Shopsmith Forums

I am having diffifculty re-installing the 500 table into it's carriage. The posts do not seem to be syncing when engaging the gears. I can't get the table re-installed without struggling. Any tips as to how to correct this so I can just drop the table back into the carriage? Thanks in advance - Alec

=======================]

easterngray wrote:I am having diffifculty re-installing the 500 table into it's carriage. The posts do not seem to be syncing when engaging the gears. I can't get the table re-installed without struggling. Any tips as to how to correct this so I can just drop the table back into the carriage? Thanks in advance - Alec

Alec - If you turn the table over, are the post heights identical from the face of their mating holes?

Thnaks for the feedback guys - I'll check all those issues after dinner tonight... Alec

easterngray wrote:Thnaks for the feedback guys - I'll check all those issues after dinner tonight... Alec

Add one more! Are the rack teeth facing the pinion gears?:D

Alec, The table height pinion gears are also the height locks. As stated, you might find crud jammed in the teeth but you also might find crud stopping the pinion gears from releasing completely when you are trying to reinstall the tubes. Make sure the lock lever is completely loose, (like several turns). The pinions are real easy to remove for cleaning and inspection. Just remove the table height wing lock, lever, hub, etc. and slide the shaft out of the other end. Be sure to clean and wax both the table tubes and the holes in the carriage. Sometimes I have to fuss with mine by wiggling both the table and the height lever at the same time. Good Luck, John McCrossen

Be sure to wax, wax, wax and wax...

Fellows thanks for your help. I pulled the table pinion gears out and gave them a good scrub with a wire brush - there was some impacted sawdust in there - not much - mostly at the edges of the gears. I did notice that there is somewhat considerable wear at the mating surface of the gears though. I also went over the post racks with a small three cornered file to make sure all was smooth - there were a couple very small burrs, but nothing too bad. I also measured the post lengths and found that one is about a sixteenth of an inch longer. I could find no way to alter this as the posts are pinned into the table base. Evidently they have always been like this - even when the table functioned properly.
When I reassembled the pinion gear assembly and dropped the table back in - same problem. However - when I completely remove the table height locking assembly that table slips back in pretty as you please! Evidently, for some reason, when the locking assembly is installed it is not engaging properly. When I peer down into the hole I can see that the sloped inside surface of the outside pinion gear (locking end) is intruding into the hole area, perhaps this is causing the problem. When the locking assembly is removed, there is enough room for it to push back out towards the front, and fully engage the rack. With the locking assembly in place, even when loosened all the way, it may not be. It just dawned on me that I should look up from underneath with the locking assembly on and see if that is indeed the case. Anyhow - at least I can make it work for the time being by removing the locking assembly when reinstalling the table. Thanks again fellows - Alec

easterngray wrote:It just dawned on me that I should look up from underneath with the locking assembly on and see if that is indeed the case.

if you do that and wiggle the table, make sure that you are wearing a really sturdy face shield (or, better yet, use an inspection mirror) - one of my tables has been known to go from not quite mating to falling rapidly once I got the lock loose enough and wiggled the table just right.

it would be bad:eek: to be looking up into that hole and have the post drop down and meet your unprotected eye or nose.

Ivan