Shopsmith Forums

My speed adjustment is getting harder and harder to turn and I don't think the rpm is what the indicator says it is.
Any suggestions?

tecarman wrote:My speed adjustment is getting harder and harder to turn and I don't think the rpm is what the indicator says it is.
Any suggestions?

When was the last time you lubricated the sheaves?????

JPG40504 wrote:When was the last time you lubricated the sheaves?????

And lubed the porkchop?

Welcome to the forum, Tom. Like the others, I hope your problem can be solved with lubrication. Here's a link to the "Sawdust sessions" You should watch the video in Session #11 about cleaning and lubricating. http://www.shopsmithacademy.com/Sawdust_Sessions.htm

If that doesn't solve your situation, you need to look at the sessions dealing a bit deeper into maintenance /rebuilding. Not that you will necessarily need replacement parts, but that may be!

By the way - What part of the World do you call home? You can re-visit your User CP and put in a location. You might have a nearby Shopsmither that can help/

It's been quite awhile since I've lubricated the sheaves, in fact so long I've forgotten how. I appreciate the information and I will re refresh my memory with the procedures. I did take a look yesterday at the belt tension. The V belt was loose and I was able to tighten that. The drive belt seemed loose to me as well but I couldn't find out how to tighten that. Both belts were a little frayed so I probably should replace both of them.

Thanks again for the reply's.

tecarman wrote:It's been quite awhile since I've lubricated the sheaves, in fact so long I've forgotten how. I appreciate the information and I will re refresh my memory with the procedures. I did take a look yesterday at the belt tension. The V belt was loose and I was able to tighten that. The drive belt seemed loose to me as well but I couldn't find out how to tighten that. Both belts were a little frayed so I probably should replace both of them.

Thanks again for the reply's.

This Saw Dust Session was made just for you, tecarman. Please do yourself and your Mark V a favor and view this before you operate the Mark V anymore. I suspect that you will be amazed at the difference.

http://www.shopsmithacademy.com/SS_Arch ... enance.htm

tecarman wrote:It's been quite awhile since I've lubricated the sheaves, in fact so long I've forgotten how. I appreciate the information and I will re refresh my memory with the procedures. I did take a look yesterday at the belt tension. The V belt was loose and I was able to tighten that. The drive belt seemed loose to me as well but I couldn't find out how to tighten that. Both belts were a little frayed so I probably should replace both of them.

Thanks again for the reply's.

The poly-v belt will stretch over time. Fraying can be in indicator of a need to replace, however cracking of the rubber and missing pieces of the raised portion(the part that goes into the grooves on the pulleys) of the belt is a more pressing indicator.

The width of the drive(motor) belt will decrease over time/use. It should be replaced when it gets too narrow(at the wide top) i.e. when significantly less than 1/2"

Fraying in and of itself is not a 'problem', unless excessive or increases rapidly. Prudence would suggest obtaining a replacement when fraying is observed(sometimes it takes months to get a new one)!