Shopsmith Forums

Shopsmith has introduced a new part. Do you know what it is? What do you think about the new design?

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What's it for?
BPR

That was the first question. Do you know what it is?

If I answer your question now....well, let's let it go for at least a little while.

Hint: It is a replacement part.

Dusty-

O.K. Well, looking at the left end, it looks like an extension for the quill on the headstock. But the serrations on the right appear similer to what allows the lathe rest ride up and down in the table carriage. But I'm going to go with my intuition ( which is to guess) and say it has to be a replacement for the idler shaft in the headstock. Is that even close?

BPR

Dusty - It looks like its part of the PowerPro upgrade that you are testing for SS right? RIGHT? RIGHT??!!?!!?

ryanbp01 wrote:Dusty-

O.K. Well, looking at the left end, it looks like an extension for the quill on the headstock. But the serrations on the right appear similer to what allows the lathe rest ride up and down in the table carriage. But I'm going to go with my intuition ( which is to guess) and say it has to be a replacement for the idler shaft in the headstock. Is that even close?

BPR

Well....yes, that is about as close as you could get.

It is an Idler Shaft Assembly. I originally ordered an Idler Shaft (5041789) and a small assortment of parts to be used along with the idler shaft. I called Shopsmith to follow up on the order and found that delivery was delayed because the Idler Shaft was under going a redesign. This is the result of that redesign. There are two bearings and the shaft is built so as to properly position those bearings at the edge of the Eccentric (perfect fit). Can't go wrong. My favorite kind of part.

This is the new Idler Shaft Assembly, 522741.

Recall that the old Idler Shaft could not be rebuilt because the bearing was an integral part of the shaft (the shaft was the inner race). The new part sports replaceable bearings. The bearings are 6903RS (17mm x 30mm x 7mm).

SIDE COMMENT: I am pleased to know that Shopsmith is still redesigning parts for the existing models of the Mark V. I feel this is a GOOD indicator of Shopsmith's long term intentions. I don't believe the PowerPro will have an Idler Shaft.

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riot_nrrd wrote:Dusty - It looks like its part of the PowerPro upgrade that you are testing for SS right? RIGHT? RIGHT??!!?!!?

I sure do wish that I was testing the new PowerPro but I do not have the status that would cause that to happen.

Well Dusty, Somebody with some experience should. Why not you and five or six others from this forum?
Tucson: Shopsmith's desert proving grounds!

Gene Howe wrote:Well Dusty, Somebody with some experience should. Why not you and five or six others from this forum?
Tucson: Shopsmith's desert proving grounds!

I'd go for it in a big way but Shopsmith has not called for volunteers. I suspect they already have a crew of "Shopsmith Die Hards" to chose from.

dusty wrote: . . . The bearings are 6903RS (17mm x 30mm x 7mm).

SIDE COMMENT: I am pleased to know that Shopsmith is still redesigning parts for the existing models of the Mark V. I feel this is a GOOD indicator of Shopsmith's long term intentions. I don't believe the PowerPro will have an Idler Shaft.

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I agree with the good indication re 'redesigning' parts for older machines.

I do however think the idler shaft WILL be part of the Power Pro. I think the Power Pro is likely the reason the shaft was redesigned.

The current design causes the idler shaft to run at 1.6x the main shaft speed. This allows the JOINTER&#185]. I do not have a guess re motor belt tensioning method. The current main shaft pulley is used with the current poly-v belt connecting it to the 'idler shaft'.

The idler shaft MAY be the same as the current(newly redesigned) idler shaft with a new poly-v pulley(maybe*) and a fixed pulley mounted instead of the idler/control sheave pulley.

*The differing idler shaft speed may be eliminated by making the idler shaft poly-v pulley the same size as the main shaft pulley(or changing both to the same size). This would make the speed selector/indication correct for both shafts.

Thats My 'Vision', and I am sticking to it (until further information causes me to alter it:D). That is a 'Management type' assertive statement!:rolleyes:

Typo corrected!

¹ Boo Boo corrected.