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Template for relocating Shopsmith Retractable Caster Brackets when adding the larger

Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 9:43 pm
by pcgenie
HI
I have added my own 3" wheels so don't have the kit from shopsmith.
Would anyone be able to send me a copy of the template. I gather there is a newer more accurate version of the template- so you don't have to grind down the cams?

or alternatively what is the differential between the hole centers? 2 inches??

Thanks

Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 10:13 pm
by JPG
pcgenie wrote:HI
I have added my own 3" wheels so don't have the kit from shopsmith.
Would anyone be able to send me a copy of the template. I gather there is a newer more accurate version of the template- so you don't have to grind down the cams?

or alternatively what is the differential between the hole centers? 2 inches??

Thanks
It will depend upon YOUR casters. Determine hole location by temporarily clamping the assembly to the legs, check for proper height(legs on floor, 1/4" off floor and 1/2" off floor) and mark location using mounting holes.

Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 11:50 pm
by billmayo
pcgenie wrote:HI
I have added my own 3" wheels so don't have the kit from shopsmith.
Would anyone be able to send me a copy of the template. I gather there is a newer more accurate version of the template- so you don't have to grind down the cams?

or alternatively what is the differential between the hole centers? 2 inches??

Thanks
l have been offering the 3" casters and drilling template with drill bit on Ebay recently. You can find a completed listing on Ebay (billstoolz) with pictures including the drilling template. I found 1 1/4" higher than the original holes worked well for me for the Mark V 3" caster installation but found I needed the new hole positions to be 1 1/2" higher for the Power Station and Power Stand which required a new drilling template.

I recommend not going higher than 1 1/2" from the original holes for the 3" casters.

Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 12:07 am
by pcgenie
Thanks for the advice. I will combine both of your suggestions and test clamp the brackets at 1 1/4" higher and see if that gives the proper clearance.
David

Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 2:28 am
by JPG
We can flap all night about the SS caster new hole location(1 7/16 IMHO), but you do not have those casters. The stem/bearing design may be different so the new location may also be different.

An important detail is to make sure the new holes are centered on a line that passes through the center of the original two holes. i.e. the same distance in from the leg flange.

IIWM, I would be drilling 17/64" holes. The bottom of those holes need to be the same as the bottom of the caster holes(they are 5/16"?).

Another Option?

Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2013 10:59 am
by cooch366
I'm waiting for my backordered casters to arrive to mount on my new Mark 7.

I've been reading all of the threads about the "drilling".

I think I'm going to:

1. Use the template that SS provides "Rev D 5/12" and laminate the sections in 10mil plastic. Cut them out and now I have a rigid template to attach to the leg to center punch the new holes.

2. I'm going to make Dusty's template to be 100% sure that the holes are where they HAVE to be.

In reading everything, it appears that the mounting is/can be a nightmare.

Any thoughts, other ideas, or other suggestions? All would be appreciated.

Thanks. Steve

Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2013 11:13 am
by dusty
cooch366 wrote:I'm waiting for my backordered casters to arrive to mount on my new Mark 7.

I've been reading all of the threads about the "drilling".

I think I'm going to:

1. Use the template that SS provides "Rev D 5/12" and laminate the sections in 10mil plastic. Cut them out and now I have a rigid template to attach to the leg to center punch the new holes.

2. I'm going to make Dusty's template to be 100% sure that the holes are where they HAVE to be.

In reading everything, it appears that the mounting is/can be a nightmare.

Any thoughts, other ideas, or other suggestions? All would be appreciated.

Thanks. Steve

If this task becomes a nightmare, it is because you did not think it through before you started. On the surface, it seems "simple" and it is. It is real simple to drill the wrong hole or to drill it in the wrong location.

The existing holes provide two great assists. They provide the separation between the holes and the angle of the holes. Use that to your advantage and it will be simple for you too.

I removed the caster sets completely, did the drilling and then remounted the caster sets laying on the shop floor. No lifting involved. I avoid lifting anything heavy whenever I can. I also seem to find that more and more things are heavy.

3" Casters

Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2013 11:28 am
by billmayo
I always had problems with paper templates so I used an aluminum bracket that is bolted to the leg using the original holes and you just have to drill using the remaining two holes for the proper location. I even supplied the 17/64" drill bit with the template. I align the aluminum bracket even with the edge of the leg but there is little play using a predrilled template. I offer this setup for the Power Station and Power Stand that Shopsmith does not make available. I used my Mark V 500 and a Mark V Power Station as the base for the drilling and checking of these templates for the proper lift and floor clearance. The 3" casters do make a big difference when moving the Shopsmiths if the floor is not totally clean or moving over any floor edges. I did checkout using 4" casters but the caster expense was a lot more and I did not see much difference when moving the Shopsmith.

Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2013 11:36 am
by billmayo
dusty wrote:If this task becomes a nightmare, it is because you did not think it through before you started. On the surface, it seems "simple" and it is. It is real simple to drill the wrong hole or to drill it in the wrong location.

The existing holes provide two great assists. They provide the separation between the holes and the angle of the holes. Use that to your advantage and it will be simple for you too.

I removed the caster sets completely, did the drilling and then remounted the caster sets laying on the shop floor. No lifting involved. I avoid lifting anything heavy whenever I can. I also seem to find that more and more things are heavy.
I used a 2X4 to lift the end of the Mark V (great leveage) and placed a short piece of 2X4 under each leg (1 1/2"). Removed the caster assembly, mounted the template, drilled the holes on each side and remounted the caster assembly. Same with the Power Station. Seems simple to me.

New unit

Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2013 12:02 pm
by cooch366
Oh and one more thing

Because I have not put the legs on the new unit yet I'm thinking of drilling the holes now with the legs off, and i'll be ready to install the legs when casters arrive ( Between dec 9th & 15th)

Anyine see issues with this?

thanks....