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jointer fence woes
Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 7:27 am
by jasonsabala
Hello everyone. I am a new member and also a new owner of an old greenie.
I have been trying to get it in working condition.
So far, I have a new speed control assembly and quill spring+housing (in just opened boxes) sitting next to my disassembled headstock.
While I was waiting for the parts, I started in on the jointer and noticed the fence was frozen in place. The handle assemble had been removed and a large nut was holding the fence to the quadrant assembly(i think that's what it's called). It looked like it was whacked in place with a hammer and left that way.
I tapped the fence off of the assembly and see a small pin which cannot fully retract into its little hole.
It looks as if another bolt (the one that holds on the handle?) has been broken off inside of the bolt where the handle attaches. That bolt, in turn, seems to hold a pin that wants to stop the fence from sliding.
Now, I am unsure of how to procede to make this jointer a usable piece of equiptment. I could whack it back in a good place, hope it is square, and never adjust it. I would prefer a better solution.
Any suggestions out there?
Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 7:43 am
by dusty
jasonsabala wrote:Hello everyone. I am a new member and also a new owner of an old greenie.
I have been trying to get it in working condition.
So far, I have a new speed control assembly and quill spring+housing (in just opened boxes) sitting next to my disassembled headstock.
While I was waiting for the parts, I started in on the jointer and noticed the fence was frozen in place. The handle assemble had been removed and a large nut was holding the fence to the quadrant assembly(i think that's what it's called). It looked like it was whacked in place with a hammer and left that way.
I tapped the fence off of the assembly and see a small pin which cannot fully retract into its little hole.
It looks as if another bolt (the one that holds on the handle?) has been broken off inside of the bolt where the handle attaches. That bolt, in turn, seems to hold a pin that wants to stop the fence from sliding.
Now, I am unsure of how to procede to make this jointer a usable piece of equiptment. I could whack it back in a good place, hope it is square, and never adjust it. I would prefer a better solution.
Any suggestions out there?
You need an exploded parts breakdown to see what is involved with that handle. It is dual purpose. It controls the left/right movement of the fence as well as the tilt.
The handle moves in and out (left/right) to engage each of the two locking mechanisms.
Do you have the owners manual? What is the unit serial number?
BTW - Welcome to the forum.
Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 7:50 am
by jasonsabala
No manual, no serial number. That would be great!
From the parts diagram, it looks as I described - that there is a threaded bolt broken off inside another threaded bold. The inside one is holding in place a small pin.
Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 7:57 am
by jasonsabala
http://www.shopsmith.com/service/jointe ... iagram.htm
So it looks like 50 is broken off in 42, holding 46 against the fence guide.
Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 8:11 am
by dusty
Do you have #49 loose in your hands. Yes or No, you might be able to use an easy out to remove #50. With #50 removed, you would be nearly recovered.
BTW Where are you located. Maybe you could fill out your personal profile. Who knows, you might live just down the road from another Shopsmith owner.
Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 8:20 am
by jasonsabala
Dusty,
I do have 49, but not 48.
I was thinking the same thing, to back out that broken bolt. But first, I wanted to be sure that it was indeed a bolt broken inside another. It is broken off sheer with the edge and quite smooth - perhaps someone filed it a bit.
Thanks for feedback.
Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:52 am
by JPG
It is(was) definitely a screw(aka bolt), but it had an unusual head
(thin). You will need one(50) from SS as well as the special nut(48). The washer is common hardware.
Look the quadrant casting over carefully where it slides on the front rail. They are easily deformed by gorilla antics when securing the fence. i.e. you may also need to get a quadrant from ss(it is on the 17 most needed parts list!).
Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 9:59 am
by jasonsabala
Cleaned up the rest of the jointer last night and gave it a test run without the fence. It worked like a champ.
Now to figure out this fence situation.
Has anyone had any luck with a diy fence for the jointer? an easy substitution? Of course, I could just use clamps and a straight edge.
Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 11:04 am
by JPG
jasonsabala wrote:Cleaned up the rest of the jointer last night and gave it a test run without the fence. It worked like a champ.
Now to figure out this fence situation.
Has anyone had any luck with a diy fence for the jointer? an easy substitution? Of course, I could just use clamps and a straight edge.
Since getting it 'back to normal' is relative easy(2 or 3 available parts), IIWM I would not bother even thinking about it.
Not sure enough thinking has taken place re the blue statement.

Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2013 12:01 pm
by dusty
jasonsabala wrote:Cleaned up the rest of the jointer last night and gave it a test run without the fence. It worked like a champ.
Now to figure out this fence situation.
Has anyone had any luck with a diy fence for the jointer? an easy substitution? Of course, I could just use clamps and a straight edge.
You could but before you do that, please take a real good look at the jointer table with clamping to the table in mind. That table does not provide for real good clamping surfaces.
Also give some deep thought to what you are going to want the jointer for. If you are never going to do anything but 90° edges, you might get by with that. I know I would not. In fact, I tilted the jointer table just this very hour to put a slight bevel on some edges.
Besides, the cost of what you need is not all that great - except maybe in wait time.
Maybe one of the members here, who has parted out a jointer, can even help.