Shopsmith Forums

Mike's restoration thread helped me realize that I have a sticker on my headstock (just left of the power toggle) that says absolutely nothing.

Can anyone tell me what this sticker once looked like? It's a 1982.

Chad, I just went out to see if I could read the sticker on mine - found the same thing: absolutely nothing.

beeg wrote:It's a caution label, telling ya to NOT turn the speed dial unless the motor is running, refer to page 2. I can just read mine on my 500 from 1980.

Thanks, Bob!
Does it match exactly either of the two stickers in this attachment?

beeg wrote:It's a caution label, telling ya to NOT turn the speed dial unless the motor is running, refer to page 2. I can just read mine on my 500 from 1980.

Beeg - If you were a bettin' man, you think yours is/was identical to one of the versions Tom K created in this post? Check out the pfd.

nebraska wrote:Thanks, Bob!
Does it match exactly either of the two stickers in this attachment?

It matchs the one on the right.

Thanks Bob!

Given the fact that restoration on my '82 has required replacement of only one part - the speed control assembly - I think the warning sticker should have a warning sticker of its own:

Warning, the above warning sticker is very important and will self destruct!

Oh! The quadrant teeth do wear, even with appropriate machine maintenance (cleaning and oiling) and lubrication on the teeth and worm gear. I noticed some tooth wear on the pork chop when recently doing a repair. Believe - everything has been perfectly aligned ever since replacing the unit several years ago. (5 or 6).

With a decade or so of constant use, one could expect to replace the speed control quadrant.

charlese wrote:Oh! The quadrant teeth do wear, even with appropriate machine maintenance (cleaning and oiling) and lubrication on the teeth and worm gear. I noticed some tooth wear on the pork chop when recently doing a repair. Believe - everything has been perfectly aligned ever since replacing the unit several years ago. (5 or 6).

With a decade or so of constant use, one could expect to replace the speed control quadrant.

Yes, the quadrant in the stock Speed Control Assembly will need replacing over time. I find about 50% of the headstocks I rebuild need the quadrant replaced. I have spent a lot of time trying various fixes/modifications/solutions for this problem. I ask customers how quickly they turn the Speed Control Handle from FAST to SLOW. Most customers turn the handle too fast which causes the Speed Control leg to deform/bend allowing the worn gear to operate on the side of quadrant teeth slowly destroying the teeth. Only going from FAST to SLOW at about 1/4th the speed of going from SLOW to FAST really helps. You are squeezing the motor belt forcing the motor sheaves apart against the motor spring when going from FAST to SLOW.

This problem results from the quadrant slowly bending the Speed Control bracket leg which causes the quadrant roll pin wears the holes bigger in the legs of the speed control bracket. This causes the quadrant to tilt and is no longer centered on the control sheave bearing button. This causes the side of the quadrant teeth to wear quickly as they are no longer centered on the steel worm control gear of the Speed Control Assy. If you are changing the speed quite often, then the teeth on the new quadrant will again wear more on one side than the other side slowly destroying the teeth and make changing speed quite hard or impossible again. Of course, I developed a better solution for this problem a few years ago.

Since the quadrant roll pin wears the holes and the leg bends which causes the quadrant teeth to wear only on the teeth edges, it may jam or make changing the speed quite hard. I have converted all the Speed Control Assemblies I use to a #10 X 2 ½” hex head bolt, 2 star washers, safety lock nut and LocTite to replace the quadrant roll pin. I used a center punch to close up the leg holes so the wear is now only between the bolt and quadrant, not the legs. I straighten the speed control bracket legs, using caution not to break the legs, so the worm gear rides in the center of the quadrant teeth. I have been using these modified Speed Control Assemblies for several years for myself and customers with no new problems and the quadrant teeth look new each time I lubricate my headstocks. Headstocks with a small speed control assembly hole will need a small slot filed for the hex bolt head to clear when installing. I have more pictures and a more lengthy explanation for anyone who would like it. Email me at my home so I can include pictures.

Per my request, the following post has been made! Hope it is helpful!
https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=3496

THANK YOU MARK!