Shopsmith Forums

I've disassembled, cleaned, sanded to 800 grit, and reassembled the clutch in my 56 Shopsmith. Testing with a torque wrench shows it slipping at 8 or 9 pounds. Is there a reliable way of increasing the clutch tension?

One interesting note: the clutch had 3 metal washers and 5 fiber washers. FMFMFFMF was the order of the washers. Unless I'm mistaken, it appears most people have 4 of each(?). Is that likely to be the cause of the excess slippage?

Thanks!

Cavediver wrote:I've disassembled, cleaned, sanded to 800 grit, and reassembled the clutch in my 56 Shopsmith. Testing with a torque wrench shows it slipping at 8 or 9 pounds. Is there a reliable way of increasing the clutch tension?

One interesting note: the clutch had 3 metal washers and 5 fiber washers. FMFMFFMF was the order of the washers. Unless I'm mistaken, it appears most people have 4 of each(?). Is that likely to be the cause of the excess slippage?

Thanks!

Normal wear and tear over time decreases clutch torque. I use 5 metal and 4 fiber washers in the clutch with metal on each end. MFMFMFMFM. You on want the fibler washer between the metal washers. This fills the clutch housing to the max. I find most springs looses tension so I machined a pile of various thickness washers to help increase the spring pressure. The thick washer on the end of the spring only fits in the end of the clutch housing which is grooved for this washer. I machine washers with about .050" less OD so it will appy pressure on the spring. My max thickness washing is the same thickness as the end spring washer with I use in place of a thin washer for the first test. Then 0 to 3 more thin washers will give me the proper torque of 12-20 pds. I have many metal, fiber and thickness washers for use to help rebuild these clutches.
I offer rebuilt Gilmer Clutches with new bearings on Ebay or contact me.