head stock lock adjustment

[keith c.]

My old head stock motor burned out and I bought a "rebuilt " one on Ebay. The head stock lock is out of adjustment and I'm unable to get it on the tubes. I know very little about shopsmiths. I only use this one to turn fishing pole handles on the lathe. Does anyone know how to adjust the lock? The owners manual doesn't have anything that tells you how to do it. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks Keith C.

[heathicus]

Take a look here: http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showthread.htm?p=40958#post40958

When you lock the headstock (or carriage) to the tubes, what you're doing is squeezing two wedges on a threaded rod against the tubes. You might have to drop the motor pan to get to the wedges, but hopefully not. You might can just reach in through the access hole.

What you need to do is separate the wedges and align the flats on them so that they clear the tubes. You might can just turn the lock handle counter clockwise, and you might have to reach in through the access hole or through the tube holes to keep the wedges from spinning as you rotate the lock handle.

With the wedges sufficiently spread loose, and the flats aligned (flat side of the wedges DOWN, round side of the wedges UP), you should then be able to slide the headstock onto the tubes.

[mikelst]

Hi Keith, and welcome to the forum.

If you put your location down their may be someone in your area that could be of help.

That being said... This is a relatively easy operation if you have any mechanical capabilities.

Look in the holes that the tubes go into...

Look for any obstruction in the line the tube would take from one end to the other. If you see an obstruction it should be the wedges used to tighten the headstock in place. (parts n and o in this picture)
9023
Try to rotate the wedges so that the flat is clear of the tube path (flat facing down I believe). With the wedges in this position "loosen" the the headstock lock until the wedges are snug against headstock casting, here is where you may need to hold the wedges to maintain orientation while spreading them with the screw handle, this way they will not rotate into the tube path as you mount the headstock

The quill should be on the right side of the headstock as you face the speed dial.

Now you should be able to slide the headstock onto the tubes.

To facilitate this I usually place a board across the tubes and use the main table moved all the way to the right to 'jack' up the tubes to a good working height.

Hope this helps.

[keith c.]

Thanks guys for your help, you got me on the right track! I'll try to adjust it torrow. I am located in Houghton lake, Michigan. Thanks again Keith

[8iowa]

Keith:

My "Workshop in the Woods" is just two hours west of the bridge. If you ever plan to come U.P. here let me know. I'd be glad to help you become better acquainted with the Shopsmith, it's special purpose tools, and accessories.