
3rd Shopsmith Machine= SS Mark V / Jan./1981
4th Shopsmith Machine = SS Mark V (510) 50th anniversary
5th Shopsmith Machine = SS Mark V (510) Dec. 1996
6th Shopsmith Machine = SS Mark VII (1963 ???)
7th Shopsmith Machine = SS Mark V / Nov. 1984 (Double Quill Bearings)
8th Shopsmith Machine = SS Greenie / 1956
Shopsmith headstock only/ From Shopsmith/ June 1957
1st Shopsmith Machine= SS Mark V /Jan./1984
2nd Shopsmith Machine= SS Mark V / Mar./1984
3rd Shopsmith Machine= SS Mark V / Jan./1981
4th Shopsmith Machine = SS Mark V (510) 50th anniversary
5th Shopsmith Machine = SS Mark V (510) Dec. 1996
6th Shopsmith Machine = SS Mark VII (1963 ???)
7th Shopsmith Machine = SS Mark V / Nov. 1984 (Double Quill Bearings)
8th Shopsmith Machine = SS Greenie / 1956
Shopsmith headstock only/ From Shopsmith/ June 1957
- chapmanruss
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 4528
- Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2014 8:16 pm
- Location: near Portland, Oregon
Re: New owner of an older machine.
The link to Bill Mayo's modification Dwayne posted has good information on adjusting the Speed Control Assembly even if you don't use the modification.
Unfortunately, Bill has passed.
Unfortunately, Bill has passed.
Russ
Mark V completely upgraded to Mark 7
Mark V 520
All SPT's, 2 Power Stations & Crafter's Station
Model 10ER S/N R64000 first one I restored on bench w/ metal ends & retractable casters.
Has Speed Changer, 4E Jointer, Jig Saw with lamp, a complete set of original accessories & much more.
Model 10E's S/N's 1076 & 1077 oldest ones I have restored. Mark 2 S/N 85959 restored.
Mark V completely upgraded to Mark 7
Mark V 520
All SPT's, 2 Power Stations & Crafter's Station
Model 10ER S/N R64000 first one I restored on bench w/ metal ends & retractable casters.
Has Speed Changer, 4E Jointer, Jig Saw with lamp, a complete set of original accessories & much more.
Model 10E's S/N's 1076 & 1077 oldest ones I have restored. Mark 2 S/N 85959 restored.
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larryfoster
- Gold Member
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Sat Aug 09, 2025 2:49 pm
Re: New owner of an older machine.
They found my father-in-law's Owner's Manual.
That seems like i will really help.

That seems like i will really help.
- chapmanruss
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 4528
- Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2014 8:16 pm
- Location: near Portland, Oregon
Re: New owner of an older machine.
Glad to hear the original Owner's Manual was found. You will be able to compare it to the 520S Manual I linked to previously. That 1980's manual will have less detailed information than the more current ones do. Even though the 520S Manual has differences a lot of it is still very useful.
Russ
Mark V completely upgraded to Mark 7
Mark V 520
All SPT's, 2 Power Stations & Crafter's Station
Model 10ER S/N R64000 first one I restored on bench w/ metal ends & retractable casters.
Has Speed Changer, 4E Jointer, Jig Saw with lamp, a complete set of original accessories & much more.
Model 10E's S/N's 1076 & 1077 oldest ones I have restored. Mark 2 S/N 85959 restored.
Mark V completely upgraded to Mark 7
Mark V 520
All SPT's, 2 Power Stations & Crafter's Station
Model 10ER S/N R64000 first one I restored on bench w/ metal ends & retractable casters.
Has Speed Changer, 4E Jointer, Jig Saw with lamp, a complete set of original accessories & much more.
Model 10E's S/N's 1076 & 1077 oldest ones I have restored. Mark 2 S/N 85959 restored.
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larryfoster
- Gold Member
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Sat Aug 09, 2025 2:49 pm
Re: New owner of an older machine.
Thanks for pointing that out, Russ.
Due to life, I have been away for a couple days.
Hope to get back tomorrow
Due to life, I have been away for a couple days.
Hope to get back tomorrow
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larryfoster
- Gold Member
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Sat Aug 09, 2025 2:49 pm
Re: New owner of an older machine.
With great trepidation, I got the speed changer out.
The set screw was tough.
I get nervous because I'm good at tearing stuff apart and not always good at putting back together.
The set screw was tough.
I get nervous because I'm good at tearing stuff apart and not always good at putting back together.
- dusty
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 21530
- Joined: Wed Nov 22, 2006 6:52 am
- Location: Tucson (Wildcat Country), Arizona
Re: New owner of an older machine.
While tearomg amd reassembling, don't forget that your cellphone camera can ve a valuable tool.
"Making Sawdust Safely"
Dusty
Sent from my Dell XPS using Firefox.
Dusty
Sent from my Dell XPS using Firefox.
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larryfoster
- Gold Member
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Sat Aug 09, 2025 2:49 pm
Re: New owner of an older machine.
It appears the teeth on the speed control quadrant were chewed up.
I ordered one from Shopsmith.
Hope they ship faster than DR power does.
Can I take a small triangular file and straighten them out some to run the machine and do the rest of my clean up and tune up or should I just be patient and wait?
I ordered one from Shopsmith.
Hope they ship faster than DR power does.
Can I take a small triangular file and straighten them out some to run the machine and do the rest of my clean up and tune up or should I just be patient and wait?
Re: New owner of an older machine.
Cleaning the quadrant (porkchop) up with a file can be done, it depends mostly on the amount of damage. Sometimes this is an indicator of other damage so I suggest looking again to the Bill Mayo document posted earlier. The quadrant needs to swing straight and true on the worm gear, it should be centered and remain centered on the worm gear throughout its travel. Look for damage or wear on the two mounts that form a bracket that the quadrant mounts to.larryfoster wrote: Tue Aug 26, 2025 6:06 pm It appears the teeth on the speed control quadrant were chewed up.
I ordered one from Shopsmith.
Hope they ship faster than DR power does.
Can I take a small triangular file and straighten them out some to run the machine and do the rest of my clean up and tune up or should I just be patient and wait?
If either mount is bent or has been bent it will be somewhat weakened and more likely to bend again. Replacement and/or the Bill Mayo upgrade are the best options for this.
Mounting holes may be worn and oversize, allowing the porkchop to wander. This is caused by the use of a spring tension pin as a hinge pin. Once this wear starts it gets worse quickly. Replacement may be necessary, it depends on how oversize the holes are. The Bill Mayo upgrade will stop the wear if it isn't excessive.
I've seen three bad quadrants and never seen one where the quadrant was the only problem. YMMV. I've always felt that Shopsmith should publish some wear/inspection criteria for the rest of the speed control.
- David