Shopsmith Forums

Hi all,

I started using my jointer recently and I've found that the fence will not stay locked at 90, even when I crank it as tight as I can. Just the force of the feather guard pushing the stock against the fence is enough to push it out of square. I am aware there are two different lock positions for the fence and its tilt.

Has anyone run into this issue and resolved it?

Since you do know that there are two positions for the lock, out to lock the fence to the table and in to lock the fence angle, I would suspect that the threaded hole in the quadrant for the internal/external threaded sleeve is stripped out or on its way to being stripped out. Overtightening the locks is the common reason for the threads to get stripped out of the alloy casting of the quadrant. Disassemble the fence mounting and remove the threaded sleeve from the quadrant and check the threads in the quadrant. The quadrant for the Jointer is one of the 17 most common service parts sold and this is why. The Jointer Quadrant Assembly includes reference numbers 42-44 from the parts diagram online and is part number 502651. The quadrant has been the same since the introduction of the Model 4E Jointer in the early 1950's.

there should be a small pin about 1/4" long by about 1/8' in diameter in the quadrant on the fence. If the pin is missing then the fence will not lock properly.
Bill V

The pin (Dowel Pin ref. # 46) Bill is referring to is part of the locking assembly for the fence to the table but not the fence angle. That dowel pin goes inside the internal/external threaded sleeve attached to the quadrant and is compressed by the Hex Head Screw (ref. # 50) to lock the fence in position. The angle is locked by the special nut called the Guide Bushing (ref. # 48) holding the fence between it plus a washer and the quadrant. See items 42 to 50 in the parts diagram at the link below for more on the locks for the Jointer.

https://www.shopsmith.com/service/joint ... iagram.htm

Sounds like we have a likely culprit with that quadrant. I will disassemble and take a look. Thanks!