Shopsmith Forums

A.O.Smith motor with start relay.

Wire colors from internal to the motor white,black,red(?),red tracer(?),yellow(?).
capacitor leads black tracer(?)
relay term 2 white(?)
relay term 5 yellow(?)from motor, black tracer from capacitor(?)
relay term 1 black tracer(?) from capacitor.

I think the cam is aluminum.

Great luck on the gear rack.

Some close up pix with some dimensions would be educational.

If you can please verify/correct the (?) above re wire colors.

The colors are not apparent in your pix due no doubt to crud.

I just checked the wires coming out of the motor and they're pretty bad and will need replacing. I'm headed out of town tomorrow for a few days and will update with better pics when I get back. The motor itself had barely any sawdust, so I'm guessing it hasn't been run too much since the guy who changed all the switched had it apart. What are your thoughts on putting a original key and switch back in?

So when did Shopsmith switch from plastic to steel for the cam and rack? Or was it vice versa, steel to plastic?

r_mack1969 wrote:I just checked the wires coming out of the motor and they're pretty bad and will need replacing. I'm headed out of town tomorrow for a few days and will update with better pics when I get back. The motor itself had barely any sawdust, so I'm guessing it hasn't been run too much since the guy who changed all the switched had it apart. What are your thoughts on putting a original key and switch back in?

My thoughts are do it if you can find them(they be on e-bay currently). <<<< well they were, but I do not think the lock as complete.

However if the key function is not needed, what you have is quite adequate and more easily replaced in the future.

That key stuff is a bit of a pita to reverse since you need to stop, switch the key, then turn it on. However it is more likely that the motor will stop by the time you do all that. It must stop(or slow down enough for the start relay to drop out) for it to run in reverse when turned back on.

The way it is right now, when it's shut off it slows down immediately. With the motor out, it spins freely by hand with no play. I did see the switch on Ebay but I'm thinking of just leaving it the way it is...I had bought a spare speed control set-up from the seller earlier this week before the Mark VII I just bought came up on CL. I'll still need to take the motor apart to put new wires in. Hopefully everything will go OK.

rcplaneguy wrote:So when did Shopsmith switch from plastic to steel for the cam and rack? Or was it vice versa, steel to plastic?

SS(Magna American) only made the plastic parts.

Great to see some more postings about the elusive Mark VII! We merry few Mark VII owners need to encourage those who have not experienced the model's charms to take the leap. Anyone else out there have stories and /or pictures about their units? Any interesting mods? And am I the only one wondering when the final season of JPG's definitive Mark VII restoration will air?

riddler wrote:Great to see some more postings about the elusive Mark VII! We merry few Mark VII owners need to encourage those who have not experienced the model's charms to take the leap. Anyone else out there have stories and /or pictures about their units? Any interesting mods? And am I the only one wondering when the final season of JPG's definitive Mark VII restoration will air?

You do realize we are at summer 'break' time.

With the problems I encountered with the motor belt and speed control, progress has slowed greatly. I may be too critical, but am not satisfied with the current result. I am looking for a solution to the skinny belts currently available and what appears to me to be the cause of gear rack wear is the motor belt rubbing against it.

I am considering adding an idler pulley to pull the belt away from the gear rack. This will alter the positions the belt takes on the motor pulley for a given control sheave position(deeper into the motor pulley). That will shift the speed range downward. I am thinking it might compensate for the skinny belt.

I have not yet defined the details of all this extra hardware.

I've tackled the base for the Mark VII...repainted it, cleaned the wheels, way bars and installed the new metal gear rack. I put the headstock on it and ran it back and forth and it works like new. I also added a steel plate in the vacuum box. Next on the list is all new bearings and paint for the headstock. The belts look good but if I can find new ones, I'd like to replace those while I have it apart.

A Mark 5/V poly-v belt will work(9 ribs). I have not located a source for a 13 rib poly-v belt of the proper length. I assume you already know of my experience with the motor belt. 30 1/2" length, but those available are too narrow. It almost gives the correct speed range(too fast). The belt and sheaves do a balancing act.

Interesting vertical rest screws! Elevator bolts, or rubber bumpers? <<<< Nev mind, just read the other post/thread.

Nice looking base!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!