Shopsmith Forums

My sample size is small and this maybe an exception but at least you can see how I remove the bearing on the shopsmith live center. The two that I have are from 1976 and 1978, semi-old.

The one I've taken apart today is the 1978 one, and I do not think it has been apart before.

After removing the clip I used a tooth brush to clean the gunk out of the ring and housing.

I used a light weight hook(pick) to get in the area behind the bearing and then pulled it forward. It stopped at the notch where the ring is set in. Using the same tool I then pushed from the back side. As the bearing was half way out I again went to the front side to get it the rest of the way out.

Keep in mind I was using some light weight gear so it came out pretty easy. If yours is rusty or other wise in damaged condition then this might be quite a different story.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uoy3Fn1L0M4

Now that it had been out once I put it back in and used the same procedure to remove it. Happen a lot faster the second time around.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTsKcuJHWkw

This is my story and I'm sticking to it.

Ed

1. The 'older' ones do not have a retaining clip.

2. The older ones 'appear' to have been swaged(outer rim pressed over the outer bearing).

3. There is no 'pull/push' with a dental pick that will remove it.

4. I have been futzing with one for almost a year off and on.

JPG40504 wrote:1. The 'older' ones do not have a retaining clip.

2. The older ones 'appear' to have been swaged(outer rim pressed over the outer bearing).

3. There is no 'pull/push' with a dental pick that will remove it.

4. I have been futzing with one for almost a year off and on.

Sometimes things just need to be replaced as a whole assembly. If it is swaggered this might be one of those cases. The bad news is replacements are not cheap.

My latest live center is from Nova and I would recommend that as a replacement unless you use the "screw off MT2 taper" as a feature. I got mine before shopsmith started offering them and paid less then the shopsmith price.

As I mentioned mine are no big deal removing the bearing, how ever it appears that "older" ones may not be replaceable.

Ed

reible wrote:Sometimes things just need to be replaced as a whole assembly. If it is swaggered this might be one of those cases. The bad news is replacements are not cheap.

My latest live center is from Nova and I would recommend that as a replacement unless you use the "screw off MT2 taper" as a feature. I got mine before shopsmith started offering them and paid less then the shopsmith price.

As I mentioned mine are no big deal removing the bearing, how ever it appears that "older" ones may not be replaceable.

Ed

Hold on if you have to replace the bearings on the Nova......there are three. Sadly, one or more of the bearings got noisy during a project. Fortunately, it was still under warranty and Nova came through with a replacement live center. When I get a chance I may try to get the bearings out of the old Nova.

SDSSmith wrote:Hold on if you have to replace the bearings on the Nova......there are three. Sadly, one or more of the bearings got noisy during a project. Fortunately, it was still under warranty and Nova came through with a replacement live center. When I get a chance I may try to get the bearings out of the old Nova.

When and if you give it a go take pictures and post the good/bad/ugly side of it.

I knew it had 3 bearings but was hoping that meant a good long life, long enough at least so I would not have to worry about it.

Ed

I cannot say for sure the older version is swaged(I said 'appeared'), but when the bearing is removed, I will know for sure. It is likely it is just a tight fit gotten tighter with age.(or jammed due to unsuccessful attempts to remove it).