Shopsmith Forums

I waited many years to upgrade the rail assembly and fence on my Mark 510. Purchased the system in 1986 (Serial number 004262). So I recently purchased the MARK V 510 to MARK 7 Pro Fence Upgrade (555982) and attempted the installation this weekend.

On both the front and rear rail assemblies, the middle hole does not align with the main table holes. Certainly, I am not the first to experience this.

Could someone please explain?

I recently did this upgrade on mine and everything aligned properly. There is an early version and later version of the 510 (I think the changeover year was 1986). Are you certain you have the right kit for your 510?

Do you have a photo of it before you started the upgrade, or at least a photo of the 510 rails/tubes?

I have a 520 table that someone, either the PO or Shopsmith, evidently machined the rails with both hole patterns. It's mounted to a new style table. Measuring the front rail from the left edge, the unused (old style?) hole is 8-25/32" from the edge while the new style hole is at 9-23/32". You can use these measurements to determine if perhaps your 1986 Model 510 has what SS now calls a pre-1986 table.

The pre-1986 version of the upgrade is PN 555983. Shopsmith could do a better job of communicating to their customers how to differentiate between these kits. I'm fairly skeptical that there was a clean break in of a new main table based on year of manufacture.

- David

jeffreygoddard,

Welcome to the Shopsmith Forum.

Mark V 510 serial number 004262 was made in August 1986 according to the serial number list.

To help determine which 520/Mark 7 upgrade kit to use depends on which Mark V 510 Fence Rail version you have as already explained. The first version as seen in the picture below of a Floating Table had holes through the front of the Fence Rail Tubes for access when attaching them to the tables. The Main Table would have an additional large and small hole. The smaller holes align with the Connector Tube Locks.

_ .
Later Mark V 510 Fence Rail Tubes no longer had the holes but instead had threaded studs permanently attached to the back side of the rail tubes for mounting. A Mark V 510 with the later Fence Rail Tubes is below.

_ .
Having holes or not is the way to determine at a glance which version, early or later, Mark V 510/505 Fence Rail System you have.

I have not owned an early version of the Mark V 510 Tables so I cannot tell you actual difference, spacing or otherwise, in mounting the Fence Rail Tubes.

Note the shiny rectangular shaped areas(4) on the front edge of the table. The two in the center indicate the old/new locations for the center bolt/stud. A major difference is the old version has tapped holes whereas the newer version has smooth holes.


So what do you have(table/520 rails).

Thanks all for the replies. If indeed my system (S/N 004262) was manufactured in August 1986, SS used the old style round tubes that did NOT have the studs. The holes in the main and extension tables are threaded.
I am still trying to get SS Customer Support to help resolve this issue. All I am asking them to do is simply ship the correct individual front and rear main table rails with holes that will align with my original main table.
When I placed the order via phone this past May, I provided the serial number. Thus, I expect SS to make this right.

You got the wrong version from the mother ship!?

An alternative is to drill holes in the rails.

I'm with the OP on this, SS should make this right. He bought the machine new and would know if anyone had ever swapped out his '86 main table for a pre-'86 main table. The logical explanation is that Shopsmith sold the machine as it is now configured. What resolution, if any, are they offering?

Drilling an extra mounting hole in each rail is a viable alternative, as I mentioned I have a rail set configured that way. IIRC the rail hole is countersunk or counterbored and if the old style table is threaded holes it will require considerable precision. You could drill out the threaded hole in the table a bit oversized and use nuts and washers like the newer tables, relaxing the accuracy requirement a little bit.

- David

I took a second look at the OP picture and noticed his does NOT have the two center hole bosses. Mine is similar.

To me there is no question that SS should simply swap out the rails since he in good faith provided SS with his SN.

Problem was caused by the sales staff not determining from the SN which version he needed. Orrrrr He did not know himself(a reasonable condition) and was specifying the wrong PN.


Regardless SS needs to be co-operative and fix this. JMHO

Dimensions and pictures would sure be helpful for me. I have and two different vintage 510 tables and I do not see the issue stated in this thread.