Shopsmith Forums

Casters, final answer. Comments good, bad or indifferent always welcomed and appreciated.

Hi Mike, you already know my position, I would try to make the wheels fit rather than modify the frame, but with that said, I think your approach will work. Just be sure that when the wheel is in its lowest position it can completely spin around 360 degrees without hitting the inside of the shoe or else cutting will be for nothing. You never know what position/direction the wheel will be in when you lower the machine and you dont want it to bind or get jammed up and not lower completely.

Mike

I appreciate all your input Mike and it has made me think this through more than a few times. I’m still not 100% and of course I have measured twice many times. The only issues are the lips on each side and the front of shoe. I want to make the shoe fit the casters not the casters fit the shoe. This way in the future it’s an easy fix to just replace the casters. Still thinking about it so cleaning parts for now, have plenty to do.:-) thanks again

Just an update with some pics- shoe modification complete, it goes up and down (still need to install final resting feet) She goes up and down and rolls all around very smoothly and better than the other (4) SS I have.
Have some mock-ups for butcher block inside vacuum box and at each end. Will also have pieces under brackets that rod trunnion. This will help my back down the road. I end up pushing the centerline of the seat for the rod trunnion over towards outside about 1/16” each end. I’m not sure if there is enough play to accomplish what I want to do but thought I would put it out there for comment.
Thanks

Nice work Mike, steady progress. FYI, if you just slightly bevel the top of the board under the brackets to have slight inward slope it will rotate the bracket and pull the center of the bracket holes in the 1/16" you're looking for. You actually may be able to achieve this by adjusting how tight the bolt is and slightly deforming/compressing the wood under the bracket.

Mike -

To say nothing about the sheet metal flexing.

Thanks Mike and JPG, I’ll do a 2 sided mock-up 2 verify how much play if any. Nothing set in stone but I like the concept. The Mark VII has so much storage potential and the overall design, other than the vacuum, is spectacular. Starting to really like this machine.

Very timely thread for me
Very nice restoration so far
I recently acquired a mkvii (60’s version) in about the same condition as yours
Price was right ($0) and I figured it would be a “parts” machine for my other ‘67 mkvii
Came with 2 extra switches but nothing was working when I got it
After a few days of messing around the motor started running after I bypassed the switch with jumper’s
The “extra” switches show signs of trying to be taken apart
The one that is currently connected to the motor also has problems

Both the bases on these machines (around the caster area) look different from the pictures you have posted

Anyway, long story short, I can maybe help out with some parts. I’m not too far. I live in Santa Maria, Ca

Some M VII have a one piece foot on each end.

Hi Bigk01- I was in Santa Maria today at the south Vallarta market and looking at cars. Not sure what parts you have but would be interested in some I’m sure. I’ll send you a PM