Shopsmith Forums

What is the oldest headstock that can take the PowerPro upgrade?

Does the upgrade kit include converting single bearing quill to two bearing quill?

EricD wrote:What is the oldest headstock that can take the PowerPro upgrade?

Does the upgrade kit include converting single bearing quill to two bearing quill?

Even a type "A" headstock(early Greenie).

Quill is replaced with a new two bearing as are ALL the bearings

Only the quill feed shaft and knobs etc. and headstock lock are retained from inside the headstock.

IMHO a type A is preferable due to its increased weight/thickness etc.

I have one patiently waiting for 'its' day.

I thought a greenie couldn't be converted to two bearing quill?

Eric;
Normally a Greenie headstock can not accept a 2 bearing quill because the number of splines on the poly V quill shaft is different. In order to convert a number of other parts have to be replaced; drive sleeve etc.
However with the PP upgrade all the required parts are provided. As JPG said the earlier type A casting is heavier and probably provides a better base for the upgrade.
Bill V

EricD wrote:I thought a greenie couldn't be converted to two bearing quill?

You can't easily convert the quill by adding a second bearing, but I believe a few people here have done it. However, you can replace it with a two bearing quill quite easily.

I bought a 2-bearing Gilmer quill from Bill M.

As 'clarification':

A Gilmer version has different splines than a later poly-v version.

It is the spline difference that makes the later two bearing quill incompatible with the earlier gilmer versions.

A Gilmer version can be updated by replacing both the main shaft and the quill, but also requires a poly-v idler sheave.

The PP upgrade replaces the entire power train.

The two bearing gilmer quill by Bill Mayo is a modified used quill.

Sorry for confusing thread. I assume since the Greenie couldn't take the standard ShopSmith two bearing quill there may be an issue with upgrading a Greenie to the ProwerPro. This all comes about because found you guys and now I'm looking at Craigs list to find a Mini candidate

If I read correctly, every ShopSmith Mark V headstock can be converted to a PowerPro and the old Greenie might be a little more gooder because it's the older casting that weighs more than the later headstock castings.

How many versions of the headstock casting were there and what were the differences?

EricD wrote:Sorry for confusing thread. I assume since the Greenie couldn't take the standard ShopSmith two bearing quill there may be an issue with upgrading a Greenie to the ProwerPro. This all comes about because found you guys and now I'm looking at Craigs list to find a Mini candidate

If I read correctly, every ShopSmith Mark V headstock can be converted to a PowerPro and the old Greenie might be a little more gooder because it's the older casting that weighs more than the later headstock castings.

How many versions of the headstock casting were there and what were the differences?

Take this as an opinion not necessarily fact. You would be well advised to judge that for yourself; especially if you are going to invest in the PowerPro upgrade.

However, if Shopsmith will put the upgrade in any of the older castings then I see no reason why you should not.

Take these comments as an opinion and be aware that I have neither the PowerPro nor an old style casting.

Also keep in mind that the DIY upgrade is for the headstock internals only.
It will NOT get you the larger 520 tables, or double tilt. Those are separate upgrades as well. Oddly enough to upgrade a older 500 model to be equal to a new Mark 7, you will only save a couple hundred bucks if doing all new upgrades.

A used 510 or 520 would be a better candidate for upgrade IMHO due to the table improvements.