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Yes, it should have a spring. The spring is inside a housing on the quill feed pinion shaft on the side of the head stock with the logo. The inner end of the spring has either become disconnected from the shaft or the end is broken off. Either case it is fixable. You need to remove the quill and then remove the pinion shaft to determine the problem.TooTall wrote:Hi,
New to the forum and new to me . . . a sweet Shopsmith 10 E.
I'm wondering if there was ever a return spring like on a conventional drill press, that pulls the quill back up into the headstock.
Thanks,
T
Remove the nuts from the depth stop rod. Advance the quill all the way until it disengages from the pinion gear and pull it out. In this case since your spring is disconnected it doesn't matter but don't let go of the quill handle when removing the quill with the spring attached. Let the spring unwind slowly. If you just let go with the spring under tension there is a possibility it will come unhooked when it fully unwinds.TooTall wrote:Right on, thanks folks.
I said to someone last night that there was probably a coil spring behind that cover.
How easy is it to pull the quill?
Thanks,
Terry
P.S.
I was worried about some bearing rattle so yesterday I tried various ways of pressure feeding bearing grease up against the bearings and I quieted it down significantly.
Then, stupid me, I retract the quill which had been fully extended that entire time— which wouldn't have been that way with an intact return spring — and the shaft and bearings went whisper quiet, even using my mechanics stethoscope at the bearing housings, not a sound. Whew!
This thread has pictures. http://shopsmith.com/ss_forum/maintenan ... 14335.htmlTooTall wrote:You wrote,
"Remove the nuts from the depth stop rod. Advance the quill all the way until it disengages from the pinion gear and pull it out. In this case since your spring is disconnected it doesn't matter but don't let go of the quill handle when removing the quill with the spring attached. Let the spring unwind slowly. If you just let go with the spring under tension there is a possibility it will come unhooked when it fully unwinds."
I need to see how the spring is attached and what it looks like in order to understand what you said.
Any chance of a photo or photos?
For example: when you say, "don't let go of the handle" do you mean keep the handle in one position, or just hold it and go around with it while the handle slowly revolves as the quill is extending (if attached, that is) ?
Thanks; appreciate the stellar help!
Terry
It is also painful if it hits you hand. 
1. The pinion shaft has a round headed pin in it. The end of the spring has a key hole shaped slot in it.TooTall wrote:You wrote,
"Remove the nuts from the depth stop rod. Advance the quill all the way until it disengages from the pinion gear and pull it out. In this case since your spring is disconnected it doesn't matter but don't let go of the quill handle when removing the quill with the spring attached. Let the spring unwind slowly. If you just let go with the spring under tension there is a possibility it will come unhooked when it fully unwinds."
1. I need to see how the spring is attached and what it looks like in order to understand what you said.
Any chance of a photo or photos?
2. For example: when you say, "don't let go of the handle" do you mean keep the handle in one position, or just hold it and go around with it while the handle slowly revolves as the quill is extending (if attached, that is) ?
Thanks; appreciate the stellar help!
Terry
