Shopsmith Forums

When pulling the motor to rewire it with #12 wire, I accidently pulled BOTH wires from the switch (MV#268502, 1954 w/ upgraded 1 1/8HP motor). Therefore I know not which wire goes where on the switch. If I get it wrong and reinstall everything, the motor may possibly turn the opposite direction that it should. I can try it on the bench before installation if I knew for sure which direction the motor is supposed to turn while in situ. I'm assuming clockwise, but I know what happens when one ASSUMES Help?

If we are talking about a Mark V, the motor turns clockwise (as does the blade). I think it is the same on any of the others but I do not know for sure.

Furthermore, I don't believe any of the Mark Vs have reversible motors. If that is incorrect, I would sure like to know.

Added: Reference Post#5, this thread.

dusty wrote:If we are talking about a Mark V, the motor turns clockwise (as does the blade)...

This has always been a puzzler for me. If I am looking at my saw blade, while it is in motion, from the tailstock end of my Mark V, the blade is turning counter clockwise. If it were turning clockwise, it wood lift the wood off of the table! So, if the sawblade truly should be labeled as turning clockwise, a person must be looking at it with the headstock between him and the blade, right? I have never been sure of which way you must be looking to distinguish the proper label of clockwise or counter clockwise. If asked, I wood have said it turns counter clockwise, but again, I wood be looking at it from the tailstock end of the machine.

Now, on the other end of the headstock, the output shaft that drives the strip sander, to me, is going clockwise.

a1gutterman wrote:This has always been a puzzler for me. If I am looking at my saw blade, while it is in motion, from the tailstock end of my Mark V, the blade is turning counter clockwise. If it were turning clockwise, it wood lift the wood off of the table! So, if the sawblade truly should be labeled as turning clockwise, a person must be looking at it with the headstock between him and the blade, right? I have never been sure of which way you must be looking to distinguish the proper label of clockwise or counter clockwise. If asked, I wood have said it turns counter clockwise, but again, I wood be looking at it from the tailstock end of the machine.

Now, on the other end of the headstock, the output shaft that drives the strip sander, to me, is going clockwise.

The way it was taught to me is - looking into the end of the shaft. Now that can become very confusing if you have a motor with exposed shafts on both ends but I have not seen one of those in many, many years.

dusty wrote:The way it was taught to me is - looking into the end of the shaft. Now that can become very confusing if you have a motor with exposed shafts on both ends but I have not seen one of those in many, many years.

And that makes sense, too, Dusty. But then, doesn't the blade turn counter clockwise? You confused me when you said the blade turns clockwise! The motor output shaft faces the opposite end of the tailstock, and when it turns clockwise, it also turns the auxiliary output spindles clockwise, but when I am "looking into the end of the shaft" of the main spindle, it is going counter clockwise!

mmorris wrote:When pulling the motor to rewire it with #12 wire, I accidently pulled BOTH wires from the switch (MV#268502, 1954 w/ upgraded 1 1/8HP motor). Therefore I know not which wire goes where on the switch. If I get it wrong and reinstall everything, the motor may possibly turn the opposite direction that it should. I can try it on the bench before installation if I knew for sure which direction the motor is supposed to turn while in situ. I'm assuming clockwise, but I know what happens when one ASSUMES Help?

I am NOT an electrician but I don't believe the direction of the motor is affected by which way wire you connect BUT it may affect safety. Only one wire is live on a 120 circuit the others are return and ground. If you wire it wrong the machine will be hot even with the switch off.

a1gutterman wrote:And that makes sense, too, Dusty. But then, doesn't the blade turn counter clockwise? You confused me when you said the blade turns clockwise! The motor output shaft faces the opposite end of the tailstock, and when it turns clockwise, it also turns the auxilary output spindles clockwise, but when I am "looking into the end of the shaft" of the main spindle, it is going counter clockwise!

Yup, it is confusing. Especially when not well explained.

I should have said "looking into the end of the motor shaft".

I hope we do agree that all of the shafts do turn in the same direction.

dusty wrote:Yup, it is confusing. Especially when not well explained.

I should have said "looking into the end of the motor shaft".

I hope we do agree that all of the shafts do turn in the same direction.

Well, I am sorry to say that I do knot find your answer satisfactory, i.e., you have knot convinced me. It may be as you say, that the blade is going clockwise (CW), but for me, it is still a puzzle, as it looks like it is going counter clockwise (CCW). I agree that the motor turns CW, and that lends itself to say that the auxiliary spindles are turning CW also, but the main spindle seems to me to be turning CCW. If someone can present other evidence, I wood be happy to listen.

While standing in front of the on/off switch side of the headstock, the saw blade is mounted to the right, then the shaft/blade will be turning counter clock wise. Also, to the left side, where the SPT's attach, the shaft will be turning clock wise. Therefore, I would think that the motor shaft would have to be turning clock wise. You are right. It sure gets confusing.