Shopsmith Forums

Ok, so i took my SS apart to do the recominded cleaning and maintenance, following the hands on video to the letter, because i got it used and have no idea when it was last done, if ever, much to my delight it was very clean inside and looked like it was well treated.

But while i was working on it the quill feed lever released and all of the tension on the spring was released, so i followed the hands on video for adjusting the spring tension and put it all back together.

And now the quill spring will not retract the quill at all, if you move the lever by hand it still slides in and out, although it does feel like there is a little resistance, and when i retensioned the spring it felt like it has some power to it.

Here is what i have tried to fix this, based on searching around.
I have compleatly removed the allen screw at the top of the SS so that i can watch the grove in the quill, this didnt help, even without that screw in place it wouldnt retract, and no locks are engaged, i have compleatly removed the quill feed and cleaned it and put it back in, didnt help, i have polished buffed, sanded, and even went so far as to make a scoth bright buffing pad for my dremel for the opening that the quill goes into the headstock, and even all of that didnt do anything.

Have i missed something, or is my spring just dead?

If I understand, you say that the quill does not retract even though it seems to move smoothly in and out when moved by hand. You also indicate that you have tensioned the quill spring. While doing that, do you feel the spring getting tensioned (does the quill handle attempt to spring back)? When the quill is properly tensioned, that spring back can be a real knuckle buster so you should be able to feel it tensioning.

Have you read the Quill Maintenance Page referenced in the Saw Dust Session and watched the session?

http://www.shopsmithacademy.com/SS_Arch ... enance.htm

I'm guessing but I suspect you might have either a broken quill spring or the spring has managed to disconnect.

The last reference (below) shows the quill disassembled so that you can see the spring. This may help you envision what you are dealing with.

http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showthr ... ill+spring

http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showthr ... ill+spring

http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showthr ... ill+spring

http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showthr ... ill+spring

From Dusty's links above, http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showpos ... ostcount=2

Do read them all! They are informative(even if a bit tardy).

GO CATS!

http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/attachm ... 1201041039
This illustrates the innards.