Shopsmith Forums

I have a 2003 510 and it has been well taken care of. My problem I went to install the main work table and was having lots of problems. I found my carriage was spit down the side where the main table leg goed into the crank. I am now looking at the parts book and about $82.18 to replace it.
Just wandering if this is a problem or has anyone else had this issue?
dlan603

Hi dlan603,
No reply=no experience of this event. Sorry, but I have not heard of this happening before.

I have no experience with a cracked carriage but I can confirm that if that main table leg is not properly secured you would have problems maintaining alignment.

I have heard of successful weld jobs on Shopsmith castings but for the price ($82.00 + S/H) I wouldn't hesitate to buy a new carriage.

If you bought your Shopsmith new, I'd call Shopsmith and discuss this. You never know.

Many of the 510/520 carriages have a cut in the carriage where the carriage assembly goes by the table legs. I have been making this cut in the 500 carriages for years as both the pinion and carriage holds the table legs more securely than just the pinion when the table height lock is tighten. I have not seen any actually breaks at that cut.

I sometimes find that the table elevating pinion(s) may be too far into the carriage leg holes to allow one or both legs to engage the pinion. I am sure if the table is shaken hard enough with the table legs only half way in, the carriage with the cuts could be broken. Shaking the table does not normally help if this occurs. I look into each leg hole to make sure only the pinion teeth are showing before installing the table legs into any carriage.

dlan603 wrote:I have a 2003 510 and it has been well taken care of. My problem I went to install the main work table and was having lots of problems. I found my carriage was spit down the side where the main table leg goed into the crank. I am now looking at the parts book and about $82.18 to replace it.
Just wandering if this is a problem or has anyone else had this issue?
dlan603

Hi dln603! Sounds like Bill has something (again!) there! - Have you checked to see if your pinion gears are positioned correctly? Maybe this issue is a simple one??

I contact Shopsmith CS and they want to have their QA take a look. I will keep you posted on the out come.
Dlan603:)

Happened to me. I bought a replacement from ebay for I think $40 and it looked new. It even worked better then the old one when it was in one piece.

Hi to all:
For all of you that replied to my last post here is is an update.
I sent the broken carriage to ShopSmith.
Very good customer service as always. They looked at the casting and determined it was bad. Linda called me sent a new carriage already on the machine and working great.
dlan603:)