Cold Maintenance

peterelarson · Post by **peterelarson** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 3:49 pm

Several days ago I was working on a project that required the use of the disc sander on my Mark V. As the project would produce copious amounts of sawdust, I elected to take the Mark V outside - into +20 F weather. After working for a time I got cold and returned to the shop to warm up and to continue the sanding using a palm sander and 220 grit sand paper. When I returned to my Mark V, it would not start.

I brought it back into the shop, and, after waiting an appropriate amount of time attempted to start it again. My appropriate amount of time is now five days and it will not start. All I get is an electrical humm, but no engagement.

My Mark V is about 25 years old and has worked flawlessly for those many years - not continually as I have lived abroad for a time and get caught up in life taking me away from woodworking for a time.

What might you recommend for troubleshooting?

Thanks
Peter

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 4:11 pm

Is there a chance of moisture (condensation) in the motor?

I'd check the line voltage to the SS and then attempt to start the motor with NO LOAD (take the drive belt off).

If it doesn't start - find a motor repair shop.

After thought: Is it warm (40-50+ degrees) in the shop area?

Another after thought: I might not be qualified to comment on this problem; my SS and I hardly ever experience what some of you call "cold". Working on my SS at 20 degrees - no way.

chiroindixon · Post by **chiroindixon** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 6:05 pm

Two years ago I worked to restore a "54 Magna SS, stored for 40 years. It just "hummed". My machinist neighbor arrived to assist. He secured a sanding disc to the spindle, then as the motor "hummed", grabbed the disc and spun it. Slowly but surely, it revved back up to full speed,,,,, then the belts blew off/up.

You may have a multi-problem. Get it spinning....then service, clean, lube per the book, BUT.....Replace the belts....25 years of intermittent use would say they are needing to go.

Doc

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 7:12 pm

What happened was this, Peter. While the Shopsmith was sitting outside, the cold penetrated the bearings. This caused the grease and oil that lubricates these bearings to thicken. When you dragged the machine back inside, the bearings were still cold and the lube was too stiff for the motor to overcome the increased resistance. (I have flown airplanes in cold regions where we had to leave the engine running while the airplane was parked for fear the oil would thicken and we would not be able to start the sucker again until spring.) The fact that the motor still won't spin up even after the bearings have warmed indicates that you may have done some damage to the motor -- it's ridiculously easy to burn through a few buh-zillion armature windings if something is preventing the motor from turning while electricity is coursing through its copper veins.

I'd do this. Use the sanding disc to turn the drive train by hand while you slowly turn the speed dial to its slowest speed. (Remember all, you can damage the speed-changing mechanism big time by turning it without the motor running.) At this point, the motor has it largest mechanical advantage as it tries to turn the parts of the drive train. If it still just sits there and hums, you either (1) must replace the motor or (2) have the armature re-wound. Since your baby is 25 years old, I'd opt for the new motor. Yours may be one of the older 3/4-horse motors, and the 1-1/8-horse motors we use now will give the old girl pep she's never had before.

With all good wishes,

Bruce · Post by **Bruce** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 7:47 pm

ours may be one of the older 3/4-horse motors, and the 1-1/4-horse motors we use now will give the old girl pep she's never had before.

Nick,
Where did you get a 1 1/4 horse motor? I thought they were 1 1/8 HP, or was that just a typo?

Bruce

ksdaddio · Post by **ksdaddio** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 9:07 pm

With all attachments removed, have you tried turning the drive shaft? If it turns freely, try turning the lower power output, and observe whether the drive shaft turns with it. If you can turn the lower shaft, but nothing happens at the top shaft, you have a belt in trouble or broken, and hopefully nothing more.

The only other thing that you might try is with all attachments removed again, turn the power on, and with a gloved hand, try turning the drive shaft, or the lower shaft. If the motor starts up, you then have a problem with your motor, and usually that will take a technician to fix, unless you are familiar with motors.

If you don't feel comfortable doing the power on test, then I would urge you to consult someone at Shopsmith for assistance, or maybe you have a fellow Shopsmith owner in your area than can help.

None of what I have offered will fix your problem, but it will give someone with experience on headstocks some help in finding the problem.

Good Luck!

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 5:52 pm

Where did you get a 1 1/4 horse motor? I thought they were 1 1/8 HP, or was that just a typo?

Typo, Bruce. And I fixed it.

Didn't mean to get your hopes up -- no need to re-write your letter to Santa.

With all good wishes,

rallen · Post by **rallen** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 7:58 pm

Just a longshot but...

On my shopsmith which was given to me, someone had substituted the incorrect drive belt (narrower) on the machine. when I pulled the belt cover off, I noticed that it had slipped between the sheaves, and thus, the motor just hummed.

It is easy enough to take the drive belt off, or at least take the cover off and see what is going on. With the belt off it would be interesting to see if the motor starts right up.

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