Shopsmith Forums

I just purchased a Shopsmith flexible shaft off ebay. Seems to run well. Hoping someone has the instruction manual or good advice on maintenance. There is a ball detent on one end, I assume for oiling. What should I use to oil the shaft internally? As far as I can see it is impossible to disassemble to clean the internal shaft (both ends do unscrew, but only to a point, and there appears to be no method to remove either end piece to allow the internal shaft to be removed).
Advice from anyone who's ever owned one of these MUCH appreciated!

Congratulations on your new acquisition. I have not seen a manual for it but they are shown in the Model 10E Montogomery Ward Manual thru the early Mark 5 manuals. It does not give any maintenance information in those manuals. They are also in the accessory catalogs. I have two of the Shopsmith 50" Flexible Shafts and have added a little light weight oil through the ball bearing and down the ends. They both run very well and are quite. I also have a Craftsman 72" Flexible shaft with the Shopsmith adapter and have done the same with it. The Craftsman differs from the Shopsmith Flexible Shaft as it has a 1/2" bore instead of the 5/8" bore of the Shopsmith one, there by requiring the adapter. The Craftsman has a 1/2" threaded accessory end where the Shopsmith has the 5/8" reverse tapered spindle end just like the Shopsmith tool itself. The only information I have on the Craftsman Flex Shaft is from their 1953 catalog and again no maintenance information.

This is what the Manuals say
FLEXIBLE SHAFT - Shopsmith makes a good source of power for a flexible shaft (Fig. varies by manual edition). The table makes an excellent base for resting or clamping work when grinding, routing, buffing, etc.

Remember that you will have less control holding the end of the flex shaft for grinding, routing, buffing, etc. (what the manual says you can use it for) than doing these tasks with the same accessories attached directly to the quill's spindle. I would use the slowest speed possible when working with the flexible shaft

I will oil as you suggest. I always use slow speeds with flexible shafts - just makes sense

thx for the response!

This is what the Manuals say
FLEXIBLE SHAFT - Shopsmith makes a good source of power for a flexible shaft (Fig. varies by manual edition). The table makes an excellent base for resting or clamping work when grinding, routing, buffing, etc.

Remember that you will have less control holding the end of the flex shaft for grinding, routing, buffing, etc. (what the manual says you can use it for) than doing these tasks with the same accessories attached directly to the quill's spindle. I would use the slowest speed possible when working with the flexible shaft[/quote]