Shopsmith Forums

I've owned my Shopsmith since 1984 an have maintained it fairly well and put lots of hours on it. I hadn't used it for about 3 months and went out to the shop today to make a few things and the floating sheaves are frozen. I lubricated them and gently tapped on them trying to free them up without any luck. The control sheave works fine. I'm looking for any suggestions on how to free the floating sheaves without sending it in for repair. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

What position is it stuck in? (open/closed/in between)(what speed setting)

Penetrating oil is the next step(after removing the motor belt).

Stuck in between lower speed.

rolands wrote:Stuck in between lower speed.

IIUC near full open.

I would pull the motor pan/motor off and remove the motor from the pan. Use #3 phillips screwdriver on the motor mount screws.

That gets you better access to the sheave.

Next I would remove the spring etc..(I know you likely did not want to hear that).

That gets you unfettered access to the hub.

I would then try increasing pressure (hitting) directly to the hub around the shaft. Alternatively you could try prying the sheave further open, but that runs the risk of bending the sheave.

A little heat applied to the sheave hub may help.

A wheel puller may help, but again bending the sheave is possible.

'Secret' is to keep all forces in line with the shaft and increase force gradually until it moves.

It may require a gorilla eventually. (pipe over the shaft and impact the outer end).

It really really needs to be free to move to operate properly. When adequately lubricated(oiled) it is really easy to slide on the shaft.

Thank you for the ideas. I have thought about pulling the motor, but had not done that yet. I did remove the spring to get better access to the hub. You are right, I did not want to do that, but decided that it was going to be necessary. Not looking forward to putting it back on. I have thought about a wheel puller, but I don't have one and will need to ask friends if they have one. Like you said, it runs the risk bending the sheave. I had not thought about the heat and I will try that. I need to get some more penetrating oil also. Once I get it off and cleaned I will make sure it is lubricated more often. I appreciate all of your suggestions.

rolands wrote:Thank you for the ideas. I have thought about pulling the motor, but had not done that yet. I did remove the spring to get better access to the hub. You are right, I did not want to do that, but decided that it was going to be necessary. Not looking forward to putting it back on. I have thought about a wheel puller, but I don't have one and will need to ask friends if they have one. Like you said, it runs the risk bending the sheave. I had not thought about the heat and I will try that. I need to get some more penetrating oil also. Once I get it off and cleaned I will make sure it is lubricated more often. I appreciate all of your suggestions.

50/50 mixture of acetone and ATF.

P.S. At this point I would try 'gentle' tapping at the hub with a pipe over the shaft. Do not cause the pipe do malform the pulley(no dents!). A 5/8 id washer will help prevent that.

Found a friend with a wheel puller I did use it after I didn't have any luck with anything else. After a lot of gentle tapping, I used the wheel puller and slowly and gently got the outer sheave off. I am going to have to drop the motor to get at the inside sheave as there isn't enough room to hook the wheel puller. At least I'm halfway there.

Are you saying to use 50/50 mixture of acetone and ATF as a lubricate? I have not heard that one before.

I appreciate your help and suggestions.

rolands wrote:Found a friend with a wheel puller I did use it after I didn't have any luck with anything else. After a lot of gentle tapping, I used the wheel puller and slowly and gently got the outer sheave off. I am going to have to drop the motor to get at the inside sheave as there isn't enough room to hook the wheel puller. At least I'm halfway there.

Are you saying to use 50/50 mixture of acetone and ATF as a lubricate? I have not heard that one before.

I appreciate your help and suggestions.

I am not aware of any good reason at this time to also remove the fan sheave unless the vanes of the sheaves were interfering..

The 'mixture' was for use as a penetrating fluid only.

I was wondering if it would be ok. I think I'll put it back together and see how it works. I might be a few days before I can get back to it. Thanks for clearing up my confusion on the ATF and acetone. I'll put that in my memory bank for future use. Thank you.

rolands wrote:I was wondering if it would be ok. I think I'll put it back together and see how it works. I might be a few days before I can get back to it. Thanks for clearing up my confusion on the ATF and acetone. I'll put that in my memory bank for future use. Thank you.

Once you get the floating sheave freely floating on the shaft, you will be able to ascertain if there is something other than crud causing it to 'stick'.