Floating Sheave Is Stuck "Open"

[chapmanruss]

From what you have said your 1955 Greenie has the "A" Headstock which was replaced in October 1955 with the "B" Headstock. The "B" Headstock included that fancy "access port" feature. Having that access to oil the Rear moving Sheave of the Idler Shaft does make the job of maintaining that much easier. I checked the three manuals from 1955 and none showed a spacer on the Motor Shaft. I would have to look further to see when it was included. To tell which manual you have look on the lower right corner for either 4/55, 8/55 or 10/55, the dates of the 1955 manuals. I suspect yours is the August 1955 Manual by what you have said about your Mark 5. Probably enough about that.

If you should decide to keep that Headstock working, some maintenance on the other parts of the drive system would be a good idea. Since the Motor runs fine it may only need a little cleanup of dried oil and other residue. Polishing the shaft would not be difficult either. Super fine sanding paper with a grit around 1000, think auto body abrasives, would do the trick. From what I see in the picture just a very light "polishing" should do it.

If you find a replacement Headstock in good working order it will fit right in place of the existing Headstock. Pluses, some you have already mentioned, would be that access port on the back side of the casting, having the 1-1/8 HP Motor, having the Poly V Drive and if late enough or upgraded having the two bearing Quill. In 1984 the Two Bearing Quill replaced single bearing quill in headstocks Serial number 190000 and above. When looking at Headstocks, serial number were replaced by Date Codes in December 1987. These Date Codes will be found on a sticker as opposed to serial numbers that are on the Vent Plate on the Belt Cover. As I said before many of the Headstocks for sale were removed from working Mark V's and replaced with a Power Pro Headstock.

[Duncan3]

Russ,

My manual is 4/55, which makes sense as the serial number which puts it in July.

I do find the improvements in later models tempting.

Coming from the other direction, I have two concerns about my headstock. 1) that it is just getting old, I'm starting to see problems and I don't know when I see afatal one (like motor failure).
2) I'm not really sure what caused the current failure. I know that the motor was turning freely before I compressed the spring to remove it so I'm sure that the fan sheave was in the correct position when the unit stopped working. Likewise I suspect the the key driven through the side of the floating sheave when I compressed the sheave. I'm not seeing anything wrong or broken that positively explains why the sheaves got misaligned when the power was switched off and back on. And, it did this twice.

I'm scouting eBay and FB for headstocks and there are some prospects.

Thanks again for your help,
Duncan

[chapmanruss]

Duncan,

Well, my guess was a little off. Your Greenie being made in July has the change seen in the August Manual for how the Spring is held onto the Motor Shaft. That and being an "A" Headstock was what led me to guess when it was made. For your reference the following two jpg's are of page 26 of the 8/55 Manual.

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Page 26 top.JPG (400.53 KiB) Viewed 161 times

Page 26 bottom.JPG (456.15 KiB) Viewed 161 times

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These are not as high a resolution as the original printed one but hopefully readable and useful.

A lot of little changes and some more of a major change occurred in the first ten years of the Mark 5. The majority occurred with or in the Headstock itself. Something you likely already know but is important to note is all part numbers changed in 1964. It can be helpful to have a parts diagram and parts list for part number comparison made after the part numbers changed. Here on the Shopsmith website under parts for the Mark V 500 (original Table System) it has the last Table System parts diagram for that model which was discontinued years ago. The Table System and related parts is the only part that was actually discontinued as the same Bench and Headstock were used for the Mark V Models 510/505 and 520. The current and only Conventional Headstock Mark 5 for sale was previously known as the Mark V 520s having the Double Tilt feature from the Mark 7. It can be hard to track all these changes in models but can be important when looking for replacement parts for older Mark's.

[Duncan3]

Russ,

Thanks again for your help.

Having had a week to weigh the pros and cons I have jsut bought a 50th anniversary headstock on ebay for ~$450 including tax and shipping.
My old greenie with the 510 table upgrade (in 1987) and the new headstock is turning into a Frankensmith.

Duncan

[chapmanruss]

I understand the desire to keep your Shopsmith Tool original since it is from your father.

One of the great things about the Mark 5/V is it has been able to be upgraded to newer models and changes made over the years. There is a Forum member that has the DYI Power Pro in his Greenie Headstock. You said yours already has the 510 Table upgrade. That is something my 1957 Mark 5 Greenie that my wife's uncle gave to me has too. The 50th anniversary Headstock will be the "C" Headstock. Introduced with the 50th Anniversary catalog from March 2001. I believe Shopsmith ordered a bunch and used them until they ran out. My 2001 Mark has the 50th Anniversary plate.

[HopefulSSer]

All of the internal parts from your new headstock will swap into your greenie headstock (I've done exactly this on my greenie). Since yours is an A casting you don't have the access hole, but IIRC Shopsmith published directions for how to cut an access hole and how to install a medallion to close it. Doing all that will allow you to maintain the appearance of your Dad's machine while enjoying the benefits of the later upgrades.

[chapmanruss]

HopefulSSer is correct about swapping the internal parts between Headstocks. Adding the access hole can be done and requires buying a used "B" Headstock Cover for it. The "B" Headstock Cover is the same as the "A" Headstock Plate but with a spring clip on the back.

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Name Plate B Headstock back.jpg (61.36 KiB) Viewed 58 times

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Below is a "B" Headstock Casting that shows the opening. The opening can be made by outlining the Plate then drilling around the inside of that circle but not less than a 1/16" inside it. More small drill holes as opposed to less larger holes will reduce the amount of filing/grinding needed to complete the access hole.

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Headstock B back tabs.jpg (99.79 KiB) Viewed 58 times

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Another option would be to paint the replacement Headstock Casting the Hammered Finish Silver color. There would still be some differences and the most noticeable would be the Safety Switch used for the "C" Headstock. If you choose the paint it option, I would suggest painting the Motor Pan rather than using the original Motor Pan. The Greenies had a two conductor (no ground) Power Cord. The Newer Headstocks have a three wire (grounded) Power Cord which has a larger hole in the Motor Pan for it.