Where Is ShopSmith Tech Support?

[rjent]

Just guessing here. But Shopsmith may have some sort of an arrangement for warranty work with the manufacturer...Nova, right?

Nova makes the motor and the computer. The power supply is made by SS. The computer shouldn't be that expensive as it is not very complicated or sophisticated, but I am guessing at the price ... you never know these days.

[woodmeister]

Last year I purchased one that was installed by a wood worker. It seemed to work so I got it. I immediately sold it because I figured if it is electronic it will go bad and who knows when. Love my 510 and can depend on it!! Hate to hear the horror stories from unhappy power pro owners. I have found SS have always bent over backwards to make things right and unless on back order it was fast.

[ChrisNeilan]

I have faith in the quality of the powerpro. That said, I don't tempt fate. Between uses I try to remember to keep it unplugged. You never know when there may be a power surge - think lightning- and poof, your tool is toast! I also have installed disconnect switches on my other big ticket tools for the same reason. I have one powerpro and one standard headstock, so if the pro fries, I have a backup. So far, so good!

[dusty]

I still have a PowerPro in my future but I must admit that this situation has given me concern.

How does the warranty read? Especially with regard to the electronics.

When there is an "out-of-warranty" failure, who does the repair and what is it likely to cost?

I seriously doubt that Nova (Teknatool) will be involved. I expect this to be just like the arrangements with Emerson. Emerson will not do business (even technical talk) with the end user due to (as I understand) contractual arrangements with Shopsmith.

This is OKAY so long as Shopsmith will be there to arrange the repairs and the cost figures (for that repair) are reasonable.

Yes, I too have faith but is it "blind faith"???

[dickg1]

I did not expect the warranty to be infinite. Here is what the catalog states:

Your PowerPro Upgrade is protected by the following Parts & Labor Warranties:
Motor - 5 Years
Belts, Bearings & Electronics - 2 Years
Materials & Workmanship Defects - Lifetime

Does make you wonder about the Do-It-Yourself upgrade and the Workmanship coverage. Also, how is an Electronics malfunction defined? It could be a material failure (apparently covered by the last sentence) or caused by some external factor which would be covered for only two years.

Dick

[algale]

For comparison purposes, the warranty on the the standard 1-1/8 HP Mark V motors is only 2 years; so the 5 year warranty on the Power Pro motor sounds pretty good!

http://shopsmith.com/mark7site/guarantee.htm

[charlese]

This is the very first time I've heard of Shopsmith calling a PowerPro warranty out of service.

I've had a control unit replaced free of charge after more years than listed in the warranty. All I was asked to do was send in the old one.

[rjent]

This is the very first time I've heard of Shopsmith calling a PowerPro warranty out of service.

I've had a control unit replaced free of charge after more years than listed in the warranty. All I was asked to do was send in the old one.

I hope that is not changing.
One of the reasons I sprung for the Mark 7 was the reputation of support to these machines. SS is famous for taking care of these machines well after the fact. If the machine starts costing me to fix in a few years due to failures, I will just get rid of it. Too many other choices for woodworking. So far they have taken care of me, but I am still under "warranty" for a few more years, we will see.

JMHO

[EliWalton]

Wow -- That 100-year old reeves drive technology is looking better and better!

73

[dickg1]

Back on May 1, Tech Support requested that I make a video of the control panel. I did and "thought" I forwarded it. Checked the following Monday and Customer Service had not received it. Yep, too big a file for G-mail. I made another, shorter video,too big. Made a third, even shorter, yep, too big. Obviously I needed a different approach. Well, today I thought I had one, turned on the PP to start the video and the PP started running !!!

There was nothing done to it in the two week interval since the last video attempt. I checked it at 9500 rpm and it accelerated to speed as normal.

What caused it to correct itself?

Dick