Shopsmith Forums

I tried to use the drill press function on my 520 a few days ago and it is off by about 10 degrees. I can't see why it is not going to 90 I decided to do a full maintenance/alignment on my machine. I have had a number of pesky alignment issues so I am going to do it all. I have upgraded this machine up to everything but the power pro head stock. I have double tilt and lift assist. I decided to disconnect the lift assist piston to see if that was holding it back but that made no change.

While I was looking at the lift assist I checked the install instructions and it says they should be placed against the double tilt bases (mine didn't)but if you do that the swing arm rest against the know that releases the other side so you can't raise the other side. That doesn't seem correct to me but that's the way I read it. That doesn't affect the drill press function but I will need to resolve placement at some point.

Moving on. My SS has been moved (to a new state and several houses) a number of times since the upgrades were installed. Could the problem be the positioning of the tubes? Should I just go back and "reinstall" the double tilt making sure everything is tightened and aligned as it should be? I'm thinking take of the head stock and disconnect the lift assist and just see if the tubes will go to 90 degrees if that works put the rest of the stuff on and give it another try. The thinking is maybe the tubes aren't seated properly causing the base to be out of alignment. It's extra work to tear it down that far bu I'm in my mid 70's and the only one in my shop. I don't have the strength left to flip the machine on it's back per the instructions.

I would be a lot of extra work but if all I have to worry about is the basic foundation it might be easier to spot the problem and it would be an opportunity to give my tubes a good waxing.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Michael

Search the board a bit or read this thread.
http://www.shopsmith.com/ss_forum/begin ... t3381.html

Thanks garys. I had read that post and that gave me an idea. To quote the post "Also be sure that the tubes are installed to the proper depth into the end mounts". I suspect the lower tubes are out of wack. I loosened the upper tubes and reseated them until I heard them bottom out. Now I cannot lock the upper tubes down because they don't fit. Tomorrow I am going to reset the lower tubes and see if that fixes the problem. If I strip everything down to just tubes then I can check the double tilt in both directions. If I have nothing but tubes and still can't get close to 90 then I will be officially stumped. On the plus side a good foundation is the key to a good build.

Michael

The Bench Tubes, when properly inserted, will just barely clear the extension table legs when the extension table legs are inserted into either the Headrest or the Base.

You can see this relationship between the Bench Tubes and Extension Table legs by simply peering down into the holes where the Extension Table is mounted or laying on the floor and viewing from beneath.



However, the relationship between the Bench Tubes and the Way Tubes, when in the drill press mode, should not be an exact 90°. It is designed to have a slight tilt beyond 90°.

Thanks Dusty. The pictures tell the tail.

My SS is back to 90 degrees. The lower tubes were loose from all the moves I've made in the last few years The mechanical stops were worn down quite a bit from all the movement. They still had enough bite to line up properly after I tightened them down. I raised the bars after I flipped it over and it's just passed 90 degrees. SUCCESS. Now I just need to put the thing back together. I took the motor and shelf off so it would be easier to work with. I'm over 71 and have back problems so it is easier to lighten the load when I am working with heavy stuff on the floor.

Just an observation. If you are moving your SS any great distance it might be a good idea to take the legs off to prevent damage to the mechanical stops (if yours has them) on your SS. I think all the moves I made messed up my mechanical stops.

I am curious what you are referring to as 'mechanical stops'.

JPG wrote:I am curious what you are referring to as 'mechanical stops'.

See Dusty's last picture above. He calls them "Mechanical Stops". Some of the bases have them and some don't (see both pictures) pictures. My machine began life as a 520 so it has the "mechanical stops" he refers to.

Michael