Shopsmith Forums

I stepped all over someone's thread about whether or not he should buy a Greenie, and got some good advice, but now its time for my own thread.

I picked up my Greenie last night for $200.

Pics can be seen here: http://www.wou.edu/~bberkley/pics/shopsmith

It is serial number 327040, manufactured some time in 1956 I guess.

It came with 5 blades, 3 arbors, a "wobbly" dado arbor/blade, and pretty much everything you would expect to find with a standard kit (I guess). It has part of the mortise jig, no allen wrenches, and some shaper cutters, etc. All of the parts it came with can be seen in the pictures.

The motor runs well, the speed adjustment doesn't appear to be damaged in any way, the quill moves solidly, all the locks are stable.

My headstock has an access hole behind the shopsmith plate, I was expecting it not to have one. The Gilmer belt looks to be in good shape, the spline appears to be as well. The motor says A.O. Smith, Dayton, Ohio on the plate. I plan on getting it broken down and cleaned up and replace the cord, and perform all the maintenance on it, and work on cleaning up everything before I try and use it.

The base has a broken piece near the center screw hole, and it appears something is broken off of the speed adjustment, like a knob or something.

I'll get some pictures when I have more time to work on it tomorrow night and Saturday.

firefinder,

I'd say you got a great deal. It appears to be in great shape, and you can easily replace the broken parts. You can get them from Shopsmith or feEbay.

You should check out the 'Newowner Information' sticky thread at the top of the Maintenance and Repair forum, and feel free to ask questions, even if they have been asked before by someone else.

Sincerely,

Ron309753

The speed dial does have the 'handle' broken off, but it was only a post, so it can be easily 'repaired' or replaced.

The broken end casting is not critical. I would jb-weld the missing area and move on. There is a screw hole there in the middle.

Interesting that you have the mortise hold down, but not the chisel holder.

You have a "B" headstock. therefore the access hole is there.

You have a 'set' of saw blades, but, they are not carbide and will dull quickly and tend to leave a rough surface. Consider replacing them as you have a need - combination blade first.

Bon Appetite!:)

The guy I got it from bought it from a friend of his who's deceased father had owned it, and a newer one. The friend kept the newer one, so I assume some of the missing parts might have ended up with the newer machine's owner.

The broken piece of the base is missing, and I am not going to try and jbweld the gap, I'll just find one somewhere at some point.

I am trying to get a set of casters on ebay, as moving it around for cleaning/maintenance before I start using it would be easier. I also want a lower saw guard. I'm keeping my eye out for a Band Saw, the parts to the mortise jig, and I think I am missing the collars for the lathe tailstock.

I'm fortunate that a few people I know have or have had Shopsmith's for years and are very familiar with them.

Bought my first parts for my greenie, a set of casters on ebay and both 5/8" arbors for it from Shopsmith.

Found a fine brass wire wheel for drills at the local welding supply place, would have to special order a bench grinder wheel. Such are the pitfalls of small town living.

firefinder wrote: . . .

The broken piece of the base is missing, and I am not going to try and jbweld the gap, I'll just find one somewhere at some point.

. . .

I think I am missing the collars for the lathe tailstock.

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/itemfind.htm?item=505990&Submit=Find+Item

Make sure it is a greenie one. The bench tube mounting is different due to the larger(1 7/8") bench tubes.


They are cheaper from ss than typical on e-bay!

Cheaper(a little larger) from industrial supply house.

P.S. You already have them.



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JPG40504 wrote:P.S. You already have them.



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Thanks for noticing that.

I got most of the rust off the bottom way tubes, and waxed them, and the upper tubes. Wow, it sure makes a difference in moving the carriage and headstock.

I started disassembling the headstock, not quite done with it. I did find a washer of some type loose inside the headstock, I took pictures and will post them tomorrow.

I think I need at least one new bearing, and new belts. The gilmer belt looks ok, but the other belt looks kinda beat.

I'll have lots of pics and questions tomorrow or Monday.

firefinder wrote:I got most of the rust off the bottom way tubes, and waxed them, and the upper tubes. Wow, it sure makes a difference in moving the carriage and headstock.

I started disassembling the headstock, not quite done with it. I did find a washer of some type loose inside the headstock, I took pictures and will post them tomorrow.

I think I need at least one new bearing, and new belts. The gilmer belt looks ok, but the other belt looks kinda beat.

I'll have lots of pics and questions tomorrow or Monday.

That 'washer' is probably either the domed washer from the quill feed shaft or the top hat washer that positions the splined shaft in the quill.