Shopsmith Forums

I have an old model Shopsmith 610 Jigsaw (1983 vintage) that I believe is leaking oil from what appears the area around the bearing where the input power shaft is located. I know it is not the gasket on the cover plate leaking since I replaced it with new cork gasket material a week ago and no oil is coming from that side of the Jigsaw. It is dripping from the shaft area.
. . . Or is my problem that I filled it to full of oil maybe?
Anyway what should I look for? I do not seem to hear any bad bearing noise when I spin the input power shaft.
Is there some kind of an oil seal between the bearing and the Jigsaw frame that is bad?
Any help and suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!
BTW - I did pick up the newer Shopsmith Scroll Saw and it is great, but the use of the files on the old model 610 is a great feature to have in the shop!

Assuming you used the correct amount of oil (level hole) then the other thing to check is the vent hole which might be plugged. It's up on the top near where the shaft goes up and down, a small hole that you can use a pin or other small object to insert and make sure it is open to fresh air.

Ed

As Ed said, the vent hole needs to be open to the crank case. It goes from the upper right outside of the housing just back from the cover plate and vents through the inside hole under the upper right screw hole behind the cover plate itself. If the new gasket is covering the inside hole blocking it, than some gasket material needs to be removed from that space.

I agree with you when you said

the use of the files on the old model 610 is a great feature to have in the shop!

I had the upper arm off mine just recently using it with the files and a single ended jig saw blade to cut and shape some metal parts.

Were you able to resolve your leaking problem? If this is still of help, below is a picture of the gasket. The arrows point to indents for the air vent. These indents are all around the gasket so no matter which way you install it the vent hole is clear. Anyone making their own gasket needs to make sure there is an indent for the vent and place it properly.

To place the vent hole in perspective, it is not merely to allow for atmospheric pressure changes, but is also to allow the internal pressure pulses when it is operating to not create the positive pressure in the crankcase that will guarantee leaks.

When it runs you should be able to feel/detect the air flowing in/out of the vent hole.