Shopsmith Forums

Hi, I just bought a 1990 510. I doubt it has had any maintenance in 10 years (just not used at all, sitting in a garage). But it started up and was running fine for about an hour, then a sqealing noise developed at lower speeds (intermittent down at very slow speeds, seems to be highest at the dado speed, disappears after that).

I did the required maintenance (sheave holes), blasted it all out with compressed air, still squealing.

The poly vbelt seems good and tight (perhaps too tight, it doesn't give much at all when you push it with a finger) but the main vbelt for the variable drive seems quite loose, you can push it in half an inch.

Should I just replace this belt? I can't see cracking, but it does appear a bit rough on the edges. If so, please point me to a how-to page...

Thanks, I'm new to this but liking my shopsmith very much!

You might want to pay attention to belt tension - both of them - but I do not believe that the squealing is related.

Since it has been dormant for a while I would lub the headstock again. Do not be stingy. There is no such thing as damage caused by too much oil. Yes, too much will be spun out and deposited on the inside of the headstock.

Your name indicates you might be a neighbor. Do you live in Tucson?

dusty wrote:You might want to pay attention to belt tension - both of them - but I do not believe that the squealing is related.

Since it has been dormant for a while I would lub the headstock again. Do not be stingy. There is no such thing as damage caused by too much oil. Yes, too much will be spun out and deposited on the inside of the headstock.

Your name indicates you might be a neighbor. Do you live in Tucson?

Yes I do! And you? If so, I'd love to talk about the Shopsmith with you!

tucsonguy wrote:

dusty wrote:You might want to pay attention to belt tension - both of them - but I do not believe that the squealing is related.

Since it has been dormant for a while I would lub the headstock again. Do not be stingy. There is no such thing as damage caused by too much oil. Yes, too much will be spun out and deposited on the inside of the headstock.

Your name indicates you might be a neighbor. Do you live in Tucson?

Yes I do! And you? If so, I'd love to talk about the Shopsmith with you!

I think you need to invite Dusty over to look at your squealer.

Pay close attention to everything he says!

I am inclined to be suspicious of the bearings being 'dried out'.

The motor belt is 'self tensioning'. As long as the floating sheave is free to do it's job there is little else you need to do to maintain correct tension. Really really pump oil into the floating sheave oil hole(and onto the shaft end as well). It needs to be WELL LUBRICATED. With it set to high speed, you should be able to pull the floating sheave to open the pulley)(not easy with the spring attached, but possible). Another thing, with it set to slow, squirt oil onto the shaft and key(the pulley will be opened up).

Also automotive belt dressing helps(especially with belts that have taken a 'set').

JPG wrote:

tucsonguy wrote:

dusty wrote:You might want to pay attention to belt tension - both of them - but I do not believe that the squealing is related.

Since it has been dormant for a while I would lub the headstock again. Do not be stingy. There is no such thing as damage caused by too much oil. Yes, too much will be spun out and deposited on the inside of the headstock.

Your name indicates you might be a neighbor. Do you live in Tucson?

Yes I do! And you? If so, I'd love to talk about the Shopsmith with you!

I think you need to invite Dusty over to look at your squealer.

Pay close attention to everything he says!

I am inclined to be suspicious of the bearings being 'dried out'.

The motor belt is 'self tensioning'. As long as the floating sheave is free to do it's job there is little else you need to do to maintain correct tension. Really really pump oil into the floating sheave oil hole(and onto the shaft end as well). It needs to be WELL LUBRICATED. With it set to high speed, you should be able to pull the floating sheave to open the pulley)(not easy with the spring attached, but possible). Another thing, with it set to slow, squirt oil onto the shaft and key(the pulley will be opened up).

Also automotive belt dressing helps(especially with belts that have taken a 'set').

I'm going to pick up some dressing and put it on both. The good news is the squeal has gone; I took off the lower casing (which holds the motor) and then reattached it loosely with the screws, ran the machine at low setting and with a bit of pushing, got the squeal to disappear. I think it was mostly to do with a slight misalignment of the motor housing...
I also oiled EVERYTHING.

So, good, although I would love Dusty to come over and listen to it. There's a slight rattle/vibration noise in the magnadado setting, but otherwise it seems fine now.

Unfortunately, I'm going to be gone for most of the rest of October, but let's get together Dusty, your place or mine so I can hear how your SS sounds and you can hear mine...

Let me know (by PM) where you live and what your schedule is like.

My greatest conflict is doctors' appointments and chores mandated by SWMBO.

FWIW, "rattling" is a common attribute of the SS reeves drive. Gets worse as it wears.

JPG wrote:FWIW, "rattling" is a common attribute of the SS reeves drive. Gets worse as it wears.

Reeves drive, gilmer belts... I've got a steep learning curve

dusty wrote: SWMBO.

As I recall, that always was followed by an image of a charging rhinoceros.

Pay attention to the small bearing in the end of the control sheave.
Bill V