New Shopsmith owner, needs help!

glohubby05 · Post by **glohubby05** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 12:37 am

Well hello everyone, my name is Brandon and I'm new to the forums, new too shopsmiths as well. Just a few days ago, I picked up my Shopsmith Mark V 510 SN:009273 (can anyone help me find it's birthdate?). This machine was originally wifes grandfathers, which he gave to my father in law, and now he has given it to me. Everything seems to be there except for the lathe tool rest (just the top part the tools actually rest on) and overall, other than being a little dirty, is in decent shape.

Now here's something that has me concerned, a little. It has not been used, or even turned on in quite a few years, not sure how many but I've known him for six years and I know he has not used it since I've known him and probobly a few years before that. Now knowing that, I was hesitant to start her up till I cleaned her up but I opened the headstock and it looked fairly clean so I decided to go for it. Thankfully the motor spun up nice and strong but I noticed the belt going from the lower sheave to the upper sheave vibrating excessively. I shut it down right away. Is this happening because the sheaves haven't been oiled in a long time so they aren't working properly? I did start it up again and turned the speed dial until the belt stopped vibrating and it ran pretty smooth but if I attempt to change the speed it does the same thing. I eventually got the speed to change but I had to really fiddle the speed dial back and forth a few times.

Another question I have is for the oil, I have some zoom spout oil, it's an all purpose oil it says. Is that good for the sheaves? Or is there something that I can pick up from home depot that would better suit the lubrication needs? I'm looking forward to getting this thing cleaned up and running properly.
Thanks in advance!!

-Brandon

damagi · Post by **damagi** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 1:21 am

Welcome!

Per http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/serialnumber.htm, looks like your model was built in 1987

Regarding cleaning the headstock - you don't need to do as thorough a job as Nick Engler does on the one in the Sawdust sessions, but its worth starting there and watching all four:

http://www.shopsmithacademy.com/SS_Arch ... rn_Pt1.htm
http://www.shopsmithacademy.com/SS_Arch ... rn_Pt2.htm
http://www.shopsmithacademy.com/SS_Arch ... rn_Pt3.htm
http://www.shopsmithacademy.com/SS_Arch ... rn_Pt4.htm

Zoom spout oil has been recommended here and there. other options are out there, such as turbine oil, but what you have should be fine.

glohubby05 · Post by **glohubby05** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 11:03 am

Thanks for the info damagi! Much appreciated! Those sawdust sessions are going to be a great help because I was wanting to go through the whole machine. I was also wanting to repaint the machine as well. What do all you guys use to repaint? Just a good quality spray paint or something more? Oh and what does a guy with large hands do to get inside the headstock and perform maintenance? That access hole on the back side is mighty small!

Well I'm sure I will have many more questions in the future and I'm sure you guys will be able to help. There is so much information here and the people here are just fantastic. I look forward to the day that I will be able to contribute to the forums!

-Brandon

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 12:17 pm

Brandon, welcome to the forum. When ya stick your hand inside the headstock. Make SURE ya unplug the SS.

glohubby05 · Post by **glohubby05** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 1:17 pm

Absolutly beeg, saftey first! I remember back in the 8th grade I had a woodshop teacher that only had 4 1/2 fingers because of a table saw. Needless to say that class was more about saftey than woodworking, and for good reason. It's a shame that some people think they are "exempt" from safety.

cincinnati · Post by **cincinnati** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 2:49 pm

glohubby05 wrote:Thanks for the info damagi! Much appreciated! Those sawdust sessions are going to be a great help because I was wanting to go through the whole machine. I was also wanting to repaint the machine as well. What do all you guys use to repaint? Just a good quality spray paint or something more? Oh and what does a guy with large hands do to get inside the headstock and perform maintenance? That access hole on the back side is mighty small!

Well I'm sure I will have many more questions in the future and I'm sure you guys will be able to help. There is so much information here and the people here are just fantastic. I look forward to the day that I will be able to contribute to the forums!

-Brandon

Shopsmith sells spray paint. It is a good quality paint.

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... ppaint.htm

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 10:18 pm

glohubby05 wrote:....Now here's something that has me concerned, a little. It has not been used, or even turned on in quite a few years, not sure how many but I've known him for six years and I know he has not used it since I've known him and probably a few years before that. Now knowing that, I was hesitant to start her up till I cleaned her up but I opened the headstock and it looked fairly clean so I decided to go for it. Thankfully the motor spun up nice and strong but I noticed the belt going from the lower sheave to the upper sheave vibrating excessively. I shut it down right away. Is this happening because the sheaves haven't been oiled in a long time so they aren't working properly? I did start it up again and turned the speed dial until the belt stopped vibrating and it ran pretty smooth but if I attempt to change the speed it does the same thing. I eventually got the speed to change but I had to really fiddle the speed dial back and forth a few times.

-Brandon

Looks like you are on the right track to get your 510 running smooth again. I am hoping the excessive vibrations were caused by a "set" in the belts(s). You will find that out after taking the belt(s) off.

Oil? Zoom spout oil is good! So is 20W non-detergent.

glohubby05 · Post by **glohubby05** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 10:40 pm

Hey Chuck, I'm glad to hear that my zoom spout oil is a good oil! I'm hoping the belt issue is nothing serious. Like I said, it only happens when I'm changing speeds and it seems like I can work the speed dial back and fourth to smooth the vibration out. I'm thinking it's just the sheaves aren't sliding on their shafts the way they should and it's causing the belt to go slack when I change the speed. At least that is my theory, someone can correct me if that doesn't make sense!

I noticed in your sig, Chuck, that you live in Lancaster, I'm not too terribly far away from you in Barstow! In fact there was a jobsite that I worked at in Palmdale a couple years back (the Anaverde development) so I'm somewhat familiar with that area. Maybe one day we can meet up for coffee or something.

backhertz · Post by **backhertz** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 10:55 pm

Perhaps it might be time to consider a Power Pro upgrade? You'll essentially end up with a completely new headstock with more special and intelligent control. Start saving! You'll get up with a very powerful system.

glohubby05 · Post by **glohubby05** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 11:26 pm

I'd love to get a power pro, however it is way out of my budget right now. It's gonna be many moons and many suns before I can make that kind of upgrade! Haha