Alignment of bench tubes

[soonerNC]

I did some looking on this site and elsewhere for instructions on putting my SS back together. I have a inherited 1980s Mark V that I have slowly been cleaning up.

I had a wheel disintegrate. So, I replaced all four. I saw more rust when I had it flipped over and got overzealous and ended up taking all the tubes off and cleaned everything up. The problem has been in putting it back together. The way tubes seem straightforward. The sit against a stop in the tilt base and then they sit tight in the tie bar. Is that correct?

The bench tubes seem to be an issue for me. They are seated on the tilt side, right?

My issue is that I think that I have a tilt now. The way and bench tubes are level, but the tilt-base side of the unit won't roll on the wheels. Also when in drill press set up, the headstock is way out of plumb. Leaning away from the other base.

Any advise on adjusting the bench tubes to correct this?

Apologies if I missed a thread addressing this. Thanks!

[DLB]

I did some looking on this site and elsewhere for instructions on putting my SS back together. I have a inherited 1980s Mark V that I have slowly been cleaning up.

I had a wheel disintegrate. So, I replaced all four. I saw more rust when I had it flipped over and got overzealous and ended up taking all the tubes off and cleaned everything up. The problem has been in putting it back together. The way tubes seem straightforward. The sit against a stop in the tilt base and then they sit tight in the tie bar. Is that correct?

Yes, correct. Later if you have issues sliding the headstock or carriage this can be because slight variation in the tubes resulting in them not being parallel. Starting with the seams of the tubes either both up or both down often minimizes this. The seam is usually visible on the inside of the tube.

The bench tubes seem to be an issue for me. They are seated on the tilt side, right?

Yes. If I remember right though the 'stop' might have evolved. Looking at mine it is a pretty definitive stop.

My issue is that I think that I have a tilt now. The way and bench tubes are level, but the tilt-base side of the unit won't roll on the wheels. Also when in drill press set up, the headstock is way out of plumb. Leaning away from the other base.

Yours isn't the first, we've had some lively discussion on this here on the forum. In the vertical mode, the way tubes should be very close to 90 degrees relative to the bench tubes. It sounds to me like there is a problem with how the Base casting is mounted to the bench tubes.

Any advise on adjusting the bench tubes to correct this?

My suggestion is to disassemble the machine far enough to remove the bench tubes from the Base casting. Make sure you understand the mechanical features in the casting, including the stops. Check to make sure that the bench tubes have not been crushed by the clamp bar, this can create a slight bend at the end of the tube. There isn't any real adjustment or alignment for this, if everything is right just make sure it stays that way as you tighten the bar clamp. If you don't see the problem by this point, I suggest providing pictures of the issue.

Apologies if I missed a thread addressing this. Thanks!

- David

[dusty]

I am surprised by the report of Shopsmith wheels disintegrating. I live in Arizona where the climate is not always kind to items like the wheels. I have four sets of wheels in service at this time and all have been doing what they do for several years.

I just hope this is not a forewarning for me.

[HopefulSSer]

I've seen multiple reports of the 3" wheels coming apart. Not so for the 2" wheels

[RFGuy]

Dusty,

I am the same. I only have one Mark V, so one set of the 3" upgraded wheels from Shopsmith. No issues on a concrete garage floor and major temperature swings due to living in the desert here. In other words, you and I should have the worst case for these wheels, I would think. I am hopeful I won't see the same issues being reported for them. I suspect it is manufacturing variation and we got lucky with the ones we purchased. For those who had wheels break apart/delaminate I suspect theirs had some issue during manufacturing that affected them. That is my theory at least.

[soonerNC]

The wheels were the original plastic(?) ones from the 80s. Disintegrated was probably a bit harsh, but it just crumbled one day while rolling it a few feet.

[soonerNC]

I did some looking on this site and elsewhere for instructions on putting my SS back together. I have a inherited 1980s Mark V that I have slowly been cleaning up.

I had a wheel disintegrate. So, I replaced all four. I saw more rust when I had it flipped over and got overzealous and ended up taking all the tubes off and cleaned everything up. The problem has been in putting it back together. The way tubes seem straightforward. The sit against a stop in the tilt base and then they sit tight in the tie bar. Is that correct?

Yes, correct. Later if you have issues sliding the headstock or carriage this can be because slight variation in the tubes resulting in them not being parallel. Starting with the seams of the tubes either both up or both down often minimizes this. The seam is usually visible on the inside of the tube.

The bench tubes seem to be an issue for me. They are seated on the tilt side, right?

Yes. If I remember right though the 'stop' might have evolved. Looking at mine it is a pretty definitive stop.

My issue is that I think that I have a tilt now. The way and bench tubes are level, but the tilt-base side of the unit won't roll on the wheels. Also when in drill press set up, the headstock is way out of plumb. Leaning away from the other base.

Yours isn't the first, we've had some lively discussion on this here on the forum. In the vertical mode, the way tubes should be very close to 90 degrees relative to the bench tubes. It sounds to me like there is a problem with how the Base casting is mounted to the bench tubes.

Any advise on adjusting the bench tubes to correct this?

My suggestion is to disassemble the machine far enough to remove the bench tubes from the Base casting. Make sure you understand the mechanical features in the casting, including the stops. Check to make sure that the bench tubes have not been crushed by the clamp bar, this can create a slight bend at the end of the tube. There isn't any real adjustment or alignment for this, if everything is right just make sure it stays that way as you tighten the bar clamp. If you don't see the problem by this point, I suggest providing pictures of the issue.

Apologies if I missed a thread addressing this. Thanks!

- David

Thanks for the suggestions. I will take a look at the bench tubes for any misshaped ends and try to realign. I will take pics of stuck again.

[chapmanruss]

soonerNC,

Follow Davids recommendations.

When attaching the Bench Tubes to the Base/Arm and Headrest ends make sure they are seated properly. On the Base/Arm end the Bench Tubes should be against the stops indicated by the arrows in the picture below. Having the tubes against the stops has them across both casting parts and keeps them aligned and properly clamped in place.

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Base and Arm stops.jpg (225.64 KiB) Viewed 74022 times

.
On the Headrest end the Bench Tubes need to be across both casting parts that the tubes rest on as indicated by the arrows.

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Headrest underside - arrows.jpg (155.54 KiB) Viewed 74022 times

[rlkeeney]

I am surprised by the report of Shopsmith wheels disintegrating. I live in Arizona where the climate is not always kind to items like the wheels. I have four sets of wheels in service at this time and all have been doing what they do for several years.

I just hope this is not a forewarning for me.

All of my Shopsmith casters crumbled.