Shopsmith Forums

With the help of TRAINGUYTOM, and working with the folks from Menards, this caster can be now ordered from the Menards web site.

I just ordered a set of 4 for less than $28.00 including shipping.

Thanks for the help all...... Steve

cooch366 wrote:With the help of TRAINGUYTOM, and working with the folks from Menards, this caster can be now ordered from the Menards web site.

I just ordered a set of 4 for less than $28.00 including shipping.

Thanks for the help all...... Steve

Please let us know how it goes including pics and a link. I don't want to get the wrong ones.

Is this the one??

Is 1 inch stem height correct??
Only 80 lbs load rating? Granted that's 320 for the set, but really??

terrydowning wrote:Please let us know how it goes including pics and a link. I don't want to get the wrong ones.

Is this the one??

Is 1 inch stem height correct??
Only 80 lbs load rating? Granted that's 320 for the set, but really??

With the ball bearing swivel, the 1" stem(shorter than ss oem) will set on the bearing cup. i.e. the stem is shorter than oem so it does not bottom out in piston bore(sets on swivel bearing cup). The oem swivel uses the piston bore as the load bearer.

The oem relies on the stem length + distance to floor, whereas this caster would rely on the bearing cup/piston to floor distance. If the bearing cup has an od larger than the piston, then the piston will not set on the caster when raised fully. edit-depends upon shape of bearing cup.

Guys, I don't want to sound whiny here, but really. Aren't you over analyzing this a bit. They're not identical, but I've been using them on 2 different machines for several months now & they work fine,..even better, they're great. The machines roll & pivot at my finger tips & raise and lower into the proper position and cost $3.79.
Doesn't matter if the shaft is a bit shorter, it's attached to the bearing cap, so either way the stress is the same, but if you worry about that, just cut a short piece off a bolt & use it as a spacer at the end of the shaft
I took one of mine out & took a pic next to a SS caster for comparison.and I checked at Menards this morning and the skew on the ones I use is the same as the ones on the web. Also, 80lbs weight capacity, distributed over 4 wheels means you're nowhere near capacity w/ a mark 5. Maybe a 10er, not sure how much mine weigh.
Sorry if it sounds like I'm ranting. I didn't think this would turn into this big a discussion. I just figured, cheap wheels, save a few bucks, Hoo-hoo.

when installed. Haven't got a delivery date yet. But will keep you posted

Steve

terrydowning wrote:Please let us know how it goes including pics and a link. I don't want to get the wrong ones.

Is this the one??

Is 1 inch stem height correct??
Only 80 lbs load rating? Granted that's 320 for the set, but really??

As long as they work, I'm not concerened that they are not oem casters.

Ranting no, but got a chuckle from "I took one of mine out & took a pic next to a SS caster for comparison.and I checked at Menards this morning"


If I would have known you were going to the store, I would have taken you up on geting me some ( I'd probably get yours faster than the shipping from Menards)

trainguytom wrote:Guys, I don't want to sound whiny here, but really. Aren't you over analyzing this a bit. They're not identical, but I've been using them on 2 different machines for several months now & they work fine,..even better, they're great. The machines roll & pivot at my finger tips & raise and lower into the proper position and cost $3.79.
Doesn't matter if the shaft is a bit shorter, it's attached to the bearing cap, so either way the stress is the same, but if you worry about that, just cut a short piece off a bolt & use it as a spacer at the end of the shaft
I took one of mine out & took a pic next to a SS caster for comparison.and I checked at Menards this morning and the skew on the ones I use is the same as the ones on the web. Also, 80lbs weight capacity, distributed over 4 wheels means you're nowhere near capacity w/ a mark 5. Maybe a 10er, not sure how much mine weigh.
Sorry if it sounds like I'm ranting. I didn't think this would turn into this big a discussion. I just figured, cheap wheels, save a few bucks, Hoo-hoo.

trainguytom wrote:Guys, I don't want to sound whiny here, but really. Aren't you over analyzing this a bit. They're not identical, but I've been using them on 2 different machines for several months now & they work fine,..even better, they're great. The machines roll & pivot at my finger tips & raise and lower into the proper position and cost $3.79.
Doesn't matter if the shaft is a bit shorter, it's attached to the bearing cap, so either way the stress is the same, but if you worry about that, just cut a short piece off a bolt & use it as a spacer at the end of the shaft
I took one of mine out & took a pic next to a SS caster for comparison.and I checked at Menards this morning and the skew on the ones I use is the same as the ones on the web. Also, 80lbs weight capacity, distributed over 4 wheels means you're nowhere near capacity w/ a mark 5. Maybe a 10er, not sure how much mine weigh.
Sorry if it sounds like I'm ranting. I didn't think this would turn into this big a discussion. I just figured, cheap wheels, save a few bucks, Hoo-hoo.

You are NOT being whiney!

Neither is any one being critical of you either!

Perhaps had you posted that pix earlier, much of the discussion would not have happened.

If the Menards 'details' had included more meaningful 'details'(stem length, stem diameter, pivot offset, bracket height...) fewer question's would have been raised.

Do realize there are a bunch of crusty old farts here that have heard the 'it works great' sooo many times only to later discover that working, like beauty, is in the eyes of the beholder. Add to that the recent pronouncements by SSI that the template for drilling new holes for their new casters is fine, just do it, when we seem to think we know better!

I would be interested to know if the casters have ANY weight on them when raised fully. That means one can slip something under the wheel and the SS legs do not move when the caster raises.

From your pix it looks purty durn good. A 'moving caster while leg doesn't' answer to the question above would verify that.

The distance the leg raises above the floor in both raised positions of the cam would nail it!

Yes we be picky, but all that is the definition of 'equivalent to oem'. The bearing swivel is a 'plus'.

P.S. It looks like the pivot offset is greater. A potential interference with the older version with the crank closer to the casters.

Trainguy and cooch thanks.

I just want to make sure I order the right ones that are working for you guys. I don't have a menard's within hundreds of miles and the other Hardware options I have here in suburbia (Big Box stores) don't have anything close.

While I like the quality and size of the new SS caster wheels, I don't relish the idea of drilling holes in Papa's 1955, I want to keep things as original as possible. But the original metal wheels (Yes, I have the metal wheels) have about had it and something needs to be done. That and functional at half the cost is appealing to me. I have read about others drilling axles to replace wheels and figured there had a be a reasonably priced drop in replacement somewhere.

Red,

Thanks for the explanation of these work.

I may just go with the replacement caster wheels from SS. Item # 522215 based on the photo, they appear to upgrade to a rubber compound on the rolling surface and ball bearing swivel, these list for just $3.99 ea and I have some other Shopsmith specific items that I need to get anyways.


SS really needs to upgrade and update their site.

terrydowning wrote:Trainguy and cooch thanks.

I just want to make sure I order the right ones that are working for you guys. I don't have a menard's within hundreds of miles and the other Hardware options I have here in suburbia (Big Box stores) don't have anything close.

While I like the quality and size of the new SS caster wheels, I don't relish the idea of drilling holes in Papa's 1955, I want to keep things as original as possible. But the original metal wheels (Yes, I have the metal wheels) have about had it and something needs to be done. That and functional at half the cost is appealing to me. I have read about others drilling axles to replace wheels and figured there had a be a reasonably priced drop in replacement somewhere.

Red,

Thanks for the explanation of these work.

I may just go with the replacement caster wheels from SS. Item # 522215 based on the photo, they appear to upgrade to a rubber compound on the rolling surface and ball bearing swivel, these list for just $3.99 ea and I have some other Shopsmith specific items that I need to get anyways.


SS really needs to upgrade and update their site.

I sure hope SS has them in stock!;)

Yes they are 'better' than worn out steel ones', but those lasted far longer than the new ones will!:) I understand the reluctance to drill holes!:eek:

I see signs that they are 'working' on the web site (new power pro stuff), but I do not think a complete overhaul is going to happen any time soon.

Yes it would be a good thing, but unless a lot of good things start to happen it will be pretty much as is for a long time.

It would be nice to include a 'no longer available' notice on those items that CS sees as such. More on that later after I create a 'replacement'!:rolleyes:

...even more questions... and I thought the works great on both my machines was going to suffice. (I'm so naive sometimes...also sarcastic, I suppose)
Okay, First, when retracted, I can spin them around without them touching the floor. Next, in either low or high rise position, they roll & pivot great. In any position, they clear everything on my goldie oldie & my 80-something 510. I wasn't aware of any differences in caster assemblies or legs (other than gauge of leg material) over the years. I've had greenies, goldies, and grays. Maybe I just never paid attention to differences as I never seemed to have more than one torn down at a time.
Now, all I have to do is wait for somebody to get some & take me off the hook.
(Doesn't anyone live near a Menards so they can just stop in & buy them & put an end to all the suspense? It's even killing me, now. I'm beginning to have this weird fear that, regardless of my experience, they won't fit anyone else's machine except mine, and I'll have to slink quietly off into no-shopsmith land, forever banished until I can (after a respectable amount of time has elapsed) sneak back on the "Smith' sites with a new name & writing style. (did I mention the sarcasm thing?)