Shopsmith Forums

I have a Mark V and cannot locate the owners manul.

How do I oil the head stock?

I have opened up the belt cover and have not found an oiling hole.

Could I just spray some W-D 40 on the spring and close it up?

Beatle

Just read your question. I am attaching some links on how to lubricate your SS. The last thing you ever want to do is spray the headstock with WD 40. That will attract all kinds of dirt sticking to everything. Hopefully these links will give you a clear enough explanation on how to lubricate your headstock. Also SS sells a pocket oiler which probably has enough oil to last you a lifetime that sells for 3.39 and is item # 517429.

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

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/serv ... gmarkv.htm

http://www.shopsmithhandson.com/archive ... inters.htm

I had read the oiling info from the customer service, but I was unable to find the hole referred too.

I did not use WD 40.

I will look again. See if I can find the hole.

The WD stands for water displacing. While it does lubricate a little bit for a little while it doesn't last very long. I service clocks occasionally and I can tell when the owner has sprayed WD-40 onto the works to try to keep it running, it is all gummed up and there is green corrosion on the brass because the WD-40 reacts with the copper in the brass alloy.

The oil recommended by Shopsmith is 30w non detergent, you can also find small bottles of this in some hardware stores for oiling motors and coolers here in the southwest anyway.

Beatle wrote:I have a Mark V and cannot locate the owners manul.

How do I oil the head stock?

I have opened up the belt cover and have not found an oiling hole.

Could I just spray some W-D 40 on the spring and close it up?

After sliding the belt cover away from the headstock - get a medium to large FLAT bladed screwdriver and spread the coils in the spring (usually about the second or third coil) and look for a hole in the shaft. This hole is about 1/8" in diameter. Here you can place a couple of drops of non-detergent 10W or 20W motor oil. You can even put a drop or two on the outside of the smaller inner shaft - underneath the spring. If you put too much here, nothing is hurt except the shaft will spin the excess oil off and dirty the machine. You should clean this "spray" up.

Even lighter oil can be used such as "3 in One". This latter oil comes in plastic cans that have extend-able spouts. NEVER - NEVER use WD-40 in the headstock. It will evaporate and become sticky.

There is another spot that needs lubrication with oil. Run the speed up to Fast", Turn off the machine and Pull the plug. - Open the inspection plate on the rear of the headstock. Rotate the spindle by hand until you find a similar hole in the shaft between the sheave and the speed control unit. Here the 3- in-one spout will come in handy. Put 5 to 6 drops in this hole. While you're at it wiggle that little "D" ring at the end of the shaft where it connects to the Speed Control. If it is free to turn, that is good! If it is a little stiff - you should check it in another 5 hours or so. The little bearing in there needs the oil you just put in the shaft. Check after a little use to see if your oil helped. If not - put in another couple of drops.

Before leaving the Headstock - check the grease lubrication of the rack and pinion gears that come from the inside of the speed control. It's a good idea to wipe off old grease and apply new. The old grease probably has sawdust worked into it and this needs to be cleaned out.

Either now or earlier, you should vacuum out the inside of the headstock and then turn on the switch. With the motor running use a compressor and blow out the headstock. This blowing with compressed air is done with the motor running in order to prevent blowing sawdust into the motor armature and other places it shouldn't be. Be careful here and keep yourself aware of the spinning sheaves and turning belts and shafts.

Now - Slide the belt cover back in place, plug in the machine - turn it on and run the speed control back and forth - the full range about 5 times. Now you are almost done for another 10 hours.

While trying to find the owners manual I found everything else, including my original purchase invoice of 9-13-79.

I do wish the machine had collapsable legs, like on you see on ambulance gernies. It would make taking the machine to job sites a little easier.

I have not used the tool a lot over the years, but now that I am a Grandpa, well time to start.

That means it is about time to actually "service" the unit.

I also wish they would make the manual downloadable.

Beatle wrote:While trying to find the owners manual I found everything else, including my original purchase invoice of 9-13-79.

I do wish the machine had collapsable legs, like on you see on ambulance gernies. It would make taking the machine to job sites a little easier.

I have not used the tool a lot over the years, but now that I am a Grandpa, well time to start.

That means it is about time to actually "service" the unit.

I also wish they would make the manual downloadable.

They have many "Product Manuals" available on-line. There are also lubrication/maintenance manuals on-line.
Here is how you get to them (from one Gramps to another) Go to this site: http://www.shopsmith.com and click on any of the red subject matter buttons on the left of your screen. Then click on the little blue letters in the very top of the new screen that say "owner's site". Once on the owner's site, look to your lower left and click on the words that say (in Red Letters - Shopsmith Personalized Home Page.

From here you are on your own to develop your own home page in which you can add ALL of the maintenance and product manuals available. It won't cost a thing - just your time.

As for the legs - just disconnect them and set the mark V on a pair of sturdy horses or boxes. I'd personally hate to lift the thing around like that, but if you have help it shouldn't be too bad.

Maybe you can find a pair of gurney legs at a medical supply store and attach those to your Mark V base. If you do, let us know how that works.

Best wishes, and work safe,

P.S. I see you are our newest member, Please excuse my rudness for not earlier saying --WELCOME!! ENJOY OUR FORUM!