Shopsmith Forums

joneill4 wrote: ↑Fri May 26, 2023 2:51 pm Thanks Russ! Do you happen to know the length and diameter of the exposed part of the motor shaft? I am still leaning towards buying a used headstock, but I may be able to work with what I have.

There may be some variation among brands and how the spring is retained, but shaft is in the 4" neighborhood measured from the outside face of the exhaust air duct shown in Russ' pictures. Shaft is 5/8" and has a long keyway. It looks like you don't have a motor pan, and sounds like you'd also need a spring and the retaining hardware. That 'auction web site' often has motors complete with sheaves, motor pan, often a power switch and cord. I looked earlier and saw only 1-1/8 HP, which is an upgrade but pricier than 3/4 HP. Complete headstock is a good idea if you find one, the poly-V system is quieter and you can find one with a two-bearing quill if you want that. I've noticed shipping varies a lot on complete headstocks.

- David

Thanks David. I'm not trying to split hairs, but I want to make sure we are on the same page. What do you mean by "keyway"? Do you mean that a Shopsmith motor shaft has a slot that accepts either a key that is shared with the sheaves or a built-in key in the sheaves? Mine has a long flat, so I don't think I can make the current motor work.

You need to get a complete ss motor with pulley etc. This assumes you have the motor pan(cover).

Your motor is NOT from SS.

joneill4 wrote: ↑Fri May 26, 2023 7:53 pm Thanks David. I'm not trying to split hairs, but I want to make sure we are on the same page. What do you mean by "keyway"? Do you mean that a Shopsmith motor shaft has a slot that accepts either a key that is shared with the sheaves or a built-in key in the sheaves? Mine has a long flat, so I don't think I can make the current motor work.

It has a keyway that accepts a long key that is then shared with the sheaves. It is long because the 'floating sheave' moves in and out on the shaft with the spring compressing or expanding in response to speed changes. The two pairs of sheaves, Idler and Motor, function together as variable diameter sheaves to provide the variable speed function. I agree, your current motor won't support the variable speed functionality. Mark 5/V headstock motors are unique, this is one of a few custom features.

Here is a sample: https://www.ebay.com/itm/266256828555?h ... R-6I3LKLYg

This appears to have everything you are missing. If you zoom in on the second picture you can see the keyway (and key). It's a bit pricey but not ridiculous as it includes shipping, there are not a lot of complete motors right now that include pan, sheaves, spring, and hardware. Not an endorsement, or recommendation.

- David

Looks like a good solution to me!

In addition to ebay, you might also look at Craigslist. And, when checking, also search for "Shop Smith" (spelled as 2 words) for possibly more results. You will also get results for anything with the word "Shop", but worth the effort. Here is one example of what I found by doing so by checking the Baltimore and nearby areas. Have no knowledge if this is in anyway a good deal or have any association or interest in the matter. Just sharing what another forum member (thunderbirdbat) has advised in the past about doing online searches.

https://richmond.craigslist.org/tls/d/h ... 02373.html

Following David's suggestion, you would get a good Motor with the Motor Pan but nothing else. It is from a seller I have purchased from and trust.

My concern is will you need other parts to complete your Headstock. This would be a good time to evaluate the parts, especially the bearings, of your current Headstock. There are bearings in the Idler Assembly, Drive Sleeve Assembly and Quill. Do the bearings all turn freely and smooth? Another concern is had there been any modifications made to the Headstock casting to mount the non-Shopsmith motor that the picture doesn't show. Do you have the Belt Cover for your Headstock? Some of these issues could be corrected with a complete working Headstock. Complete Conventional Headstocks come up for sale regularly, often from those buying a PowerPro Headstock upgrade.

The other option may be to find a good deal on a complete Mark V in your area. If you are patient, you may find one for a very reasonable price that runs well (and even better after some maintenance - oiling) and is fairly complete.

br549 suggested

In addition to ebay, you might also look at Craigslist. And, when checking, also search for "Shop Smith" (spelled as 2 words) for possibly more results.

If you put Shop and Smith in quotation marks as "shop smith" you will get only listings that contain both words. Without the quotation marks you will get all listings that have either shop or smith in them.

Thanks to all who posted. I found a complete running Goldie headstock for about $50 more than the motor that DLB linked to. It has the 1.125hp motor, but it was made before the 2 bearing quill. My plan is to move the best parts into my Greenie headstock. Other than a fair amount of work, anything wrong with my plan?

joneill4 wrote: ↑Sun May 28, 2023 5:56 pm Thanks to all who posted. I found a complete running Goldie headstock for about $50 more than the motor that DLB linked to. It has the 1.125hp motor, but it was made before the 2 bearing quill. My plan is to move the best parts into my Greenie headstock. Other than a fair amount of work, anything wrong with my plan?

I don't see anything wrong with your plan. A few thoughts:
Does the back of your Greenie headstock have a removable nameplate with an access hole behind it? If not, it is an "A" headstock. If it is an "A" I'd consider using the "B" from the Goldie.
The Goldie is almost certainly Poly-V rather than Gilmer upper belt. Quite a few parts are not compatible between them. Quill, Drive Sleeve, Drive and Ring, upper belt and one of the Idler sheaves. (Off the top of my head.)
If you use the Poly-V (recommended) carefully inspect and/or replace the Drive and Ring while it is apart. It is plastic, quality but subject to wear, especially with single bearing quills. While it is apart is a good time to put a new one in. Use only new OEM for this.
Check all bearings and replace as needed while it is apart. Even your new one is ~60 years old.
IIWM I'd clean the sawdust out of the motor while it is apart if you have access to a compressor. Others don't recommend moving the junk around if the motor is working, which I understand. A Mark 5/V motor tends to accumulate a lot of sawdust etc.

Other users may want to add to this.

- David

Ooh, game changer! I have always assumed that the name plate would just pop off. Nope, it is a bolt-on emblem with no access hole.