Top link pin becomes part of a shopsmith

reible · Post by **reible** » Thu May 30, 2013 2:28 pm

First there was this thread

https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=11828

Were I was trying to figure out just what the shopsmith lathe steady rest looked like.

I have the steady rest for the lathe duplicator. It looks a lot like the other one except for how it mounts.

[ATTACH]21676[/ATTACH]

A little more disassemble and you are left with the "Y" piece with bearings.

[ATTACH]21677[/ATTACH]

So starting with the "Y" piece and an extra lathe tool rest it become a simple task of making them work together.

[ATTACH]21678[/ATTACH]

This is where the top link pin is transformed. I started by removing the end with the hole. Then ground a flat on one side of the pin. Drilled and tapped a 3/8-16 hole. Ground a slight relief where the set screw contacts so any burr that occurs should not effect the removal of the post.

[ATTACH]21679[/ATTACH]

Putting it together show how works, or at least assembles.

[ATTACH]21680[/ATTACH]

Just two more pictures, in the next post obviously.

Ed

reible · Post by **reible** » Thu May 30, 2013 2:43 pm

Here is another shot of transformed pin, note the end that was cut off.

[ATTACH]21681[/ATTACH]

The one thing that is quite different is that the pin is inserted from the bottom. It works but you need to disassemble the parts to remove and insert them.

[ATTACH]21682[/ATTACH]

I wanted to just buy the part from shopsmith but Linda and on were on the phone and she was unable to find a way for me to get just that one part I needed. That was a couple months back and I've been thinking how to do this without too much metal work. I used a hack saw to cut the end off, a grinder to put the flat on the pin. Shopsmith to drill the hole, I did it in 3 steps so as to not put too much strain on the vice. Hand tapped the hole and cleaned up with a couple of files.

The (usable 3-3/4 length x 3/4" dia) pin was all of $1.69.

What is left is to test it. Don't for see any issues but if I find any I'll let you know....

Finished my lunch and time to get back to yardening for this afternoon.

Ed

camerio · Post by **camerio** » Thu May 30, 2013 3:35 pm

Ed have you seen this :

http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=68825&cat=1,43455

I was thinking of doing this set up on my Shopsmith.

reible · Post by **reible** » Thu May 30, 2013 4:11 pm

camerio wrote:Ed have you seen this :

http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=68825&cat=1,43455

I was thinking of doing this set up on my Shopsmith.

I have the wheels for it but that is as far as I got. Right now I've lost them somewhere in my shop.

The plans I have use a t-channel for adjust-ability but I have not yet decided on that or my own version.

Ed

camerio · Post by **camerio** » Thu May 30, 2013 8:12 pm

I look forward to the day when you find them and make some jig out of them.
I hope you keep us posted as you usually do and thank you for your active and informative participation on this forum. You make my day every time you bring some ideas and projects, I do not always acknowledge it like I should.

reible · Post by **reible** » Thu May 30, 2013 9:17 pm

camerio wrote:I look forward to the day when you find them and make some jig out of them.
I hope you keep us posted as you usually do and thank you for your active and informative participation on this forum. You make my day every time you bring some ideas and projects, I do not always acknowledge it like I should.

Thank you!

You do of course know that each and everyone here is what makes this a great forum for sharing.

Ed

skou · Post by **skou** » Fri May 31, 2013 2:07 am

reible wrote:Thank you!

You do of course know that each and everyone here is what makes this a great forum for sharing.

Ed

Well, there's some that do the real yeoman work here, then there are those that are like the guy who tosses a Milky-way bar in the pool, at a pool-party. (Like that guy what lives in Mesa {near Phoenix} Az!):D

Sorry, couldn't resist. Flip Wilson made me do it!

steve

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Fri May 31, 2013 10:42 am

Okay I'm lost again (what's new?)

What is a top link pin?

And if I understand you correctly you don't like the fact you have to insert the modified pin from the bottom, which requires a complete disassembly each time.

My question is why not cut the flange off the bottom so you can insert the pin from the top?

This seems so simple so I must be missing something.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Fri May 31, 2013 1:22 pm

Ed in Tampa wrote:Okay I'm lost again (what's new?)

What is a top link pin?

And if I understand you correctly you don't like the fact you have to insert the modified pin from the bottom, which requires a complete disassembly each time.

My question is why not cut the flange off the bottom so you can insert the pin from the top?

This seems so simple so I must be missing something.

You ain't the lone ranger!!! I had to look it up. I knew Farmer would have known, but I did not. As I suspected it is an item commonly found at tractor supply and southern states and similar establishments.

I thought maybe a harness/hitch thingy(I once held up a thingy in an Amish/Menonite community hardware store, asked what it was and was accused of not spending much time on a farm or I would have known what it was for).

Turns out the 'top' part applies to the top support bar of a three point tractor hitch. The pin supports the hitch, and removal of it allows the lower two points to move freely up/down. I believe the top support would have multiple holes for the pin to provide variable height positioning of the 'draw bar'.

It seems modern tractors use hydraulics to control the lower point positioning(draw bar height).

The non-obvious advantage to the three point hitch is it 'rigidly' attaches the tow along to the tractor and its weight or pull down force when plowing is transferred to the rear driving wheels of the tractor. It also eliminates front end rearing of the tractor when the tow along encounters stiff resistance.

I at first thought the same thing re reversing the pin. but I believe he used the shoulder to secure the pin from the bottom and the steady rest bar to secure it at the top. No pix to verify that, but it does make sense.

More that you wanted to know, but I learned all that hitch stuff yesterday from google.

frank81 · Post by **frank81** » Fri May 31, 2013 2:59 pm

JPG40504 wrote:I thought maybe a harness/hitch thingy(I once held up a thingy in an Amish/Menonite community hardware store, asked what it was and was accused of not spending much time on a farm or I would have known what it was for).

We've got both around here, and let me tell you they do NOT like being confused with eachother!

There is a dirty joke the Amish around here like to tell. What does it take to make an Amish woman happy? Two Menonites.