Shopsmith Forums

I recently purchased (from a forum member) and installed a used speed control, which appears to be in good condition. While I had the motor out, I cleaned and lubed everything, drilled access holes on headstock (54 greenie) and oil holes on shafts as recommended by forum members; then reassembled. The speed control works very smoothly, but doesn't go all the way to fast speed; only about 3/4 of the way, although it does go all the way to slow. The old speed dial did work throughout its range, it was just harder to move and its teeth were getting worn.
But now, once it gets up to it's top speed, it then starts slowing down again without the dial noticeably turning. I'm also getting lower belt wear that I didn't have before. Suggestions?

Thanks Rob.
Even when the tab is depressed, the control will go no higher than the "saw" speed. Before I replaced the speed control, I watched the video session pertaining to this and observed the spring (anti-rattle?) I think you're talking about. On my Greenie, I saw no slots in the upper area under the speed dial where a spring could be attached.

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SDSSmith wrote:On the early machines the speed control had a lockout that had to be depressed to get to the top end. The lock was a silver tab mounted under the toggle switch and under the speed control dial. The tab had a pin that rode in the groove of the outer speed indicator ring. By depressing the tab and turning the speed control dial you could reach top speed. As far as the speed drifting. Did you install the dial spring? If the dial spring is missing the speed can drift.

There is no dial spring on the early machines. The silver tab mounted under the toggle switch is the dial spring. Sounds like the high speed adjustment on the Speed Control bracket needs to be done to get the full operating range. I never had the speed slow down once the speed control dial was set to a specific letter.

If a new Shopsmith motor drive V-belt was used, you need to check if the V-belt is not getting too close the vane tip ends. Normally if the V-belt is about 1/8" from the outside of the sheave edges in the SLOW or FAST position, the V-belt will be the on the vanes in the other set of sheaves and is OK.

Now, if you are using a non-shopsmith V-belt, this check is very critical as the narrower and sometimes shorter V-belt will try to slip below the Sheaves vane tips and try to hang the motor or cause it to vary its speed as it tries to jam below the vane tips. This will cause excessive belt wear in a short period of time. It should be quite noisy when the V-belt is doing this and go away when the speed control is moved a few letters from SLOW or FAST.

Does the motor slow down at any speed control dial setting after operatng for a while? Slide the belt housing off the housing and watch the action of the Sheaves and the V-belt. Are the sheaves sliding in an even increments when changing speed or the motor slows down? How smooth is the V-belt looking? New Shopsmith V-belts may need a few hours of operation to settle down and get broken in (flexible). I use belt conditioner on all belts to help reduce this problem.

I did install the dial spring on the switch.
I adjusted the new (used) speed control to increase the high end speed, until the quadrant hit the sheeve, and then backed it off a bit.
I used my old v belt which measured 1/2" wide, but is now being slowly shaved down; I can smell it and there are shavings in belt cover.

The dial spring is a different beast from what you and Bill are talking about. It is item83 (part number 504228) in the following diagram: http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/partscat/headstockassemblyexpview.htm

However, that would not help with the other problems that you describe.

[quote="mmorris"]I did install the dial spring on the switch.
I adjusted the new (used) speed control to increase the high end speed, until the quadrant hit the sheeve, and then backed it off a bit.
I used my old v belt which measured 1/2" wide, but is now being slowly shaved down]

I would recheck that the Floating Sheave on the motor still slides and has quite a bit of spring pressure when pulled toward you. If the floating sheave is somewhat sticking or the spring is weak, it will shaved the belt from the slipage. Watching the action of the belt should give some clue as it should be smooth, not jerky and where does the V-belt ride in the idler and motor Sheaves at SLOW and FAST positions. With the motor off and the Speed Control Dial set to FAST, slowly turn the quill with the disk sander or lathe face plate. Do you hear any noise or feel any resistance or jerky response. Try at the SLOW position and see what you feel as you slowly turn the quill. I find that using my seeing, hearing and feeling will almost always tell me what is wrong with any Shopsmith equipment.

[quote="mmorris"]I did install the dial spring on the switch.
I adjusted the new (used) speed control to increase the high end speed, until the quadrant hit the sheeve, and then backed it off a bit.
I used my old v belt which measured 1/2" wide, but is now being slowly shaved down]

When you drilled the holes in the control and floating sheave hubs, did you remove any burrs from the shaft hole? When you reassembled the sheaves to the shaft, did the sheaves slide smoothly? When you attached the fan sheave to the motor shaft, did it get positioned properly?

Is the outer ring installed in the correct position? When sc is at high speed position(Quadrant against high speed stop screw) is the outer dial indicating 'fast')?

Does the 'dial spring' press against the outer ring?

Is the sc crank turning as it decreases speed(automatically)?

Sorry for all the 'questions', but the answers provide 'clues' to a 'solution'.