My name is Robert and I live in the San Francisco Bay. A long while back, in high school, our stage crew class had a scene shop and a smaller shop just adjacent to the auditorium. In that smaller shop was a Shopsmith, and I was fascinated by it. I never got to use it, but it was and remained an object of real interest.
Now -- some 40+ years later -- I'm in the process of fitting out the interior of a 60 foot steel trawler (boat) while living on it, and making carbon fiber violin prototypes (in addition to the day job in the office). This after mostly being finished raising my birth daughter and three kids from a refugee family. I bought the boat when I had just one kid left living at home (still in college locally). Then another kid graduated from UC Davis and couldn't find a job -- so she's here. Now my niece is here with us as well for awhile. It never really ends...
I have a collection of stationary power tools (mostly cheap, many Ryobi) but you can imagine the issues on a boat -- even a big one. For the last couple of years I've been periodically haunting Craig's List watching for a SS, sometimes finding one when I couldn't justify buying it.
This Monday, however, I found an ad for a 1956 greenie (I know you all call it that because I've read through much of this forum so far). It included a band saw, jointer, scroll saw and belt sander -- along with a box full of accessories. The motor was/is not working, but the price for the whole mess was $225.00. I had to go for it, just had too...
After getting it home, out the length of the dock and down into the shop area I had a preliminary look at the motor. Someone had been messing with the wiring while still in the headstock, so I decided to pull it and put it on the bench. Wires had been pulled off and not marked. Most disturbing was a short length of wire with a spade connector on one end and bare wire on the other, with traces of some sort of gunk. Upon further examination I noticed that the gunk matched the insulating gunk on the motor windings. Now I need to pull the motor apart and see if there's any hope of reconnecting that wire. Short of that I'll probably have it rebuilt.
So, I already owe a debt of gratitude to someone on this forum named Bucksaw, because in Googling "Shopsmith motor" I came upon a thread on this forum with the very same motor, color photos and a wiring diagram -- which I desperately needed to go any further.
Some of you will understand how excited I am to have found this thing, and how much I look forward to an eventual full restoration!
Robert
Introduction: Excited to be here!
Moderator: admin
Welcome Robedney to these forums. Feel free to ask questions here. Somebody can answer just about any Q ya have. MIGHT be cheaper to buy a new motor, than have yours rebuilt. Also PICS of the greenie wood be nice.
SS 500(09/1980), DC3300, jointer, bandsaw, belt sander, Strip Sander, drum sanders,molder, dado, biscuit joiner, universal lathe tool rest, Oneway talon chuck, router bits & chucks and a De Walt 735 planer,a #5,#6, block planes. ALL in a 100 square foot shop.
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Bob
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Bob
replacing a greenie motor
If I had needed to replace the motor in my '55 Greenie, I think I would have picked up a used one on evil-bay as I've seen them (the original 3/4 HP) go pretty reasonable. I suspect that would be a cheaper route than a rebuild on the motor, although there's the comfort level of knowing the motor it rebuilt versus the question of what condition a used motor it in, but for the initial outlay I think it would be a good start.
This forum can answer every question you'll have about your machine, often with excellent pictures. And if by some unbelievable chance you come up with a new problem not previously discussed, then we all benefit because we all learn.
And we LOVE pictures!! (Including the boat!)
This forum can answer every question you'll have about your machine, often with excellent pictures. And if by some unbelievable chance you come up with a new problem not previously discussed, then we all benefit because we all learn.
And we LOVE pictures!! (Including the boat!)
'55 Greenie #292284 (Mar-55), '89 SS 510 #020989, Mark VII #408551 (sold 10/14/12), SS Band Saw, (SS 500 #36063 (May-79) now gone to son-in-law as of 11-11), Magna bandsaw, Magna jointer 16185 (May-54), Magna belt sander SS28712 (Dec-82), Magna jigsaw SS4397 (Dec-78), SS biscuit joiner, Zyliss (knockoff) vise, 20+ hand planes, 60s Craftsman tablesaw, CarbaTec mini-lathe, and the usual pile of tools. Hermit of the Hills Woodworks, a hillbilly in the foothills of the Ozarks, scraping by.
I don't think there's a problem with the equipment. It's more about user neglect.
SS 500(09/1980), DC3300, jointer, bandsaw, belt sander, Strip Sander, drum sanders,molder, dado, biscuit joiner, universal lathe tool rest, Oneway talon chuck, router bits & chucks and a De Walt 735 planer,a #5,#6, block planes. ALL in a 100 square foot shop.
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Bob
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Bob
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kd6vpe
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 585
- Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2007 8:53 pm
- Location: Owasso, Oklahoma
- Contact:
Sticher,
Yes isn't it a shame that we are seeing these systemic motor failures. I mean shoot they are mostly just barely over 50 years old. LOL.
Yes isn't it a shame that we are seeing these systemic motor failures. I mean shoot they are mostly just barely over 50 years old. LOL.
SS 500 upgraded to 510; SS bandsaw; SS jointer
SS Oscillating Drum Sander; Universal Lathe Rest;
lathe duplicatior, shaper fence and shapers; SS Belt
Sander
Jim
www.youtube.com/kd6vpe
SS Oscillating Drum Sander; Universal Lathe Rest;
lathe duplicatior, shaper fence and shapers; SS Belt
Sander
Jim
www.youtube.com/kd6vpe
How big is the shop?-
JPG
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 35600
- Joined: Wed Dec 10, 2008 7:42 pm
- Location: Lexington, Ky (TAMECAT territory)
stitcher wrote:It seems like there are m,any who have motor problems. Can anyone here on the forum explain why that is? I am new to this wood working thing and I would prefer to avoid the problems that others seem to have. Is there a systemic issue with the Shopsmith motor?
If there be 'sytemic' problems, they can be found below.
http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/partscat/mostfrequentlyorderedparts.htm
Howsomever most of the items are consumables. The others are needed as a result of either neglect or abuse.
Note the Motor is not there!
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Goldie(Bought New SN 377425)/4" jointer/6" beltsander/12" planer/stripsander/bandsaw/powerstation /Scroll saw/Jig saw /Craftsman 10" ras/Craftsman 6" thicknessplaner/ Dayton10"tablesaw(restoredfromneighborstrashpile)/ Mark VII restoration in 'progress'/ 10E[/size](SN E3779) restoration in progress, a 510 on the back burner and a growing pile of items to be eventually returned to useful life. - aka Red Grange
╟JPG ╢
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Goldie(Bought New SN 377425)/4" jointer/6" beltsander/12" planer/stripsander/bandsaw/powerstation /Scroll saw/Jig saw /Craftsman 10" ras/Craftsman 6" thicknessplaner/ Dayton10"tablesaw(restoredfromneighborstrashpile)/ Mark VII restoration in 'progress'/ 10E[/size](SN E3779) restoration in progress, a 510 on the back burner and a growing pile of items to be eventually returned to useful life. - aka Red Grange