Shopsmith Forums

Yesterday I noticed the the set screws holding the way tubes through the base arm had worked themselves quite loose. That got me thinking about using reversible Loctite. Has anybody tried this? Happy with results?

algale wrote:Yesterday I noticed the the set screws holding the way tubes through the base arm had worked themselves quite loose. That got me thinking about using reversible Loctite. Has anybody tried this? Happy with results?

I find this strange. Strange because it does not seem to happen with my older equipment until after I have replaced set screws. The older saw arbors for example were never a problem. A while back, I put new set screws in my saw arbors. I did that because there were a number of comments here on the forum about arbors coming loose. I did not do myself any favors. I now regularly find arbor screws that are not as tight as I like.

I suspect that the hardware (setscrews) are made of lesser quality materials.

I believe the set screws holding the way tubes in the base arm of my 2001 Mark V 520 are the originals. I base this on the very light use the machine reportedly had received from the original owner prior to my purchase of it in 2010.

I will say that when I bought the machine home and into the basement I noticed these same set screws were loose. I tightened them at that time. I hadn't checked them since. Then, Saturday, I noticed my main table was out of alignment when ripping some oak. I went over the entire machine and found the set screws on the base arm were loose. Whether this was the cause of the alignment problem or a coincidence, I do not know.

algale wrote:I believe the set screws holding the way tubes in the base arm of my 2001 Mark V 520 are the originals. I base this on the very light use the machine reportedly had received from the original owner prior to my purchase of it in 2010.

I will say that when I bought the machine home and into the basement I noticed these same set screws were loose. I tightened them at that time. I hadn't checked them since. Then, Saturday, I noticed my main table was out of alignment when ripping some oak. I went over the entire machine and found the set screws on the base arm were loose. Whether this was the cause of the alignment problem or a coincidence, I do not know.

I can tell you from personal experience that loose way and bench tubes can cause alignment issues and especially if you are inclined to relocate your machine.

Loose set screws holding the way tubes are not uncommon. Indeed they were responsible for Yuba Tool Co's demise. Farmer has mentioned that he often found them loose when disassembling his numerous acquisitions for travel 'to the farm'.

When I recently went to remove the tie bar from my Goldie, I discovered both set screws were missing. The way tubes had the marks made when it was assembled.

So IMHO blue locktite is a prudent thing to consider.

I also think loose screws in the hinge end casting are very common due no doubt to their relatively inaccessible location. That 'problem' has been eliminated with the double tilt upgrade.

Maybe we all should move the set screws to the top!;)

These might be useful:

http://threaded-rods.com/set-screws/screw-style/self-locking-set-screws.htm


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Try this trick. Take the set screw and wrap it with white or pink plumbers Teflon tape. Go around a couple times. Reinsert and work the screw down. You'll find the screw able to be removed and tightened and it won't work loose.