520 Pro Fence

[seajay62]

I'm having problems with my 520 Pro Fence. It doesn't hold the position when I set it. During the cutting operation, it drifts away and messes up my cut. I can't get it to lock in place. I've tried adjusting it by the 4 top screws and the 2 nuts front and back but without any luck.

Is there written instructions on the steps to adjust the rip fence? I have not been successful in finding it. Also, I remember seeing some discussions on adjusting a rip fence here on the forum but also have not found anything useful.

Any help either pointing me to the instructions or some steps to follow would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Joe

[JPG]

Wait for it! Dusty will jump in here soon I promise. I ain't got one so I cannot help.

[kablerj]

Is your rear fence lock clamping down tight? I had that same problem. I tightened the rear fence lock and all is well.

Jim

[dusty]

First let me make sure that I understand your problem. I believe you are saying that the fence can be moved along the rails (left/right) even when the two levers on the front of the fence are in the down position.

If that be the case, the four screws on the top have absolutely nothing to do with your problem. By loosening them, you may have introduced still another issue to be resolved later (but before you rip any boards). Those four screws when loose, allow the rip fence to move so as to not be parallel to the blade.

The nut on the back and the one under the fence on the front are associated with the rip fence lock.

The lower lever is to be used to lock the fence to the front rail and in normal operation should be locked first. This lever, when secured, moves the fence to the position to which it has been aligned (parallel to the miter slots). The adjustment for that lever is on the under side of the fence.

The upper lever is to be used to lock down the rear end of the rip fence to the rear rail. It should be locked only after the the front lock has been secured. When this lever is locked, the fence should not move. The nut on the front end of the fence is used to adjust this lock.

The adjustments are made by feeling the pressure required to move the levers into the locked position. It is a trial an error adjustment.

[seajay62]

Thanks for the input. I may have been moving the nut too far at a time. I had it where the lever had to be forced down so I knew it was not correct. I will get back to the shop tomorrow afternoon and try adjusting it.

If I messed up the adjustment with the 4 screws, is there a pattern to follow to get it re-aligned?

[JPG]

Thanks for the input. I may have been moving the nut too far at a time. I had it where the lever had to be forced down so I knew it was not correct. I will get back to the shop tomorrow afternoon and try adjusting it.

If I messed up the adjustment with the 4 screws, is there a pattern to follow to get it re-aligned?

First step is to align the table so the miter gauge slots are parallel to the face(front to rear) of the BLADE.

Then the rip fence is aligned parallel to the miter gauge slots.

Setting the table square to the blade face(vertically) is a third adjustment.

As Dusty mentioned the rip fence MUST be parallel to the blade or safety issues rear their ugly head. Loosening those 4 screws no doubt destroyed any previous setting. Be careful torqueing those screws - too much may strip the threads.

Those safety issues can cause near lethal harm(if not lethal).

[rjent]

Make sure you WAX the lever cams. It helps you "feel" how much actual tension you are making instead of how much friction to lock them.

[seajay62]

Finally, I found some time to follow Dusty's advice and adjust the fence. It seems to be working but I will be watching it more closely because I'm not sure of the "feel" at the levers. After setting the locks, I did check the alignment of the fence and it was off. Everything seems okay. Thanks to Dusty and the rest for your input.

Just curious to find out - is there SS provided written instructions for adjusting the 520 fence?

Regards,
Joe

[JPG]

Make sure you WAX the lever cams. It helps you "feel" how much actual tension you are making instead of how much friction to lock them.

A little oil where the rod(s?) pass(es) through the head helps.

[dusty]

Finally, I found some time to follow Dusty's advice and adjust the fence. It seems to be working but I will be watching it more closely because I'm not sure of the "feel" at the levers. After setting the locks, I did check the alignment of the fence and it was off. Everything seems okay. Thanks to Dusty and the rest for your input.

Just curious to find out - is there SS provided written instructions for adjusting the 520 fence?

Regards,
Joe

At the start of this thread, I looked in my files for instructions and I have none. I consider that odd because Shopsmith normally provides an instruction sheet with anything they sell but I have none.

If you make any further adjustments, make them minute. It does not take much at this point to over adjust.

I adjust the fence to the miter track. I have a piece of wood cut that fits snuggly in the track and stands about 2" proud of the table. I loosen the four bolts on top (careful here,there have been reports of these stripping out) and then I slide the fence up against the miter track, secure in firmly to the front rail, clamp the fence to the board in the miter track and snug down the four bolts in the top.

Slide the fence away from the board and then repeat the previous steps for verification. Loosen the four bolts and repeat if necessary.