3" Caster Upgrade - My Review

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 11:59 pm

paulmcohen wrote:I have a very flat floor so for me that was not an issue.

. . .

My comment regarding 'splayed' legs was with it inverted, the legs loose, and the plywood setting on the casters/legs. It was an attempt to explain the difference(washers) between that situation and upright on the floor with the legs secured.

IIUC Shopsmith Inc. produced caster sets with the foot pedal close to the end. I believe ALL of Reible's were manufactured by SS Inc. and are all 'close'.

Further more I have not encountered any differences(other than the recent screws in the end of the camshaft) since Greenie days(Magna Engineering) besides the plastic caster wheels(They used to be steel) and the foot pedal location. To my knowledge, the design has not changes otherwise.

paulmcohen · Post by **paulmcohen** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 12:40 am

dusty wrote:Ah, a clue. The lever hits the casters. Do you have an old set of casters? One of those based on a design that predates "Shopsmith"?

The lever on mine are positioned inboard far enough that they come no where near the caster.

What did you do that now allows you to remove the washers? Did you have to redrill?

I installed the double-tilt, turned the machine right side up and tightened the legs. After that everything works correctly with no redrilling.

paulmcohen · Post by **paulmcohen** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 12:46 am

JPG40504 wrote: IIUC Shopsmith Inc. produced caster sets with the foot pedal close to the end. I believe ALL of Reible's were manufactured by SS Inc. and are all 'close'.

Further more I have not encountered any differences(other than the recent screws in the end of the camshaft) since Greenie days(Magna Engineering) besides the plastic caster wheels(They used to be steel) and the foot pedal location. To my knowledge, the design has not changes otherwise.

My casters came with my 500 from 1982, at some point the moved the levers inward possibly with the 520 or even later. The current caster assembly does not hit the new 3" casters. But getting people to help turn the machine over again to fix the levers is not going to happen any time soon maybe for Hanukkah. Now I just need to get the lift-assist back together, the original instructions do not work with the dual-tilt.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 1:21 am

My 'guess' is the casters were changed when the power station emerged. The older versions will not work with it.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 5:32 am

paulmcohen wrote:My casters came with my 500 from 1982, at some point the moved the levers inward possibly with the 520 or even later. The current caster assembly does not hit the new 3" casters. But getting people to help turn the machine over again to fix the levers is not going to happen any time soon maybe for Hanukkah. Now I just need to get the lift-assist back together, the original instructions do not work with the dual-tilt.

My casters were purchased in 1993 and the levers are all inboard.

The rod to which the lever mounts is predrilled so that the lever can be relocated to the other side with no drilling.

I am pleased to here that all went well with your double tilt installation. I am equally pleased though confused about what happened with the casters.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 5:56 am

paulmcohen wrote:My casters came with my 500 from 1982, at some point the moved the levers inward possibly with the 520 or even later. The current caster assembly does not hit the new 3" casters. But getting people to help turn the machine over again to fix the levers is not going to happen any time soon maybe for Hanukkah. Now I just need to get the lift-assist back together, the original instructions do not work with the dual-tilt.

You don't need to turn the machine over. The caster assembly can be removed with the legs grounded. I did the entire installation without turning the machine.

If you really want to turn the machine over, you could always remove the headstock and carriage. Doing so lightens the machine enough to allow one person to invert it.

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 12:52 pm

While I haven't done the caster upgrade I have to agree with Dusty on this one. I see no reason you have to turn the Shopsmith over.

If I were doing it I would set my existing Shopsmith casters on the hightest setting and then use so wood blocking under the middle of the legs to take the weight on them and remove them.

You could then drill for the larger casters or install a new set of the old casters.

Once again Dusty and I agree! And some of you said the last time we agreed that it was a fluke.

What is really going on is two great minds that have had long life experience which causes us to take different routes to get to the same place. Or we are both old cranky codgers that like being contrary and unagreeable.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 2:38 pm

paulmcohen wrote:My casters came with my 500 from 1982, at some point the moved the levers inward possibly with the 520 or even later. The current caster assembly does not hit the new 3" casters. But getting people to help turn the machine over again to fix the levers is not going to happen any time soon maybe for Hanukkah. Now I just need to get the lift-assist back together, the original instructions do not work with the dual-tilt.

Paul: why do the old instructions not work? To use the old lift assist on a Mark 7 you need to purchase the stronger plunger. Everything else, with one minor exception, is the same. The new plunger utilizes a quick disconnect type connector; that is the only difference.

Help us here, guys. Somebody with a Mark 7 or the Dual-Tilt Upgrade explain the differences with the quick disconnect.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 5:35 pm

[quote="dusty"]Paul: why do the old instructions not work? To use the old lift assist on a Mark 7 you need to purchase the stronger plunger. Everything else, with one minor exception, is the same. The new plunger utilizes a quick disconnect type connector]

Maybe an overabundance of the words top and bottom.

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 5:40 pm

paulmcohen wrote:Now I just need to get the lift-assist back together, the original instructions do not work with the dual-tilt.

My dual tilt came with new instructions for dealing with the lift assist. While installing the dual tilt I moved the brackets away from the ends of tubes. Then moved them back and tightened. All works well. One note my son objected to the brackets potentially interfering with the new lock nut. I pointed out to him that the new locking nut would span the bracket and still lock in place without hitting. Try it it works. Jim