Head Vibration

[S Brian]

Hi Guys,
I am new to this forum, but a SS owner since 1980. While working in my basement shop on Saturday, I needed to drill several holes. When I started my SS, I heard/felt a vibration in the head. I took the covers off and didn't see anything obvious, so needing to get the project done, I used my cordless drill. Tonight I spent some time checking the SS and I think I have found an the problem. The end of the shaft-idler, which protrudes through the control sheave assy is either bent or broke. It is not square to the shaft and is causing the quadrant assy to vibrate. Have any of you had a similar problem? Is this something I should tackle myself or is it time, after 30 years to have SS fix and service the head? I am pretty handy and will work on many things, but this looks like quite a job. Not counting parts, can you offer a ballpark of what SS charges for this service?

Thanks for any help you may offer.

[vzandt]

Tackle it yourself...If you are even mildly handy, you can accomplish it.
Scott

p.s. Could it be the bearing in the end of the cobtrol sheeve?

Hi Guys,
I am new to this forum, but a SS owner since 1980. While working in my basement shop on Saturday, I needed to drill several holes. When I started my SS, I heard/felt a vibration in the head. I took the covers off and didn't see anything obvious, so needing to get the project done, I used my cordless drill. Tonight I spent some time checking the SS and I think I have found an the problem. The end of the shaft-idler, which protrudes through the control sheave assy is either bent or broke. It is not square to the shaft and is causing the quadrant assy to vibrate. Have any of you had a similar problem? Is this something I should tackle myself or is it time, after 30 years to have SS fix and service the head? I am pretty handy and will work on many things, but this looks like quite a job. Not counting parts, can you offer a ballpark of what SS charges for this service?

Thanks for any help you may offer.

[wannabewoodworker]

What model Shopsmith is it???

[iclark]

hi, sbm,

welcome to the forum.

recommendations from the forum will likely be affected by:
- the model/year of the headstock,
- whether it has been upgraded, and
- where you are located.

pictures of the misbehaving part would be helpful.
the instructions on how to include the pictures are in a sticky post at the top of the Community forum.
the pictures help the experienced people help you and help others learn from your experience.

while there are very few repairs that have not been accomplished by someone on the forum, some of them are much easier if you happen to be in one of the areas where the gurus live. (hence, the where-are-you question)

Ivan

[wa2crk]

Hi SBM;
Welcome to the forum. It sounds from your description that the bearing at the end of the control sheave has bitten the dust. If not that then the keyway that the sheave rides on has become loose. In either case sounds like a tear down is going to be required. You can't fix either of these problems from the outside.
Just go slow and come back to this site often for any required assistance or advice.
There is no "Rocket Science" inside the headstock, just basic mechanics.
Nick Engler's sawdust sessions that he produced for Shopsmith are still on line and one of them goes through the entire procedure for dismantling the headstock and evaluating the problems.
Good luck and keep the gang informed of your progress.
Bill V

[beeg]

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/catalog/shopsmith_repairs.htm

That link will give ya some info on SS doing the repairs. BUT remember shipping costs won't be cheap.

[S Brian]

Other than reading posts, I couldn't reply here at work due to computer settings, but just talked to a co-worker (computer geek), so settings are changed.

My SS is a Model 500, bought new in 1980 (double bearing quill upgrade) and other than a wedge lock seizing to a locking rod several years ago, I have not had any problems. I don't use the table saw function much since buying my Powermatic, but I use the heck out of the other functions.

I called SS early this a.m. and from my description to the man, the problem could be the control sheave. He gave me good directions, so I will work on it tonight. I also took wa2crk's advice and checked out Nick Engler's site and printed out directions.

Thanks for your help guys and I will post my findings.

Brian

[S Brian]

I am up from The Woodshop Below and in less than 1/2 hour I found that the bearing in the control sheave is toast. When I talked to SS this morning, I thought he said that the assembly is on back order, so will check with them again in the a.m. You all can be sure I will do a better job of oiling that in the future!

Thanks again for your help.

Brian