Shopsmith Forums

meangreen, have you even called Shopsmith customer support?

I made my comments due to the fact that he has already replaced the switch twice, on his own, on a brand new machine.

Have you checked the breaker/fuse electrical panel?

How did you determine the 'correct voltage is getting to the switch'?

If you have an ohmmeter, measure the resistance across the motor leads while still attached to the switch (with the switch off and the cord unplugged from the output). It should be VERY LOW!

When describing(it doesn't run) be observant if it 1)hums 2)jerks,then stops 3)makes any noise

beeg wrote:This should be handled by SS CS.

Nothing wrong with determining the actual problem first! This does not however mean it is ok to alter any parts. Shipping a motor is a lot simpler than an entire headstock.

A call IS the first step(they may have had others acting the same caused by a known(to them) problem).

meangreen wrote:Alright so I am new to SS and to this forum. My Dad bought be a new SS and it was delivered one week ago today and I still have not been able to use it.

First, I completed the set up as told by the manual. I then started running the motor and all seemed good to go. However, I then start to make my first cut and the motor stopped. I turned the switch to "On" and nothing. No movement, no humming, no cut, and incomplete projects. Grrrrr.... I have now replaced the switch with a new one from SS and it did not work. I am now thinking it is the motor.

Does anyone have any suggestions or am I going to have to return this thing (headstock) to SS already and wait for a replacement?

FYI, I swapped the switch with one from my drill press and the switch works in my drill press. Correct voltage is getting to the switch, and all terminals are connected. The SS is plugged directly into the outlet.

Did you check that you did not pop a breaker or fuse in the panel?

Ok, I'll try to answer all the questions that have come up.

reible - Both my Dad and I got our shopsmiths a day apart from one another. Delayed by two weeks due to material defect in the motor pan material.

Checked outlet (GFI) and breaker and all seems fine. However, I'll plug my iron into it tonight to check for the heating issue, if I used the toaster my wife would kill me. Wife quote "if I can't use your tools in the kitchen then you can't use mine in the garage!"

Anyway, the outlet is on a separate 15amp breaker so that is good for me.

Ohm meter check tonight after I pull the motor (explain later).

iclark - Voltage checked with multimeter and all is good at the switch.

Checked for jam, everything turns freely (with some tension) and all seems clear to me.

mikelst - Thanks for the offer but I am going to check the motor tonight and if that it not the issue then I am going to send the motor/headstock back to SS. However, I'll keep in contact with you for future reference. Thanks again.


wa2crk - Checking iron tonight.

No the SS quit working before I ever made a cut.

Contacted SS.


beeg - Thanks for the warm welcome.


Ok this is for all, I contacted SS CS this morning again (starting to know the people there by name) and asked for help. I am going to pull the motor and do some troubleshooting of my own (with SS approval due to the warranty and suggestions for everyone here). I am going to check the motor for proper connection, resistance, grounding, ... So there is no confusion, my SS is making zero noise and the motor acts like it is not getting power.

I'll keep everyone up to date, and just so everyone knows SS has been great about responding to this problem and I expect that I'll have this up and running in no time.

mark-b - Just so you know, this was a gift so I don't plan on returning this anytime soon unless it is to get a replacement.

Thanks for your detailed concise answers/status report!

Glad to hear SS is being so co-operative.(allowing you to trouble shoot it for them).

I think we all are curious what the problem cause is. Almost sounds like a failure to connect a wire lead correctly(securely) or a bad piece of wire(intermittant open).

Keep us 'posted'!

Doubly glad to hear SS has recently shipped TWO new machines.

I found out what is wrong but now I have to talk with SS about how to fix it. The white power wire that is connected to each other was broken on the male side. I don't know if there is enough wire to splice on a new lug but I guess I'll see. Picture should explain better then I can.

I want to say thanks to everyone and I'll post what SS does to fix this or what I do.

[ATTACH]7772[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]7773[/ATTACH]

I think the appropriate thing to do is for them to ship a new motor immediately. That will give you a shipping container for you to ship the 'defective one' back. They should pay shipping both ways. IMHO


P.S. Nice Pix!