how to use a power station

[JPG40504]

The links below state my position re adjustment of that single way tube twist adjustment screw. I agree that unless you have disassembled the tubes etc. that it IS best left alone(see below).

http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showthread.htm?t=3823&highlight=reassembling

http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showthread.htm?p=41477#post41477

As has been discussed elsewhere the poly/gilmer belt tension adjustment(by movement of the eccentric) will cause the location of the idler shaft to vary. While moving the shaft position vertically, the shaft also moves laterally. One purpose of the coupler is to accommodate the mis-alignment.

If the spt shaft and the idler shaft do not align(horizontally), the casting may be loosened(two set screws) on the bench tubes and 'twisted on the tubes'(one side in, the other out). This should only be required if the tubes have been disassembled etc. Normally this is done by adjustment of the offset mounting tubes. It would probably be best to align the casting to a right angle to the tubes and the mounting tubes on each individual spt afterwards. None of this should need to be done except in extreme cases and only with absolute understanding of what is being affected by any change(s).

Getting perfect alignment between multiple mark 5/V and/or power station et al is unlikely since the tension adjustment is primary(the power station has enough lateral 'slop' to make it irrelevant).

Since the securing of the spt mounting tubes to the power station is by set screws(on the power station), the need to raise the spt slightly is actually not much of a problem(just a nuisance). As stated above, slop and the coupler will take care of the lateral mis-alignment.

[SDSSmith]

The following is provided for reference as this subject comes up from time to time. As you can see, this is an old Magna document (1956) that specifically address the use of the "adjustment screw" in the headrest. Anyone know of other documents that speak to the adjustment screw other than providing a part number?

[JPG40504]

The following is provided for reference as this subject comes up from time to time. As you can see, this is an old Magna document (1956) that specifically address the use of the "adjustment screw" in the headrest. Anyone know of other documents that speak to the adjustment screw other than providing a part number?
And the (1956 vintage) jointer 'manual' refers to adjusting the cutter head mounting as well as an instruction sheet(circa 1959) essentially identical to the one posted above.

Notice the sequence of events. The adjustment screw adjustment is LAST.

All these 'historical' documents were created prior to the creation of the off-set mounting tubes. The older tubes were straight.

I do not think anyone was considering any possibility that one would need to align more than one 'set' of parts(only one shopsmith, no more than one each of a specific spt) when the 'historical documents were written.

The 'power station' was only a gleam(maybe) in a designer's eye!;)

[dusty]

The following is provided for reference as this subject comes up from time to time. As you can see, this is an old Magna document (1956) that specifically address the use of the "adjustment screw" in the headrest. Anyone know of other documents that speak to the adjustment screw other than providing a part number?All of this together sorta clears up some confusion that I have had. The set screw, for many years, was there but did not contact the tiebar. A few weeks (maybe months ago) i was working on a different issue and I had the tiebar off and the tubes loose (locking set screws) so that I could rotate the tubes. When I went to put it all back, I twisted the tiebar a bit to get it to seat properly. In so doing, I changed the alignments and had to retouch some of them. At that time I adjusted the set screw that I have never used so that it became a contact point with the tiebar.

Thanks for the documentation.

[SDSSmith]

Posted by SDSSmith
The following is provided for reference as this subject comes up from time to time. As you can see, this is an old Magna document (1956) that specifically address the use of the "adjustment screw" in the headrest. Anyone know of other documents that speak to the adjustment screw other than providing a part number?

And the (1962 vintage) jointer 'manual' refers to adjusting the cutter head mounting as well as an instruction sheet(circa 1963) essentially identical to the one posted above. The instructions are identical.

Notice the sequence of events. The adjustment screw adjustment is LAST.

All these 'historical' documents were created prior to the creation of the off-set mounting tubes. The older tubes were straight.

I do not think anyone was considering any possibility that one would need to align more than one 'set' of parts(only one shopsmith, no more than one each of a specific spt) when the 'historical documents were written.

Corrected years, added identical statement.Red,
As I understand the 1963 publication is essentially a reprint of what I posted. Do you know of any other Magna/Shopsmith publications that address the use of the alignment screw specifically?

[reible]

Hi,

This subject of the "horizontal adjustment" and "squaring the headrest" have been addressed before some years back.

Somewhere in the archives by now I posted the procedure for squaring the headrest per a document I got from shopsmith when I purchased my new machine in 1976. The document looks a lot like the one posted but uses Shopsmith in the title and text.

Bulletin 502754-7/72

A second was issued as PL-711 (603764) 10/79

On the adjustment of the set-screw

I have several tools that still require this adjustment be made, the belt sander and the jig saw are two that come to mind.

This is also how Nick does the alignment of the 520 so that you can exchange the extension table to fit both sides (BTW I still have not got this to work on either of my machines)

Ed

[JPG40504]

I reviewed my reassembly threads, and came to realize I had not specifically addressed the alignment of the headrest casting to the rest of the beast.

Howsomever, I firmly believe if one positions the tubes as I did describe, the casting will be aligned properly(square to the bench tubes).

I furthermore believe the procedure I described, adjusting with the legs not mounted, (or not influencing the adjustment) is as concise as is possible with our typical resources. I believe so firmly in this that I prefer to think of it as the 'starting point' for any subsequent adjustments.

Yes the legs can affect this adjustment, which is why it is important to remove their effect from this procedure. The legs are 'flexible', which allows accommodation of an uneven floor. This flexibility is why they need to be excluded from affecting the adjustment. This flexibility IS desirable since it assures all four foot contact points are firm(unless the floor is really uneven).

I feel the parallelness of the bench/way tubes is far more important than the alignment of an spt which has adjustable mounting tubes and uses a forgiving coupling. That single screw stop is the ONLY adjustment that will correct/set parallelness of both way tubes to the bench tubes as it controls the amount of 'twist' of the way tubes relative to the bench tubes.

Unfortunately that#@*&% eccentric makes this a limp noodle to adjust them to. It also is something that can vary between 'co-resident' ss or power stations.