Shopsmith Forums

One of the challenges of restoring or repairing the older Mark 5's is getting the correct parts. In the first few years after the Mark 5 sales began in 1954 there were a lot of changes in the headstock. The original Drive Sleeve Assembly did not have a clutch in it and there were no bearing retainers for the Idler bearing. These were both changed within a few months as they were found to be a problem. Soon a set screw was added in the eccentric and later a stop screw in the casting held the idler place as it still does today.

As Dusty said replace the ring on the Idler shaft for the sheave stop. I see your Idler shaft has the bearing retainers but they are not keeping the bearing flush with the headstock casting. That is pulling the Gilmer Belt against the inside of the headstock casting. This is also affecting the speed control with the idler shaft being further out of the casting. Try reversing the retainers to see if they will hold the idler bearing and the eccentric flush with the casting. Do not over tighten the clamping bolt or you could break the casting.

If you need the parts lists and drawings for these early 1954 to 1955 Mark 5's the first three Mark 5 manuals are restored and available on Everetts' google drive accessible through the first topic in this section "Shopsmith Large Format Drawings, Illustrations and More."

Those retaining clips only work one way.(the narrow end towards the belt).

Couldn't wait until tonight and put things in order last night. Works better when one puts ALL the parts back, go figure.

Having that ring made all the difference. belt no longer rubs, the eccentric thingy fits flush with the case. good to go.

Algale, I'll try your suggestion about turning it over to reset the legs once I can get some help getting it onto some sawhorses. Thank you for the suggestion.

Garys, don't fret over the rebuilding/restoring. There is satisfaction and sense of accomplishment in the process. Now every time I fire it up and don't hear the bearings plead for the warm embrace of oblivion I can be content that they are now in a better place. The painting was vanity, I admit, but looks cool. Everything feels smoother from table lift, quill feed etc. so time well spent even if not spent creating a pile of chips and dust.

Dusty, I grew up out there, went to Flowing Wells High School. Place has grown a lot since I left (hopefully no connection there). I go back every few years or so and every time the changes are stunning. Any chance you can make it stop? I may not recognize it at all when I move back to retire.

Thanks to everyone for the help.

DaHeffer wrote: Algale, I'll try your suggestion about turning it over to reset the legs once I can get some help getting it onto some sawhorses. Thank you for the suggestion.

If you slide the headstock and carriage off, turning the unit over should be a one man job. Then reset the legs, turn it right side up and re-install carriage and headstock. Presumably you already had the headsock and carriage off for painting.

With so many parts in the headstock and the changes it has gone through it is easy to miss a part here or reverse a part there. Glad you were able to get it back together correctly and it runs smooth for you. I agree there is a certain satisfaction and sense of accomplishment in restoring these older Shopsmiths. Now you have plenty of time to make sawdust with a well running machine. You have a beautiful machine you can be proud of.