Hello Everyone,
I am a first time poster and hope someone can help. I have had a Mark7 for close to 5 years and it has always worked fine until today. I have to admit due to some health issues its been almost 2 years since I've used it. It sat covered in the basement all that time. Today I uncovered it, cleaned it up, plugged it in turned it on and it just hums, no motor movement at all. I tried spinning it with it off and it spins freely, I then turned it on and tried to turn the disc by hand and then the breaker tripped, I tried again and decided to ask for help. I do not know where to begin and would appreciate any help on getting it going again.
Thanks
Dennis
Mark VII Startup problem
Moderator: admin
update to this, I looked thru the documentation I have and some I found online and ended oiling in two places and was able to get it going by spinning the sanding disc with the speed at the slowest speed setting. It started and I let it run for about 10 minutes at slow speed then ran the control up to the fastest setting and then back down again. I shut it off and tried it again and it reguire a manual spin to get it going. This has never been the case before so I wonder what it going on. Still looking for any ideas.
Thanks
Dennis
Thanks
Dennis
I find that sawdust/crud collects in the motor over time. This sawdust can prevent the start winding centrifugal switch contact points from closing and starting the motor. I normally disassembly the motor, blow out any sawdust and file the contact points as the sawdust burns onto the contact points and needs removal.
As a short term solution, I remove the 2 screws holding the belt cover and slide the belt to the end of the tubes. Then vacuum or blow the sawdust from the inside of the headstock and motor. If you have a rubber or padded hammer, I bang on the sides of the motor pan to loosen the sawdust in the motor and vacuum or blow around the motor while doing this. Try the motor after doing this. If no success, than I put the Shopsmith in the drill press position and bang on the motor pan again trying to loosen the sawdust.
If no success after doing this, then I prepare the Shopsmith for removing the motor. Turn the speed control handle to FAST (not a problem) and remove the drive belt by pulling on the floating sheave and working the belt off. Do not let the floating sheave go but slowly release it watching that your finger tips do not get caught between the sheaves. I remove the switch nut and push the switch inside the headstock. I drop the motor (5 screws) on the bench tubes that I place some cardboard on to prevent scratching the motor pan or bench tubes. I place the Shopsmith in the drill press position making sure the switch wires are clear of the headstock.
I remove the 4 screws holding the motor to the motor pan. I take the motor and vacuum/blow all around the motor vents trying to remove any sawdust that is left. After placing the switch to ON, try just touching the power cord into an electrical outlet. If still no motor operation, then the motor needs to be disassemblied to get to the centrifugal contact points. Let me know if the above was successful or not and we can go from there. Let me know if any questions about this problem
As a short term solution, I remove the 2 screws holding the belt cover and slide the belt to the end of the tubes. Then vacuum or blow the sawdust from the inside of the headstock and motor. If you have a rubber or padded hammer, I bang on the sides of the motor pan to loosen the sawdust in the motor and vacuum or blow around the motor while doing this. Try the motor after doing this. If no success, than I put the Shopsmith in the drill press position and bang on the motor pan again trying to loosen the sawdust.
If no success after doing this, then I prepare the Shopsmith for removing the motor. Turn the speed control handle to FAST (not a problem) and remove the drive belt by pulling on the floating sheave and working the belt off. Do not let the floating sheave go but slowly release it watching that your finger tips do not get caught between the sheaves. I remove the switch nut and push the switch inside the headstock. I drop the motor (5 screws) on the bench tubes that I place some cardboard on to prevent scratching the motor pan or bench tubes. I place the Shopsmith in the drill press position making sure the switch wires are clear of the headstock.
I remove the 4 screws holding the motor to the motor pan. I take the motor and vacuum/blow all around the motor vents trying to remove any sawdust that is left. After placing the switch to ON, try just touching the power cord into an electrical outlet. If still no motor operation, then the motor needs to be disassemblied to get to the centrifugal contact points. Let me know if the above was successful or not and we can go from there. Let me know if any questions about this problem
Bill Mayo bill.mayo@verizon.net
Shopsmith owner since 73. Sell, repair and rebuild Shopsmith, Total Shop & Wood Master headstocks, SPTs, attachments, accessories and parts. US Navy 1955-1975 (FTCS/E-8)
Shopsmith owner since 73. Sell, repair and rebuild Shopsmith, Total Shop & Wood Master headstocks, SPTs, attachments, accessories and parts. US Navy 1955-1975 (FTCS/E-8)