Shopsmith Forums

About the maintenance area, please use at least 8-12 drops (my opinion only) of oil in the Control Sheave and motor Floating Sheave areas. Too much oil is better than not enough or none. The extra oil will not hurt the performance of the headstock. I find about 90% of the headstock problems results from no maintenance or too little oil used for the Control and motor Floating sheaves. The extra oil in the Control Sheave helps flush out the crud (belt and sheave dust) from the Control Sheave bearing and keep it oiled.

I hate to admit it but I am not one to do maintenance until needed, then it is usually too late and I wish I had done it.

joedw00 wrote:I hate to admit it but I am not one to do maintenance until needed, then it is usually too late and I wish I had done it.

In my case it took almost 40 years to get to the 'too late' condition. A new control sheave and key took care of that! I be lucky that was all it took and that ss Inc. was around then.

Great table, I wish I had some input for you. I do very little maintenance but I'm going to use your chart as a guide. Hints like this are why I belong to this forum!

Lodgepole wrote:....I am curious how other Shopsmith users track when to maintain their equipment? I am always looking for a better way to make sure I follow through with this maintenance.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

In order to practice the 10 hour maintenance on my Mark V. I estimated the number of hours I spent daily in the shop and used 1/10 of that time as the time the machine ran. Then I wrote that date on a piece of masking tape and stuck it onto the belt cover. It worked out that it was a monthly lube.

Many years ago, I fitted a round 2" 110 VAC hour meter into a a large 4 1/2" round plate and mounted it in place of the LOGO cover. I used 2 short arms and screws to hold it in place. I connected the 2 meter wires to the motor power wires with a clamp-on connectors. I offered this item on Ebay for a few months with no sales. I may still have a couple of these hour meters floating around somewhere, however I have not seen them in years. Contact me for information if anyone would be interested.

Lodgepole wrote:Attached is chart I have worked up for my Shopsmith & SPTs. I use this to help me track when I need to complete the annual and quarterly maintenance.

I am curious how other Shopsmith users track when to maintain their equipment? I am always looking for a better way to make sure I follow through with this maintenance.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Please note that I forgot to add the quarterly waxing of connector tubes, legs and the spring loaded rods on the lower saw guard.

billmayo wrote:Many years ago, I fitted a round 2" 110 VAC hour meter into a a large 4 1/2" round plate and mounted it in place of the LOGO cover. I used 2 short arms and screws to hold it in place. I connected the 2 meter wires to the motor power wires with a clamp-on connectors. I offered this item on Ebay for a few months with no sales. I may still have a couple of these hour meters floating around somewhere, however I have not seen them in years. Contact me for information if anyone would be interested.

Just installed my hour meter (Mayo Meter). Now, to put some hours on it!

Hey! That's neat!