Shopsmith Forums

Wow, my first post and I got 2 pages of responses. Thanks for the input. I use the fence for both sides, so I know I would forget to realign it. Plus, it sounds like parallel is the way to go. However, one of the responses raised another question. My splitter does not line up with the blade even after adjusting it. It sits just to the right of the blade. I could correct this by moving the arbor out a hair, but I did not know if that was safe. Should the arbor always be fully pushed (to the left) against the headstock?

Maybe we were told but I don't see it. What model Shopsmith do you have. The splitter needs to be adjusted and the instructions are likely dependent on what equipment you are using.

zooman65 wrote:Wow, my first post and I got 2 pages of responses. Thanks for the input. I use the fence for both sides, so I know I would forget to realign it. Plus, it sounds like parallel is the way to go. However, one of the responses raised another question. My splitter does not line up with the blade even after adjusting it. It sits just to the right of the blade. I could correct this by moving the arbor out a hair, but I did not know if that was safe. Should the arbor always be fully pushed (to the left) against the headstock?

Some subjects resonate here.

You Betcha!!!! Any thang mounted thar!!;) Actually all the way up against the collar.

zooman65 wrote: My splitter does not line up with the blade even after adjusting it. It sits just to the right of the blade.

The splitter for the 500 can be adjusted side to side...as long as the face of the splitter is parallel to the blade you should be able to just slide the splitter until it and the blade are in a line. An easy way to do this is with an "Alignment tool", aka a board (I use a piece of 3/8 plywood about 6 inches wide and a foot and a half or so long) with a saw kerf of about a foot or so in it. Set the board flat on the table and place the blade (NOT running) in the kerf, then adjust the splitter side to side until the splitter slides easily in the kerf in the Alignment Tool. You could also simply place a straight edge, such as the blade from a try square, on the table and snug up against the blade, being sure to stay up against the gullets and not against the points of the teeth, and then move the splitter until its face is also against the straight edge.

Don't know about how the splitter works on models other than the 500, so if your model is different I hope some of this may be useful to you.

Link to TheMARK V ALIGNMENT & MAINTENANCE manual.

Pages 29-30: INSTALL THE UPPER SAW GUARD (MARK V MODEL 500)
has the basics for splitter aligment for the 500.

Pages 30-31: INSTALL THE RIVING KNIFE(MARK V MODELS 510 & 520)
has the basics for the 510-520. The same procedures covers the upper saw guard alignment.

I've no experience with the 500 saw guard, but the directions for my 510 are spot on.

I keep a copy of this document close by to help jog my memory for the normal maintenance procedures.

bffulgham

Thanks for posting that copy of the Maintenance Manual. That is a different version than what I have and it covers some items in much better detail. Alignment of the extension table is one that caught my eye.

Thanks again.

My help kit 'manual' is 5 1/4" x 7 1/2" and is 20 pages(including the covers). It is 87 vintage. Three columns wide, so perhaps the page count is comparable. I have not looked, but 520 pertinent stuff is likely not included in mine.

Just had to look to see what caught Dusty's eye. Not sure of what caught his, but the stated inability to adjust the table to align on both ends caught mine!

Maintenance and Troubleshooting

Service Tips

JPG40504 wrote:Just had to look to see what caught Dusty's eye. Not sure of what caught his, but the stated inability to adjust the table to align on both ends caught mine!

Nick shows how to do that on a 520 here.

Mike