Shopsmith Forums

JPG40504 wrote: . . .
I have determined the new hole location to be 1 7/8" along the original center line.
. . .

From 6:23 post;)

BTW The 6 washers = 0.46"

That's 1 7/8" above the existing holes.

JPG40504 wrote:Get some 7/16" flat washers. pull the caster out, and insert some(as many as it takes)(3?) on the post so that the bottom of the piston rests on the washers when loaded. There should be slightly over 1 / 16" slop when 'unloaded'. The slop is the post sliding in the retention ring groove(in/out).

This will lower the caster in all three positions. The added washers should be just enough to allow the caster to drop to the floor in the fully raised position, but not allow any weight to bear onto them.

I had to add washers on my brand x casters since the post was longer and the ends square, not ball shaped like the 'original SS issue'. The washers allow fine tuning of about .070" each.

On my unit I ended up using 5 washers and it seemed to fix things

I also put 5 washers on my planer and it partially fixes the problem. It gets everything to the correct height, but the OEM shopsmith standard ones don't have a ball bearing setup for pivoting. As a result, the washer trick doesn't work too well for that type.

damagi wrote:I just installed my genuine SS casters using the genuine SS instructions - big disappointment. As noted by other posters, the hole configuration indicated on the template is incorrect it seems. It places the caster assembly too high, such that the wheels just barely touch the ground in position 1. In position 2 it acts like position 1 would - ie: off the ground enough for a perfectly smooth/flat floor, but not enough for parts of the floor where it gets a little uneven.

As noted, this is the second time I have hit this issue by following the SS templates. The first time when putting casters onto a pro planer stand.

Current recommendation - don't buy the casters from SS until they get this template issue fixed.

Casters and other stuff in the cart but I will not place order till this issue is resolved.

paulmcohen wrote:Casters and other stuff in the cart but I will not place order till this issue is resolved.

Yes sir I am also interested but awaiting some positive resolution to this discussion. Fjimp

Okay, so being the cheap bastardo that I am, (plus they were back-ordered on the ones at SS), I bought a set of casters on Fleabay. Finally got them the other day, they're okay, but have kind of a gummy wheel, which is nice on a smooth CLEAN floor.
I do metal work in my shop as well and these would be picking up every piece of swarf and stay embedded in the tire.
SO, I put them in a cart I use in my house which has a nice tile floor throughout.
The casters that were on the cart were also 3", some very nice hard rubber with bearings and wheel locks.
They had the correct 7/16ths stems, so in they went on to the Shopsmith.
Here's the trick on the spacing of the holes. The holes need to be 1 3/8" higher than whats already there. Easy PEasy etc...............
I don't know what spec Shopsmiths template is, but with the 1 3/8, I've got a nice half inch clearance in the full up position.
See the pic.
Oh, and Holy Crap! this now rolls Sooooo easy, what a major improvement!

Is there anything much more annoying than tin legs scraping a concrete floor when moving something.
The 10-ER I bought was doing that so bad that I just kept leaving it sitting over in a corner and not using it at all. As I posted (I think) somewhere before I replaced the rather small original steel casters (I did keep them of course) with 4 from my box of new ones I bought on special from the factory at the factory store (A moment of silence and a tear or two for the sadly missed factory store ) on one of my trips there. They were "used" but just barely. They might have been rolled 50' or less and the shiny surface barely scratched. I bought about 5 sets of them for about .50 cents a caster. They made that 10-ER roll like a dream. Of course I cleaned and lubed everything when I changed them.


.

robinson46176 wrote:Is there anything much more annoying than tin legs scraping a concrete floor when moving something.
The 10-ER I bought was doing that so bad that I just kept leaving it sitting over in a corner and not using it at all. As I posted (I think) somewhere before I replaced the rather small original steel casters (I did keep them of course) with 4 from my box of new ones I bought on special from the factory at the factory store (A moment of silence and a tear or two for the sadly missed factory store ) on one of my trips there. They were "used" but just barely. They might have been rolled 50' or less and the shiny surface barely scratched. I bought about 5 sets of them for about .50 cents a caster. They made that 10-ER roll like a dream. Of course I cleaned and lubed everything when I changed them.


.

Speaking of 10ER casters - I tried my extra set of 3" casters that I picked up locally and they seem to fit just fine in the extra set of 10ER casters that I have lying around.

Fit 'just fine' and hole spacing will depend upon a few other things. Look closely before concluding 'just fine'.

After all SS did not get it 'right'.

[quote="JPG40504"]Fit 'just fine' and hole spacing will depend upon a few other things. Look closely before concluding 'just fine'.]

Fit as in fit the shafts. Since I don't plan on using these caster assemblies on anything standard it doesn't matter. I am planning on using it on a bench or similar type setup. Thus, custom measurements are required no matter what.

damagi wrote:Fit as in fit the shafts. Since I don't plan on using these caster assemblies on anything standard it doesn't matter. I am planning on using it on a bench or similar type setup. Thus, custom measurements are required no matter what.

I suggest 'temporary' clamping in position and testing prior to any hole drilling. I did not do that and I have a couple of extra holes.

Keep in mind the caster needs to float when load is removed. That slop is created by the stem slipping in the retaining ring.

If you are not using the ss mechanism, then all that doesn't matter.(they be rigid, not retractable).