Shopsmith Forums

I'm putting back together the speed control mechanism of my '54 greenie and am having problems with the spring. I tried using what came with it, which was just a thin sheet metal piece bent into an S-curve. It broke and I made another one out of stainless 20 or 22ga sheet metal. I assume it's supposed to be mounted like it is shown in the attached diagram. I must say that the control turns easier without that spring. I've tried bending it a number of times to adjust it, but never to my satisfaction. At least I've got it to where it's not shaving aluminum off of the back of the dial.

Any tips or directions?

It's available from Shopsmith for the low low price of $4.95 for a little piece of steel. Might as well try out the stock part. I might have one sitting in the parts organizer I could send you, will look tomorrow.

73 504196 Spring 1 4.95

Sitting at supper thinking I may be mistaken about what this spring is supposed to do. Mine was bent upward (it was also broken), so I assumed it was supposed to ride against the back of the handle. I don't know why that would be needed though. It's probably supposed to be pressing down against the indicator? That has the play in it that would rattle during operation, as far as I can tell. .........Actually, the diagram above looks to have the answer, since the spring is called the Dial Spring, it must press down on the dial. Yep, I'm a greenhorn with a Greenie....

Part is cheap enough. Shipping is usually the deal killer for me, at least from most manufacturers. I appreciate your offer, Ed. I should be OK with my homemade spring.

That part is called an 'anti-rattle spring'. If that is an accurate description, it would be to damp vibration while running and you need very little 'springiness' for it to work.
http://www.shopsmithacademy.com/SS_Arch ... eaning.pdf


• Remove the speed dial (77), speed control, and quadrant assembly (86-96) from
the headstock. Also remove the anti-rattle spring (73) behind the speed dial

Wait... are you talking about the dial spring? You didn't mention a hole, and did mention the back of the dial so I thought you meant part 73 which is the anti-rattle spring.

Fer starters, which headstock version do you have?(A or B) The 'spring' and indicator ring are different.

If B, imo only the oem part will be satisfactory.

It's the A headstock.

Yes, I'm talking about the dial spring as labeled on the drawing in the 1st post.

I fabricated a little tab that sits under the 3-oclock position screw and extends straight out under the edge of the handle and is bent down slightly at the end to touch the dial; seems to help a bit.

If you do need to fabricate a new flat-type spring, I’ve found that a large binder clip is a great source of spring sheet steel.

Thanks Dennis. I was wondering about a source for sheet spring steel. Too bad the binder clip is not big enough to make the spring for the back of the rear cover plate. I made an access hole in my A-headstock and need to get a way to mount the cover. I can only think of making a spring like was on the covers for the B-head.

If you have an "A" headstock that spring is not there, but a wide flat spring that is attached under the switch retaining nut and extends behind the indicator ring and a button on the end rides in the groove on the back side of the indicator ring. Unless you have the complete part it is useless. However it's reason for existing is to provide a stop at above saw-joint speed that requires manual intervention to allow speed adjustment above that point. Only that interlock is missing if it is not functioning.

A pix will verify what you have.

Since you have mentioned the "dial spring" all that above is likely moot. A 54 Greenie is likely a "B" headstock.