Shopsmith Forums

I'd like to have at least 1/2" additional travel clearance when my 510 SS is lifted on the casters and being moved. This would be to help clear anti-fatigue mats on my shop floor.

The Premium Casters are 3" vs the standard 2", but it's not clear to me if that increased 1/2" is lost once new mounting holes are drilled.

Anyone have experience with this?

Alan

I cant but I am sure JPG or/and John Burger can.

My Shopsmith has about 3/8" clearance in the high position with the new casters. I think that if you try to increase the clearance too much, the casters won't retract far enough and your Shopsmith will slide around when it should be on its legs.

Mike

No you get the same or perhaps less clearance with the new casters if you use the information provided by shopsmith. Even if you do it yourself you will not get more clearance but at least you can get the full 1/2".

What happens is the casters are larger but you still want the machine to sit flat on the floor in the down position. If you were to simply pull out the old ones and stick in the new ones the machine would always be on the casters.

To fix that the holes are relocated so that brackets move up the legs and and then in the lower position the casters are no longer holding the machine up and you are sitting on the legs.

There were several "issues" that came about when shopsmith introduced these. I think there were 4 different drawings A thru D revisions trying to get things tuned in. The there were problems where photo copies were used and they were "off sized" from the original prints.......

I did mine the old school and way and I have the machine so it sits on the legs then goes up about a 1/4" on the first step, followed by being at 1/2" when on the highest step. So far as I know the latest and greatest drawings from shopsmith will have you short of a 1/2" on that top step.

There have been quite a few posts here on the subject and I have picture proof that I can slide a 1/2" bar under my legs, the others that measured using the shopsmith information can not do that. And so far as I know they are all happy with what shopsmith provided. I'm a bit picky on the subject since I have to drag my machine out on the driveway to do larger projects and I wanted the full 1/2".

The other thing that shopsmith seems to ignore is that on older machines the pedals are in interference with the new casters so you will have to deal with that. I moved my levers but that is not the only solution that could work.

If you are hoping for more then the 1/2" then stock solutions are not going to work.

Ed

mauka wrote:I'd like to have at least 1/2" additional travel clearance when my 510 SS is lifted on the casters and being moved. This would be to help clear anti-fatigue mats on my shop floor.

The Premium Casters are 3" vs the standard 2", but it's not clear to me if that increased 1/2" is lost once new mounting holes are drilled.

Anyone have experience with this?

Alan

A somewhat loaded question due to past history of 'incorrect' drilling instructions.

Straight answer - NO!

The cam has three lift lobe positions.

The lower one allows the legs to rest firmly on the floor(casters may float on the floor, but are not bearing any weight.

The intermediate position should raise the legs almost 1/4" off the floor.

The highest position should raise the legs almost 1/2" off the floor.

Any increase in lift will affect all three positions.

In order for that to occur with the larger wheels, the caster mechanism must be raised to account for the added wheel diameter.

Now the larger diameter wheels should more easily roll over 'obstacles' than the original smaller wheels.

Mahalo everyone for the very informative replies, with this info and a closer look at my SS, it seems to me the best solution would be custom machined "cams" that would raise the SS higher for travel.

Since I tend to "make the shop the project", that will have to wait for now.

mauka wrote:Mahalo everyone for the very informative replies, with this info and a closer look at my SS, it seems to me the best solution would be custom machined "cams" that would raise the SS higher for travel.

Since I tend to "make the shop the project", that will have to wait for now.

Or make the 'low' lobe lower.

reible wrote: There were several "issues" that came about when shopsmith introduced these. I think there were 4 different drawings A thru D revisions trying to get things tuned in. The there were problems where photo copies were used and they were "off sized" from the original prints.......

Is the correct paper caster template available to download and print online or is it something Shopsmith will send out?

Here is the template that I used.

This is a template created by using data provided by another of the forum members.

When you buy the casters they include a template. I have not seen a down load for it.

I think you would have to ask shopsmith if they are willing to send you one.

They do offer a drilling guide with bit for like $18 if you would rather have that.

If you have more then one machine to do then the template might make more sense. Or using one the drawings Dusty presented and make your own.

Now it is also possible shopsmith has newer placement then they did when these drawings were made so if you want the latest and greatest from shopsmith that would/could be different now. Again a call might make that apparent.

Ed

hdoilcan wrote:

reible wrote: There were several "issues" that came about when shopsmith introduced these. I think there were 4 different drawings A thru D revisions trying to get things tuned in. The there were problems where photo copies were used and they were "off sized" from the original prints.......

Is the correct paper caster template available to download and print online or is it something Shopsmith will send out?