Shopsmith Forums

Howdy folks,

Last night I finally installed a 520 upgrade kit on the 510. It was very easy to do, but I am wondering if there are any tips out there for alignment and tightening the rails and table. I didn't see any videos that discuss the upgrade and subsequent alignment.

Have fun,
mike c

If you bought the kit from SS then you got a manual with alignment instructions and jigs to align the rails. There should not be any table alignment since you don't have to loosen the table bolts on their mounts to install the 520 rails. It would be a good idea to check the table alignment after installing the 520 rails. That procedure is basically the same as the 510 table alignment.

You do need the 520 rail alignment jigs to properly install the 520 rails.

jsburger is right. There is a dvd and manual that come with the kit that should have all the instructions you need to complete the job.

friscomike wrote:Howdy folks,

Last night I finally installed a 520 upgrade kit on the 510. It was very easy to do, but I am wondering if there are any tips out there for alignment and tightening the rails and table. I didn't see any videos that discuss the upgrade and subsequent alignment.

Have fun,
mike c

I have purchased two table upgrades and have never seen a video. However, alignment, as has been said is similar to the 510. The major exception is the vertical positioning of the rails which is facilitated by the two alignment jigs.

Be meticulous and you'll probably never have to do this again.

Thanks for the responses, John, Gary, and Dusty. Indeed, I used the alignment jigs in the kit. It all looks good, but the upgrade seemed so easy that I thought I might have missed something. Today I'll set up the fence and cut some wood!
~mike c

This dvd should have all the instructions for conversion from 500 to 510 to 520 probably more complete than the manuals. Apparently it doesn't come with the upgrade kits.
https://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/ite ... tem=522546

garys wrote:This dvd should have all the instructions for conversion from 500 to 510 to 520 probably more complete than the manuals. Apparently it doesn't come with the upgrade kits.
https://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/ite ... tem=522546

I have not viewed that DVD but I cannot fathom what information could be in there that makes it worth $15. There just is not enough to that installation or the associated alignments to make it that costly.

Just one cheap, old misers opinion.

Some folks are visual and do not respond well to verbal(or written) instructions. The video is for them.

The opposite of abstract 'thinkers'. They have a different set of comprehension issues.

I think JPG hit it right on the head. Some people look at a basic mechanical device and can see how it works and how each piece functions. With that understanding, they can easily make any adjustments that might be necessary or make repairs because they make sense automatically.

Other people don't see mechanical devices as their individual parts. Instead they see it as a complete device and the inherent understanding of each part isn't there for them. A video that visually shows how to assemble and adjust said machine can be very helpful.

I am a person who cannot build anything from a pattern simply because the patterns supply dimensions only, and not how all the pieces will come together and fit together. Instead of patterns, I build my projects in my head. If I sit back and think about a project, I can see how all the parts fit and the necessary dimensions to achieve that fit. In my mind, I get the "reasons" for each cut dimension that patterns don't supply.
So, depending on how your particular brain operates, the video can be very helpful, or just get in your way.

You are right, but, I think it is a case of your education. I graduated from high school in 1965. At that time in my English class we learned how to diagram sentences on paper and construct proper sentences. Nouns, verbs, adverbs, etc.. We had an actual chemistry lab where we did experiments with real chemicals. I learned trigonometry, geometry and algebra. In my advanced physics class we were out in the hallway when everyone was in class pulling brick loaded roller skates with a big rubber band measuring acceleration between timing lights.

We had a rifle club that I belonged to and actually had a 22cal competition shooting range in the basement of the high school. All the schools in the area had the same thing and we shot in competition. Oh my, this would/IS be totally banned today.

Oh how times have changed for the worse.