way tubes

[Haverstrawman]

I recently moved and bought a used Mark V (1984 version) and took it apart to move it. My question is are the way tubes and the bed tubes different Lenths. I am trying not to take it apart again to find out. My end of the mark that the band saw goes on has a nasty tilt to it and the wheels on both ends barely touch the ground at the highest off the ground position. All tubes are fully seated.

[edma194]

Bench tubes are 3/4" longer than way tubes. Sounds like you'll have to take it apart to check.

[Haverstrawman]

Shop smith does not give the specs for wither tubs

[Haverstrawman]

Yep Had the longer ones on top...................in process of putting it back together

[JPG]

I did not realize the tube lengths were "proprietary"!

FWIW Way 52" - Bench 52 3/4.

However, does the double tilt alter that?

[edma194]

However, does the double tilt alter that?

No change for double tilt, but if you upgrade the way tubes are short and leave some space at either end.

Don't know if a factory built double tilt machine uses 4 equal length tubes.

[DLB]

No change for double tilt, but if you upgrade the way tubes are short and leave some space at either end.

This has always bothered me. When I made a DT Shorty, similar now to what SS briefly called a Mark 4P, I cut the tubes to fit. They fully seat in both Base Arms. But my Mark 7, built from a 520 using OEM upgrades, has the non-seated way tubes. I don't have much confidence in those setscrews in the Base Arms preventing the way tubes from migrating, or worse, towards the seated position as the machine goes from horizontal to a vertical position. Cutting the bench tubes or adding way tube spacers seem like better options than hoping all of that weight doesn't overcome the setscrews.

- David

[HopefulSSer]

I think I'd be inclined to trim off enough to eliminate the gap

[edma194]

No change for double tilt, but if you upgrade the way tubes are short and leave some space at either end.

This has always bothered me. When I made a DT Shorty, similar now to what SS briefly called a Mark 4P, I cut the tubes to fit. They fully seat in both Base Arms. But my Mark 7, built from a 520 using OEM upgrades, has the non-seated way tubes. I don't have much confidence in those setscrews in the Base Arms preventing the way tubes from migrating, or worse, towards the seated position as the machine goes from horizontal to a vertical position. Cutting the bench tubes or adding way tube spacers seem like better options than hoping all of that weight doesn't overcome the setscrews.

- David

Agreed. Upgrade kits should come with spacers for the way tubes. They could take a tube and cut 100 spacers from it.

For new machines, I don't know why they'd make any without the double tilt feature. Bench tubes should be the right length to use for way tubes in the double tilt. Unless they have a pile of old single tilt base castings sitting around they'd reduce the number of different parts in a machine by using only 1 type of base casting and 1 type of tube.

ETA: Also would only use one type of table leg with the rack on both sides.

[chapmanruss]

Ed,

I believe the new Mark V 520S does come with Double Tilt ends although one picture still shows the single tilt bench. The same is shown for the Mark 4 in the online catalog.