Shopsmith Forums

I was aligning the SS yesterday and got to the miter gauge. First off, I am missing the washer and screw that keeps the front of the miter bar guided in the slot. I figured I would clean the gauge up. I removed the screw that holds the bar to the protractor. I saw a bunch of crud on the threads of the "nylok machine screw" and on the "special washer". So I cleaned it off completely.

I didn't see anything special about the washer and didn't notice anything about the screw to make it nylok. I am beginning to think the crud was the nylon. It certainly was deteriorated. Well, when I put the miter gauge back together, the screw was too tight to allow the protractor to turn easily. When I loosened the screw, a few turns back and forth of the protractor would tighten the screw back up again.

Anyone want to confirm I need a new screw and washer?

Tony

I'll confirm! I've already (in about a decade) worn out the edges of two Guide washers. I probably should have rotated them a little from time to time, but forget. To find a washer that fits as well as the SS part (514376) is a chore! Also, the little screw (513377) is hard to duplicate. I now have an extra washer and screw for the next time. (The SS washer has square shoulders and, for me, works a lot better than a substitute)

Don't have any experience with the Nyloc screw, but as long as you are doing the tune-up - you might as well shoot the whole 63 cents each for the proper screws and do the job with parts you know fit.

I've heard some guys say "I'm not going to pay 63 cents for a screw":mad: But I feel it is a good investment and I can go without a cup of coffee to pay for it.

I'll confirm! I've already (in about a decade) worn out the edges of two Guide washers. I probably should have rotated them a little from time to time, but forget. To find a washer that fits as well as the SS part (514376) is a chore! Also, the little screw (513377) is hard to duplicate. I now have an extra washer and screw for the next time. (The SS washer has square shoulders and, for me, works a lot better than a substitute)

Don't have any experience with the Nyloc screw, but as long as you are doing the tune-up - you might as well shoot the whole 63 cents each for the proper screws and do the job with parts you know fit.

I've heard some guys say "I'm not going to pay 63 cents for a screw":mad: But I feel it is a good investment and I can go without a cup of coffee to pay for it.

Shipping costs fall into the same catagory as Rick Davis' new DVD. That's one reason I have an extra set of washer and screw!

Plans are to put in an order. Let me get through some more maintenance. I might need more. Hate to place an order then have to do it again when I get to the bandsaw.

As a temporary fix for the Nyloc screw you could put Vibra-Tite on it, its good for 3 or 4 times when removing and reinstalling screws/bolts. The problem is that a bottle of NDs Vibra-Tite will set you back over $20.00 if you can find it locally (I use it for a lot of the bolts and nuts on the SS).

For now the miter gauge is ok. I have no plans for cutting any 45s in my immediate project plans. I will call in an order tomorrow probably.

My SS is all aligned. I made some test cuts and all is good. My crosscut table is aligned also. I use it much more than the miter gauge at present. This was the first complete alignment sice moving the unit to my new place. In all I found:

loose screw/nut on one of the legs
worktable just slightly off square
worktable 0 stop not set correctly
worktable 45 stops not set correctly
extension table totally out of alignment
fence slightly out of alignment
miter gauge missing guide washer

Geez, what a list. The only thing I have done since moving is cut plywood and lumber that didn't require precise cuts. Good thing, huh?

I also went through all the maintenance section. Everything is looking good. Now the DC and the SS are ready. I will move on to the BS next.

Tony

Hi Tony,

I will move on to the BS next.

By BS, I hope that you mean band saw and not something else, he he:rolleyes:

ha ha...good call. I did mean the band saw. But, of course there is plenty of BS to do also.

I have a question relative to the glide screw (# 270 of the miter gauge parts diagram). The miter gauge that I received with my 1978 Mark V has a round nylon-like glide screw instead of the square-headed one as shown on the parts diagram that I now have. Obviously a design change was made since I purchased my machine. I need to replace one of these badly worn screws but the one illustrated as the replacement part will definitely not work in my miter gauge. Anybody know the part number for this round glide screw?

Glides: I *just now* ran into the same issue. Called Shopsmith (15 minutes ago) and Jan there knew exactly what I was talking about, w/o needing a part number. Best of all, they're only about 90 cents, not the whopping price of the new-style ones.

But you could probably make your own : get a 5/16 nylon screw from Lowe's or wherever, cut about a half-inch off the end, and file a screw slot in it. This was the solution I was about to try when I called in an order and brought up the 'official' old-fashioned guides on a whim.

It does irritate me mildly that the 500 > 520 upgrade kit, expensive as it is, does not include the lock-knob and stud for the miter gauge, since the old-fashioned butterfly-cam like I have doesn't fit the new bar.