Mark VII a start and a long ways to go..

[Mike]

So I'm trying to get the quill spring into housing and my hands are cut up a bit now. I looked everywhere for some instructions but only stuff I found close were comments about finding religion and another comment or two that were not very encouraging. Shopsmith doesn't sell the spring by itself and I'm guessing for a few reasons. I have no problem taking another go at it but was wondering if there was a better way? Per pick, just tightening it around and around and then try and get the housing to slip on... no luck so far.

[JPG]

Working from memory here, but IIRC I separated the spring housing from everything else and slipped the outer hook end into the slot, then gradually slipped the rest around the inside edges of the spring until it was entirely coiled inside the housing. A bit tricky getting the hook end fully into the slot to start.


Now all thee needs to worry about is getting the spring notch onto the shaft pin.

[Mike]

Thank you so much JPG! Hopefully I can do it and not get bit again. My better half keeps questioning my mental faculties every time I come bleeding into the house. I try and explain that though I’m not the sharpest tool in the box it’s the skin getting thinner that allows a scratch turn into a cut these days.

[Mike]

Used this little 10 minute tool, saved me time and prevented appendages from gittin bit
Coiled spring 1st on shaft with tool, then slid housing right on 1st try. Took it off because I put in on ass backwards, was able to put it back on slick as windshield wipers on a duck’s ass on second try.
Gorilla tape to keep a little tension on spring so it doesn’t slip off nub for install
Traced housing to get curve on tool close to what was needed.
The holes drawn on sketch were to be used to attach bar stock but it was pretty easy to use as is.
Wear gloves and eye protection because you just never know.

[Mike]

Was right the 1st time on direction of spring. Took me awhile to figure out drawing is wrong as far as my machine and that was what kept me returning numerous times to wrong direction. Anyway maybe help someone that lacks experience, like me, down the road.

[Mike]

Made some good progress today. Hoping I have everything set up right way for low and high speed. Dial works great with wavy ring under it instead of outside face. It turns easier without grinding too much on the nub stops. An incredibly fun, mechanically, machine to play with so far. Thanks again to JPG for all his documentation on his build. Without it I would have taken it to the desert and shot it and buried it.. maybe

[miken]

Nice job Mike, you're in the home stretch, keep it up.
Mike -

[Mike]

Thanks seems like it’s taking forever but I’m gettin there

[Mike]

Getting closer, it was quite the chore to get the belt on and I had dial maxed. Now my dilemma is can I turn it on high then reduce speed? I can’t turn it down right now when it’s stationary. Any thoughts greatly appreciated

[miken]

You are supposed to put the large diameter sanding disk on the spindle and use that with one hand to manually spin the spindle while turning the speed dial back down.
Mike