Shopsmith Forums

Used my 'new' (to me) 510 in the vertical drill press mode to cut some fiber disks using a hole saw. Found the table was slipping down the way tubes as I applied pressure to the quill! Just could not lock the table so it wouldn't slip. There does not seem to be any adjustment for increasing the 'grab' on the way tubes.

I finally got things to work by putting a piece of 4x4 between the end post area and the underside of the carriage. Obviously not a permanent or good fix. Any good ideas on how I should proceed?

Bob Groh, Kansas City area

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As a word of caution, DO NOT try to resolve this problem by cranking down on either the carriage or headstock locks. If tightened too tight the way tubes can be damaged.

There is a good chance that you need to replace the wedge locks.

The slippage problem is really NOT unheard of. Browse through the following thread and you will see that you are not alone with a slipping headstock or carriage.

http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showthr ... =hydraulic

The 510 is an older machine (apparently a 1984 model 500 which was converted to a 510 later) but I have only owned it for about 6 months (bought it at an estate auction) so the past history is completely unknown.

This was the first time I had used it in the vertical drill press mode. I will look into the carriage wedge locks - if not too terribly expensive, I will just replace them.

Thanks for the help - I'll update this thread when I figure out what is going down.

Bob

bobgroh wrote:...Thanks for the help - I'll update this thread when I figure out what is going down.

Bob

Was that an intentional pun??

a1gutterman wrote:Was that an intentional pun??

No but I will take credit for it!:D

Bob,

Before you go replacing parts, have you gone through the maintenance and alignment of the machine?

There is an adjustment that may need to be made on the carriage lock. Get the manual out and go through this before changing parts. That's not to say the parts are not in need of change.....but a buck in your pocket.....

Yes, I have gone through the maintenance part (as soon as I got the 510 home from the auction). The alignment seems to be good so I have left that alone for the time being. Trying to just get some running time on it since it was an estate sale item, I was unsure on how long it had been left unused.

I have checked the manual et al and there does not seem to be any 'adjustment' for the carriage lock itself. The carriage lock on the 510/520 is a quarter turn arrangement and it would certainly seem like there should be something to set it up since you have so little rotation from 'no lock' to 'lock'.

However I think (subject to correction by others on this list) that, to get at and play around with the carriage lock, I would have to pull the carriage off the way tubes and that would involve pulling the power head off first. Ugh. And, right now, I don't want to do that. So, since the table seems to lock in place nicely for sawing, etc, I am going to leave it alone until later (maybe next spring).

Bob Groh, Kansas City area

Bob,

Just go to the other end of that carriage lock and you'll find a nut. Lock on with a 9/16 (?) and play with it. Mine comes loose from time to time. Don't get too vigorous. Try an 1/4 turn at most.

Doc

bobgroh wrote:
However I think (subject to correction by others on this list) that, to get at and play around with the carriage lock, I would have to pull the carriage off the way tubes and that would involve pulling the power head off first. Ugh. And, right now, I don't want to do that. So, since the table seems to lock in place nicely for sawing, etc, I am going to leave it alone until later (maybe next spring).

Bob Groh, Kansas City area

Pulling the headstock and carriage off the way tubes are is not really a difficult task.

You can see the wedge locks on the carriage and if they are positioned properly that is very easy to correct. I use two carriages from time to time (one on each side of the headstock) and installing the carriage is a "no problem" task.

Reinstalling the headstock can be another story. The difficulty arises if you remove the headsock without locking the headstock wedges in the open position.

There was a time when I inserted tubes in the headstock (slide the headstock off onto a special set of tubes) but I don't do that since I learned to lock the wedges open.

If you are going to have to replace the headstock wedges you have to remove the headstock anyhow so why not - go for it. You will just be that much more skilled when you are done.

Slow and Easy. Force Nothing. You'll be OKAY.

The only caution I would add is - Can you handle the weight whern it comes off the tubes. It really is not all that heavy but a bad back or something similar would signal the need to get assistance. You don't want to drop the headstock.