Broke my gilmer idler sheave...what now?

[jsburger]

JPG:

Good idea, I will definitely keep the gilmer hub. I have 2 spare control sheaves so maybe I can sacrifice one for a new idler sheave.

As for the idler shaft itself, it's in fine condition but the bearings are shot (feels "bumpy" when I spin the shaft, with lots of resistance). Since it's a single part, I assumed I couldn't fix it beyond buying a replacement.

I wouldn't be against trying to custom fit some standard bearings on it and cutting the idler shaft's bearings off and widening the eccentric bushing to fit. Problem is I don't have anything for metal work. Closest thing is a standalone crappy drill press.

ERLover:

Thanks for the PM and the reply here, I will follow up with Bill about the parts.

Bill:

I'll shoot you an e-mail today after work! Thanks and hope your recovery is going well.

I never found any bearings that would work with the idler shaft. I recommend replacing the idler shaft if you feel any bearing problems. I spin the idler shaft bearing up to 10,000 RPMs for a few minutes to test it before using any used ones.

Hi Bill,

First, I have know knowlege of this.

Please explain. Why have you not found a bearing? Do they not have a P/N or manufacture name on the bearing? Are they so proprietary to SS that they can not be identified. Measuring?

[ChrisNeilan]

JPG:

Good idea, I will definitely keep the gilmer hub. I have 2 spare control sheaves so maybe I can sacrifice one for a new idler sheave.

As for the idler shaft itself, it's in fine condition but the bearings are shot (feels "bumpy" when I spin the shaft, with lots of resistance). Since it's a single part, I assumed I couldn't fix it beyond buying a replacement.

I wouldn't be against trying to custom fit some standard bearings on it and cutting the idler shaft's bearings off and widening the eccentric bushing to fit. Problem is I don't have anything for metal work. Closest thing is a standalone crappy drill press.

ERLover:

Thanks for the PM and the reply here, I will follow up with Bill about the parts.

Bill:

I'll shoot you an e-mail today after work! Thanks and hope your recovery is going well.

I never found any bearings that would work with the idler shaft. I recommend replacing the idler shaft if you feel any bearing problems. I spin the idler shaft bearing up to 10,000 RPMs for a few minutes to test it before using any used ones.

Hi Bill,

First, I have know knowlege of this.

Please explain. Why have you not found a bearing? Do they not have a P/N or manufacture name on the bearing? Are they so proprietary to SS that they can not be identified. Measuring?

John, I also have not tried to replace those bearings.... I have my original shaft that I saved... The bearings are actually ok, but I put a new shaft in anyway. Do you want to play with it to see about finding a way to replace the bearings? If so, pm me.

Chris

[JPG]

JPG:

Good idea, I will definitely keep the gilmer hub. I have 2 spare control sheaves so maybe I can sacrifice one for a new idler sheave.

As for the idler shaft itself, it's in fine condition but the bearings are shot (feels "bumpy" when I spin the shaft, with lots of resistance). Since it's a single part, I assumed I couldn't fix it beyond buying a replacement.

I wouldn't be against trying to custom fit some standard bearings on it and cutting the idler shaft's bearings off and widening the eccentric bushing to fit. Problem is I don't have anything for metal work. Closest thing is a standalone crappy drill press.

ERLover:

Thanks for the PM and the reply here, I will follow up with Bill about the parts.

Bill:

I'll shoot you an e-mail today after work! Thanks and hope your recovery is going well.

I never found any bearings that would work with the idler shaft. I recommend replacing the idler shaft if you feel any bearing problems. I spin the idler shaft bearing up to 10,000 RPMs for a few minutes to test it before using any used ones.

Hi Bill,

First, I have know knowlege of this.

Please explain. Why have you not found a bearing? Do they not have a P/N or manufacture name on the bearing? Are they so proprietary to SS that they can not be identified. Measuring?

The original 60+ year old design was a modified automobile water pump bearing.

Automobiles nowadays do not have a motor driven cooling fan(they be electric), and the motors are transverse.

So who makes them today so SS can modify them?

Yep no one.

So enter the revised two bearing design with modified eccentric. Been doing that fer a spell prior to the M7.

[benmcn]

I just bought a brand new, after market "old style" idler shaft with water pump bearings from a seller on EBay for my model 500 Shopsmith with the poly v belt drive system. It looks like, fits like, and functions like the original. It looks like that seller has found a source for the water pump style bearing. He claims it will work in any year Mark V from 1953 and up.

[billmayo]

I just bought a brand new, after market "old style" idler shaft with water pump bearings from a seller on EBay for my model 500 Shopsmith with the poly v belt drive system. It looks like, fits like, and functions like the original. It looks like that seller has found a source for the water pump style bearing. He claims it will work in any year Mark V from 1953 and up.

Yes, I have brought and used this idler shaft from the same Ebay seller. He has many Shopsmith products, all of which I have used with excellent success. I have only used this idler shaft in the Mark V headstock, not the latest Mark 7. I highly recommend this seller as we have communicated for years on what Shopsmith items I was looking for. He has available 13 rib Mark VII (1960s) Poly-V belts now.

[jsburger]

I just bought a brand new, after market "old style" idler shaft with water pump bearings from a seller on EBay for my model 500 Shopsmith with the poly v belt drive system. It looks like, fits like, and functions like the original. It looks like that seller has found a source for the water pump style bearing. He claims it will work in any year Mark V from 1953 and up.

Yes, I have brought and used this idler shaft from the same Ebay seller. He has many Shopsmith products, all of which I have used with excellent success. I have only used this idler shaft in the Mark V headstock, not the latest Mark 7. I highly recommend this seller as we have communicated for years on what Shopsmith items I was looking for. He has available 13 rib Mark VII (1960s) Poly-V belts now.

Did I miss something? Who is this seller?

[benmcn]

Just search for a "new Shopsmith mark v idler" on the previously mentioned site.

[rpd]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGFHV-7pWhI[/youtube]

[JPG]

I just bought a brand new, after market "old style" idler shaft with water pump bearings from a seller on EBay for my model 500 Shopsmith with the poly v belt drive system. It looks like, fits like, and functions like the original. It looks like that seller has found a source for the water pump style bearing. He claims it will work in any year Mark V from 1953 and up.

Yes, I have brought and used this idler shaft from the same Ebay seller. He has many Shopsmith products, all of which I have used with excellent success. I have only used this idler shaft in the Mark V headstock, not the latest Mark 7. I highly recommend this seller as we have communicated for years on what Shopsmith items I was looking for. He has available 13 rib Mark VII (1960s) Poly-V belts now.

Did I miss something? Who is this seller?

Bandsaw Tire Warehouse?

WHAT! WHERE! WHEN!

BTW has 9 rib belts that sells 'for a Mark VII'.