New member with old questions

[zendersmith]

Hey all,
As with most new members i've had a breakdown on my Mark V 500, maybe an '84. I've had mine for maybe 8 years, which was given to me from my pops (he never used it, it was aquired from a church donation) and not until recently i've seriously started to use it. Luckily i have all the manuals, instuctions, course studies and a few other mags that came with it. I has the usual five plus the jointer/planer, the jigsaw, bowl ring thingy and a few boxes of attachments and bits. I've read through the manual with its check ups and maintenance and skimmed through some other stuff. Gotta say i love this thing.

Anyways, i've had a failure with the bearing in the idler shaft or maybe the control sheave, not totally sure until i get it apart, which i will do tonight but it the bearing closest to the retaining loop/ring. I was using the jointer when i heard a sudden loud grinding noise so i quickly shut it down, popped off the nameplate and saw it smoking towards the speed adjuster assembly. Since i haven't opened here up yet not quite sure what i'll need but it's starting to like like the control sheeve. I've read JPG's thread on the idler assembly but was giving ya'll a heads up in hoping to get some insight and input of collateral damage and parts i may need.

Thanks in advance.

[joedw00]

I can't up you, but let me welcome you to the forum. I am sure someone can give you some advise. Please update your profile so we will know where you come from.

[wa2crk]

Zendersmith;
The only thing that can smoke is the bearing on the end of the control sheave.
This is my opinion of course. The lubrication that is required is to enable the sheave to slide along the shaft, so it seems that you will need a replacement control sheave. Contact Bill Mayo through this forum as he has a lot spare parts that he has accumulated through the years
Bill V

[zendersmith]

wa,
thanks for the reply, i seem to see billv's name alot, is he the SS guru 'round these parts . I haven't had a chance to get into the Mark V as of yet, i've come down with a cold but will today so i can get her runnin'. Wasn't sure if the bearing was part of the odler shaft or the control sheeve, hard to tell in the exploded parts page in the manual but thanks for the clarification. I'll probably get a drive belt as well because it has started to fray a bit on the edges and looks mighty dry as well.

The manual says to use a 10lb. weight lubrication, any suggestions for a particular brand, preferably at a local HD or auto parts store.

Edit, got my names crossed, sorry billv, i meant bill mayo

[billmayo]

[quote="zendersmith"]wa,
thanks for the reply, i seem to see billv's name alot, is he the SS guru 'round these parts ]

Thanks for the reference. I recommend "Zoom Spout Turbine Oil" at http://www.zoomspoutoiler.com/ since I found out that the Shopsmith factory uses this oil for their lubrication when I visit them for the Owner's Weekend in July 2008. I have found that you need at least 6-8 drops of oil for the Control Sheave lubrication with the Speed Control Dial set to FAST when doing this and 4-6 drops of oil for the Motor Floating Sheave. I drop a couple drops on the exposed key on the motor shaft too. I also recommend buying a can of "Belt Conditioner" from an auto parts shop and spray the insides of both belts at this time. This prevents the belts from drying out and seems to give longer wear for the belts. This should be done a few times a year if you are using the Shopsmith often.

Yes, the lack of lubrication of the control sheave will cause the bearing in the end of the Control Sheave to fail. Often this will damage the Speed Control quadrant to where it needs replacing. You will need to remove the Speed Control Assembly and remove the motor pan to replace the Control Sheave.

I recommend viewing the Sawdust Sessions Video Index at
http://www.shopsmithacademy.com/Sawdust_Sessions.htm
sessions 21 to 24 Shopsmith Reborn
to see how to disassemble and reassemble the headstock.

I recommend buying your belts from Shopsmith as they are unique width and length. If the Control Sheave is not available (back ordered) from Shopsmith, contact me off-line for a solution. Thanks.

[zendersmith]

So i've seen names like "goldie" and "greenie" but nothing yet for the gray series. so i'll give a plug of "graybeard". I got ol' graybeard apart and with the guidance of the sawdust sessions and my manual and some insight from you...thanks.




Here's a pic of the culprit, the bearing in the control sheeve failed, so that goes on line 1 of my parts list. Sorry for the blurry pic but this is a new hand-me-down camera, bigger, more bells and whistles, but still trying to get a handle on it.




Here's a pic of the speed adjuster (porkchop?). I remember from the sawdust sessions nick said he replaced this because of the indentions....is this really needed or can i get away with not replacing it and also why does it matter.

[zendersmith]

Both my belts need to be replaced

[zendersmith]

As i took out the drive shaft i had the uncontrollable urge to loosen the set-screw and now can't remember if the two bearings were this far apart on the shaft. Anybody got some thoughts on this?







One last question, i need to clean around the bearings but don't want to ruin them, any suggestions on the way to clean these babies.


Bill Mayo, thanks a bunch for the reply and i will probably pm you for the obvious. I'll get the belts from SS but the Zoomsprout has a minimum order of $15, is there anything else they may have that i can get from them because i really don't think i need that much.

Thanks all again!

[billmayo]

You should be able to find the Zoom Spout Turbine Oil at Ace Hardware or some of the big box stores. The quadrant needs replacing. I use a dry cloth rag to clean around and the shields on the bearings. I would not use compressd air as it may imbed/force the dirt into the bearing. Any rough feeling/sounding and/or free spinning bearing when rotated/spun should be replaced. I replace any bearing spinning for more then 2 sec when spun hard by hand.

[zendersmith]

I have a large Ace hardware in town i'll check out today. The bearings in the drive shaft still appear to be in fair condition.

Thanks for the reply!