Mark 5 Saw Guard

[JimWirth]

I’ve acquired a ShopSmith and trying to set up. I’m installing saw guard that came with it but something is off. Part # on saw guard is 506156

Is it just the wrong saw guard?

[br549]

Welcome. I'll try to answer, or at least tell you what I suspect is the problem.

The saw guard appears to be the original version for your machine. There are updated versions of the saw guard available with better dust control capabilities, but my 1980 Mark V came with the same saw guard and I still use it.

It appears your saw blade arbor is not fully on the quill. There should be no space between the arbor and knurled collar. Check your set screw in the arbor and that it is not preventing the arbor from fully sliding on. Or maybe there is sawdust/crud inside the arbor preventing it from sliding on further.

Even with the saw blade and arbor properly seated, there will not be a lot of clearance between the blade and the pivoting outside part of the saw guard.

Shopsmith offered a thin aluminum spacer as partof a safety update, that allowed the saw guard to work with the longer dado arbor and blades. I found that I liked the extra space that spacer provided, and I could change blades (with the standard arbor) without having to loosen or pivot the outside "door".

Here is a link to a thread that includes my experience: viewtopic.php?p=181075#p181075

[JimWirth]

Thank you for your insights. The arbor felt fully seated but I didn’t force it further. I’ll examine, clean, lube, and try again.

[chapmanruss]

JimWirth,

Welcome to the Shopsmith Forum.

As br549 said the Arbor is not completely seated on the Spindle in your case. The Saw Blade sits very close to the side (away from the Headstock) of the Guard normally. It is why you cannot use an Arbor made for the other Mark V models of the 510/505 or 520 which have longer Arbors. Adding the spacer gives an inch more clearance in the Guard like the one shown below with a Wobble Dado mounted.

_

505628 Lower Saw Guard with extension r.jpg (122.99 KiB) Viewed 24949 times

.
Just for a little clarity, this Guard Set is part numbers 505627 for the Upper Assembly and 505628 for the Lower Assembly. The part number you found is for the individual part of the Lower Guard itself.

In case you don't have it the Lower Saw Guard instructions are below. Sorry the PDF of the Upper Saw Guard I have is too large to post here.

.

505628 Lower Saw Guard.PDF

(1.14 MiB) Downloaded 1034 times

.
I use this Saw Guard set for my Shopsmith Model 10's (both 10E and 10ER) which I prefer over the Upper and Lower Saw Guards actually made for them.

[JimWirth]

I’ve been able to resolve first issues with saw guard but starting to think I should hange out to updated saw guard? Seems better. Any thoughts out there??

[MikeG]

I changed to the newer 500 saw guard and am happy with it. The upper guard actually works as opposed to the original one. Wish there was a way to have a riving knife. I guess I could update to the 520 system and guard, but that's a big expense.

[chapmanruss]

For information on the different Mark V model 500 Saw Blade Guards see the link below to my topic in the Community section titled Shopsmith Mark 5 What When and Where on Page 5 (link should open to that page), fourth post down. It is a good overview of the different Guard sets. Sorry short on time this morning and that is easier than reposting that information here.

viewtopic.php?t=24963&start=40

I am not sure what issue Mike G had with the Saw Guard.

One of the things I see is missing parts to these Guards and in particular the part called the "shoe" (in red circle) on the Upper Guard shown below. Without the shoe the upper guard cannot lift up to go over the stock being cut.

_

505627 Upper and 505628 Lower Saw Blade Guards - shoe.jpg (129.35 KiB) Viewed 23349 times

[chapmanruss]

One thing I do like about the Saw Blade Guard set (505627 & 505628) in my last post is that once aligned to the Saw Blade it can be removed from the Mark 5 and returned later and still have it aligned to the Blade. The Downside is you cannot see the Blade through the cast aluminum Upper Guard. This Saw Blade Guard set came out in the mid 1960's. It has an optional Spacer to add an extra inch of width. I have this Guard set to use on my Model 10E and 10ER Shopsmith Tools which works great for them.

The Later Saw Blade Guard set (505875) which the Upper Guard attaches to the back of the Table Tie Bar and Post has to be aligned to the Blade every time it is installed on the Table. A plus is the clear plastic Upper Guard allows you to see the Blade while sawing.

Mentioned but not shown in the linked post was the Lower Saw Guard (P/N 505705) originally for the Mark VII shown below. Listed as an optional accessory, like other Saw Guard sets around that time, this Lower Guard would be needed for use with the built in Dust Collection which was a feature of the Mark VII.

_

505705 Saw Dust Chute.jpg (50.84 KiB) Viewed 23271 times

.
It is mostly a single cast part and uses the Upper Saw Blade Guard (P/N 505627) that is more commonly found with the Lower Saw Blade Guard (P/N 505628). Being mostly a single casting the lower guard cannot be expanded with a spacer. It is not often found as I believe it was less popular than the 505627 & 505628 set which could also be used on the Mark VII. Below you can see the 505705 Lower Guard with the 505627 Upper Guard. It shows the other side of the Lower Guard and how it "locks" on the Quill.

_

505705 Lower and 505627 Upper Saw Blade Guard.jpg (209.58 KiB) Viewed 23271 times