Shopsmith Forums

Facing the machine, on the right hand side I have the handles rotating counter-clockwise to lock, or widdershins as someone's grandfather used to say. On the left hand side they rotate clockwise to lock.

I just find it easier to grip the handle from underneath and pull upwards to lock it. Very little wrist strength is needed, I can put the rest of my body into the lift if needed. On the left hand side I have to turn my hand (and a lot of my body) backwards to do it, but it still works well for me.

How do you guys do it? Do you use opposite rotational directions like I do? Or do you use the same rotation for both sides, like always clockwise to lock for instance? Or like I did for a short time after getting my first Shopsmith, a random surprise each time you lock or unlock it?

To be honest I never paid any attention , to have them both rotating the same direction seems logical .

On both my Mark tools they lock turning clockwise. I believe it is the same way I put them on the Mark 5/V's I have restored and resold too.
On my Mark 2 it is clockwise since the lock levers have standard threads and the same for the set screws on the SPT Adapter Kit for my Model 10's.
It's that righty tighty, lefty loosey thing.

I use outboard side up to tighten, so the two ends are opposite. Same as Ed, IIUC.

- David

I drew an arrow and the word "lock" with a Sharpie by the handles.

I've set up mine to lock rotating over the top toward the center of the machine, so CW on the left and CCW on the right, same as Ed. Easier for me to remember which way to turn the handles so I can avoid the frustration of inadvertantly running them out of the slots while trying to tighten.

I turn until it falls out on the floor, then put it back in and try the other way ...

b

Matanuska wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 5:47 pm I've set up mine to lock rotating over the top toward the center of the machine, so CW on the left and CCW on the right, same as Ed. Easier for me to remember which way to turn the handles so I can avoid the frustration of inadvertantly running them out of the slots while trying to tighten.

Same here.

chapmanruss wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 1:59 pm On both my Mark tools they lock turning clockwise. I believe it is the same way I put them on the Mark 5/V's I have restored and resold too.
On my Mark 2 it is clockwise since the lock levers have standard threads and the same for the set screws on the SPT Adapter Kit for my Model 10's.
It's that righty tighty, lefty loosey thing.

Yep, like this...
You have to remember I have spent all of my life on farms. Many of those years we kept dairy cattle, beef cattle, hogs, sheep, chickens, geese, Border collies, rabbits and other things I'm sure I've forgotten (today I just keep horses). Now those critters required a half zillion gates, herding panels etc. most of them were wired in place using heavy baling wire. Livestock farming is typically a 24 hour thing and you seldom have good lighting. On this farm "Righty tighty, Lefty loosey" Was / is religon... If the cows are out on the road and its dark and stormy and the flashlight (if you had one) has sunken out of sight in 10" of mud and poop you don't want to be guessing which way to twist the wires to open or fasten a gate. "ALWAYS" left to loosen, Always right to fasten... Always...




.

Over the top.

Opposite ends, opposite rotation.

Makes sense. Right hand used on the right end, left hand used on the left end.

Works the same way from the back side.


More important is the proper adjustment of the screws in the clamp.