3" Caster Upgrade - My Review

[JPG]

If you say so.

For the same foot pedal movement to raise it 1/2" rather than 1/4" would require a steeper slope on the cam = more force required.

[dusty]

For the same foot pedal movement to raise it 1/2" rather than 1/4" would require a steeper slope on the cam = more force required.

We are talking about pressure on the foot peda, rightl. I just lean a little harder. Let my excess weight work for me. Most of you probably don't have that advantage.

[JPG]

We are talking about pressure on the foot peda, rightl. I just lean a little harder. Let my excess weight work for me. Most of you probably don't have that advantage.

I doubt you are within 50# of me!:D

[paulmcohen]

Looking like this might be the "standard" so if something is much shorter or much longer then something else is going on.

Do hope we get a few more people to do the measuring....

Ed

My Mark 7 is 54.5" and the lower rails have 54.25" exposed. The lower rail dimension is exactly correct according to Jan. She did not have a measurement for the hole spacing but the Accessory Shelf is holes are 54" apart.

[dusty]

It sure would be nice if all of these "variables" were defined somewhere as to what the "nominal" measurements should be.

[berry]

I can, however, tell you how I installed the casters because I did it my own way. I used the template to make a drill guide. I bolted the drill guide to the leg I wanted to drill and "did it". Four times and I was done drilling. I drilled 1/4" rather than the 9/32" holes called for in the procedure. I did this to take the slop out of the drill guide and ultimately the mounting bolts. There is still some slop because the holes in the caster assemblies are quit a bit larger than 1/4".
.

Thanks for the suggestion to make a drill guide Dusty!

Using the template to make a drill guide is the way to go. I turned the unit over as SS suggested and used the 9/32" bit. Easy as can be - works great.

[wurlitzerwilly]

FWIW I recently got off the phone with one of the helpful guys at Shopsmith. Although he could easily have sold me a new drilling jig (metal bar with roll pin and drill) he suggested an alternative method which will work.

Raise the existing castors so that the SS legs are firmly on the ground. Remove the complete assembly at one end and fit the new castors. Then place the assembly back in place, taking care to ensure that the height adjustment hasn't been altered. Paint a white dot thru the fixing holes and you have the exact correct place to drill the new holes. Repeat for the other end.

My own take on this is to place a small card under the new castors so that they are just off the ground. That way on an uneven floor, you can always be sure that the legs will be solidly on the ground and the SS can't roll at one end.

No inverting the Shopsmith and no misalignment.

[fredsheldon]

My new casters were dragging in certain spots on my garage floor so I got my floor jack out and raised the offending end, removed each caster and installed one flat washer on each caster shaft, reinstalled and all is now well.

[billmayo]

Yes, I found I have to lower the holes from the Shopsmith template about 1/4" for the Mark V legs. I made an aluminum template for drilling the remaining holes.

I did get the 3" casters to fit with good caster clearance on the Power Station. I used the existing Power Station holes to hold the template. Since I do not have a Power Stand, I do not know if the its legs have the same hole spacings as the Power Station. I used the stock 7/16" spacers and 2" SS screws. I made a few aluminum templates for future use.
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Contact me if you have a desire or need for 3" caster set with template and drill bit. Thanks.

[wurlitzerwilly]

I must admit that I'm thinking of acquiring another set of castors to fit on my Pro Planer. I presume that's the same fitting as the Power Stand.

If you have the castors, I may contact you Bill.