Shopsmith Forums

I owe everyone on this forum and all other online Shopsmith resources and owners everywhere a huge Thank You!

I am a proud new owner of a used Shopsmith Mark V 500. My father-in-law had a Shopsmith in his garage he bought from a widowed woodworker a number of years ago. A while back he asked me if I'd be interested in it -- I told him no. At the time I saw something which looked like it came out of a decades old space movie and which required more patience and understand than I was capable of at the time. Since then, I've left a career and had to find a new one which required me to relocate from a house to an apartment. As recently as last year I sold all of my tools in order to relocate to my new career and home. Now in a new apartment and looking for something to do with my hands, I asked him if the offer still stood. Yada, yada, yada I now have a Shopsmith in my apartment garage.

I figured I'd "give it a tune up" to make sure everything was in good working order. Well . . . everything wasn't. I started with basic clean up and lube. Then I checked alignments and figured I was ready to fire it up. Well it didn't rip so well. So I looked at all the books which came with it, and I turned to the internet and this forum.

As far as symptoms go, it only worked in slower speeds and the speed control dial wouldn't move passed a certain point. When I tried ripping a 2x4 it bogged down to a stop unless it was set at the slowest speed. I searched the internet and all the books and manuals I got with it. I followed all of the instructions to no avail. I bought some new saw blades hoping that would solve the problem. It didn't. Finally, after taking a few moments in between attempts -- I started to put everything together. . .

The lower sheave was stuck. Side note -- My father-in-law only ever used this machine as a sander -- on the sanding speed. It took a minute, but I realized the sheaves needed to "flex" or move freely in order for the speed control dial to work properly. When I got the speed control dial to move to the Fast setting the poly v belt came completely loose -- this meant my ripping problem was because of a loose belt. So I removed the poly v belt and sprayed penetrating oil on the sheave and shaft. I also used a piece of wood and a hammer to knock it loose -- never hitting the sheave directly. After several soakings in penetrating oil and several "love taps" its loose! It took some more oil and work to get it to spin freely, but I finally got the belt back on and ran the machine through the speed cycles in order to completely free up the sheave. Wow -- this is one powerful machine!! I couldn't completely realize its potential until I got it loose. It's a little louder than I expected too, but I figure I'll deal with one thing at a time.

For other noobs like me -- get to know HOW the machine works, AND WHY it works. It'll make you feel so much more comfortable about maintaining it.
Symptoms:
-Wouldn't change speeds.
-Bogged down/stopped on rip cuts.
-Tripped a 20A breaker -- once i got the sheave partially free, the speed control dial would go to Fast, but the sheave wasn't totally free so the breaker tripped because of the load.

Diagnosis/Prognosis:
The speed is adjusted by opening or closing the sheaves in order to change the "gear ratio. The speed control dial works freely when the sheaves work freely. When the lower sheave became stuck in the open position, or slow speed -- the speed control dial would move up and down through the speeds but the lower sheave wasn't being pushed back as the speed control dial moved to the Fast position. Freeing the lower sheave was critical to getting it back to normal. If the sheaves aren't operated in the full spectrum of the speed ranges and lubed properly they will get stuck. REGULAR operations AND maintenance is critical to the lifespan of these machines.

I could have been more brief in this post I'm sure, but I'm super excited about the Shopsmith and being able to fix it myself I had to tell my story to someone. I cannot in any detail recall the different sources I referenced across the internet, but the sum total led me to my solution.

Thanks to everyone!

Dave in North Carolina

Welcome to the forum.

Wise words for future newbees.

Welcome to the forum.

Thanks Everyone!

Bob, regular use and maintenance is on my "To Do List". I saw a post where someone had removed the sheaves and polished the shafts -- this is also something I'd like to do. First, I want to get accustomed to the equipment, it's proper care and maintenance. Then I want to start and finish a small project. Also a little new to wood working. Eventually, a little at a time, I'd like to get my Shopsmith completely restored and looking and running almost new. I used to live in IL just across the river from St Louis. I left the Air Force from Scott AFB.

By the serial number it's an April-May 1984 model just before the two bearing quill update. I'll wait for the quill to need replacement before I consider the two bearing update. In the meantime I just want to enjoy it and explore a whole new world! Eventually, I'll get everything added to my signature.

Thanks for your service Joe.

Dave

davewright92 wrote:I saw a post where someone had removed the sheaves and polished the shafts -- this is also something I'd like to do.

Dave

Thank You for YOUR service to Dave.

I won't hold it against ya for living in IL. Now polishing I think it wood be unnecessary, but cleaning them up wood be wise.

beeg wrote:

davewright92 wrote:I saw a post where someone had removed the sheaves and polished the shafts -- this is also something I'd like to do.

Dave

. . . Now polishing I think it wood be unnecessary, but cleaning them up wood be wise.

Ditto!!!!

Welcome Dave! This place is just amazing in it's seemingly unlimited knowledge of all things Shopsmith.

Enjoy your machine!

Oh, BTW, warning .... It probably won't be your last one ....

rjent,

I've already been looking at "parts" machines! I barely have room for the one I have now, but I could see one or two more when I finally get my own house and shop.

Dave