Shopsmith Forums

rogersk wrote:I’ve noticed my Model 500 (purchased new by mail order in 1986) was noisier than usual. Other than periodic oiling, it had never been serviced. The noise seemed to be coming from the lower end, around the Emerson 1-1/8 HP motor. Below are some observations and photos of what I found.

The front bearing was a double shielded, SKF brand made in Italy. The shields had a few small bulges in them. I removed the shields. Five of the 8 balls had broken out of their little cages ( I don’t know if that is the correct term) and like a train of little PacMen were working their way around the bearing, destroying each successive cage as they encountered it. There was no grease left. Total failure was not far off. Here’s a few photos.

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The back bearing was a Nachi brand double rubber sealed bearing, and seemed ok. I removed the rubber seals. Allot of the grease had leaked out of it, but there was still grease left in it.

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I replaced both bearings with Nachi brand double rubber sealed bearings purchased from VXB.com. I don’t know if substituting a sealed bearing for the original front shielded bearing was the right thing to do. Time will tell, I guess.

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I didn’t get a picture of the windings, but they were bright colored and looked new. Just a little fine sawdust on them.

The floating sheave was cracked, and the shaft key was damaged on the end the set screw tightens down to hold on the fan sheave. The original key was only 3.5” long and the replacement I got from Shopsmith was 4.25” long. It appears the set screw only partially caught the end of the original key—or maybe the key end broke off. This created a burr that made removing the fan sheave a real pain. I purchased a new key and sheave from Shopsmith. Here is a picture of the cracked sheave. I didn’t get a photo of the key.

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I am amazed how quiet my Shopsmith is now.

JPG wrote:
Good job!!!!!

Quiet too shall pass!

I have to assume the motor pulley was not running true, but was wobbling.

P.S. IMO ALL SS bearings should be rubber sealed.

chapmanruss wrote:Keith,

You did a great job finding and fixing the problems your Mark V had. You can trust JPG as he is probably the member here that has owned his Shopsmith the longest. A Mark 5 Goldie he bought new in the early 1960's. He knows the Mark 5 inside and out. Remember to keep up on the regular service and it will run quieter longer.

P89DC wrote:I replaced the bearings with sealed in my 1986 motor around 1998. The rear shielded bearing was dry and wailing but it didn't disintegrate. I replaced all the other bearings in the headstock earlier this year. None of them were sealed, they are now.