Lathe Tool Rest loose

[fredlyfx]

Hello, I just bought a shopsmith used. Many of the original parts are missing, and so I'm not sure if my problem is a missing piece, or a problem with the shopsmith unit itself.

When we put the tool rest down into the holder we can't get it to lock in place. I can adjust the height up and down, but can't lock it so it will not pivot on the threads. The unit I bought is from 1983 according to the serial #.

I bought a manual for it, but it may not be for the right one. In the manual it shows a lever near the dial for adjusting the height. Our machine does not have that lever, and we can't see where it would attach. I have noticed that the square rod the dial is connected to seems to be about 1 1/2" too long, so I can pull the dial out.

Am I missing some parts? Help please. We mainly bought this unit to use for the lathe functions, and really need to get it working right.

Thanks

FredlyFX

[chiroindixon]

Judging from what you describe, there are a few parts likely to be missing. Get your hands on a Shopsmith catalog and study the exploded diagrams for the carriage assemblies.

You didn't mention whether it's a 500 or 510. They are of different sizes and not all parts are interchangable.

Check for all the parts along the Table Height Crank Assembly. You are definately missing the Table Height Lock if you see the square pinion shaft and can pull the crank (dial) off.

[weavers]

From the discription you have discribed, you can not get the tool rest post from the carriage to stay at the height you set. you said you got a manual but it was not the correct one. If you go to shopsmith.com and secect parts & accessories catalog on the left side you will go where you can on the top select catalog's and select service parts. from there you can select the proper model ss and view the brakedown of parts for the models to see if you have parts missing and you can get the part# for that part or parts that are missing. You can also go to misc parts on the left side and select tool rest arm and see the brakedown for the tool rest.
You said the front part in front of the height adj handle the one with the square part was longer, there should be a washer with a sooth side and serrated side and a T handle that tightens the shaft into place. the serrated side of the washer goes to the height handle side with the smooth side to the T handle.
If it was the tool rest arm that turns from side to side the old ss 500 had two set screws one under where the tool rest goes up to and one where the tool rest post from the carrage assy. goes to the tool rest angle arm. they may be loose.
hope this helps.

[fredlyfx]

Thanks very much for your help. I had looked through the site for some time, but had not found the parts catalog pages you were refering too before making my post. I have now found the right expanded picture, and ordered the missing parts.

Thanks again, I look forward to asking lots of other dumb questions as I figure this thing out.

FredlyFX