Shopsmith Forums

Hi all. This is my first post. I've been here awhile and learned a lot from all of you. So, here's my sitch. I got a 1954 greenie with all original parts. The problem I'm having is the rear locking tab on the rip fence not seating flat against the edge of the table. Here's a couple pics of the problem. It locks down fine but, slightly lifts the rear end of the fence about 1/16th up. Might there be any way to adjust this? In the first two pics the lock knob is tight with the fence glider flattened against the guide rail.
(Edit) I added a couple more pics of the underside of the fence in the front and rear since the rod is just traveling through empty space in the middle. Notice anything missing or too much of anything?

The rear lock is not supposed to be flat against the rear edge of the table ... it is only supposed to contact the chamfered bottom edge of the rear of the table.

Other than slightly more threaded rod exposed at the end when the fence is tightened than what mine has, yours looks correct.

Here is the link to the parts diagram for this type of fence. https://www.shopsmith.com/service/mark/ ... iagram.htm

And, here's what mine looks like (circa 1980).

Ah, I half expected the answer to be it shouldn’t sit flat - alas, the tab on mine when fully tightened is only contacting the top edge of the table. Nice
addition to your fence by the way. I think I’ll mess around with the washers and see if that does anything.

I think I may know why your rear lock tab isn't engaging properly ... is the FRONT locking tab inserted into the channel, or outside of the channel? It should be IN. When placing the fence on the table, first insert the front locking tab into the channel or guide rail. Then push the fence tight against the front rail. Then turn the knob to tighten the rear tab. Here is what my rear locking tab looks like when loose and when tightened.

Not relevant to your current problem, but a possible difficulty with the 500 fence adjustment, and a fix, identified by Skip Campbell.
http://www.mkctools.com/mvripfencemod.htm

I wish it were that simple but, I always make sure that gets slotted up right (included pic where terrible light lets you almost sorta see the tab in its slot). I rearranged the doubled up washer in the correct place according to the diagram you linked but, it did nothing.
I did find (also in same pic) that the rail glide on the fence doesn’t fully seat around the guide rail on the table; the bottom part just rests against the lower bezel of the table edge, though, I’m not sure if it’s not supposed to. Maybe I’m wrong about all original parts? How much thread I have sticking out the rear end of the fence compared to yours makes me wonder, though.
When I fully tighten the fence off the table in my hands, the rear lock goes pretty much 90 degrees to the bottom edge of the fence and when I place it next to the table lining up the rear lock with the rear edge of the table, the glide on the fence is much too far forward for that setting to fit on the table as if it were in place.
As is, the fence will lock down and allow me to make a cut but, I won’t use it till this is sorted.

Mine seems flat but, I’ll run a fine grit SP around a steel rule just to check if there’s any high spots. Good tip

Shucks, I thought I had it. I went out and purposely mis-installed mine, and when tightened, I got the same result at the rear lock as you, and had more thread showing like you.

Anyway, here is what my front lock tab looks like, in wrong position and then in correct position. The fence body does not fully contact the outside of the table channel when installed correctly.

I took my fence apart once, as the front lock tab was sticking and not moving freely. Thought I would never get it back together, so congrats to you if you have mastered that!

Nope. Mastered. Nope. I hope I never have to take that fence apart again. Wait - I’m in this post for the finale. I for the life of me can’t figure out what it is. Time to break her down to bolts and put her all back together again

The roll pin, (#214) circled in the picture, should go through the top of the rear clamp (#223) which pivots on it, Your clamp seems like it might be sitting in front of the roll pin which is causing the misalignment.