Shopsmith Forums

Dusty, I will read the manuals:D I did find another post from you about alignments of the BS and a jig you built to assist in this effort. I'm the type of guy who only reads the manuals when I can't make something work using common sense and logic first I will perform the alignments tonight as described in your previous posts.

fredsheldon wrote:Dusty, I will read the manuals:D I did find another post from you about alignments of the BS and a jig you built to assist in this effort. I'm the type of guy who only reads the manuals when I can't make something work using common sense and logic first I will perform the alignments tonight as described in your previous posts.

I like to read the 'instructions' first, then use that other stuff when they do not work.

Just to set the record straight. I hardly ever read the instructions unless I get in trouble. Then I read what I have to to get out of trouble. I am and always have been a very poor and slow reader. Therefore, I do it only when I must.

dusty wrote:Just to set the record straight. I hardly ever read the instructions unless I get in trouble. Then I read what I have to to get out of trouble. I am and always have been a very poor and slow reader. Therefore, I do it only when I must.

Well that explains a few things!;)


Not a put down! I appreciate your candor!

Ok, now everything is lined up properly and at the correct height. Thanks for all the suggestions here, saved me from having to read the entire manual

Good for you! You can now start working with your machine!

I am pleased to report that after two trips to Dayton, my PowerPro and my bandsaw now get along. I am not sure if it is the counseling that the two received or the new motor, controller, quill, drive sleeve and idler shaft that the PowerPro got. Either way, I am pleased with the outcome. But, it was a long process.

SDSSmith wrote:I am pleased to report that after two trips to Dayton, my PowerPro and my bandsaw now get along. I am not sure if it is the counseling that the two received or the new motor, controller, quill, drive sleeve and idler shaft that the PowerPro got. Either way, I am pleased with the outcome. But, it was a long process.

This is extremely good news especially for those who own PowerPros and could conceivably be faced with this issue.

This is much better, by my way of thinking, than masking the problem by using a speed reducer.

My first PowerPro upgrade apparently required the same counseling. However my problem had nothing to do with the bandsaw. I had one of the first 10 DIY Powerpro upgrade kits which Shopsmith shipped to those of us who pre-ordered. It took me a while to get around to installing it. But once I did, it made sounds that nothing, even with some changes made to the internal parameters would correct. I simply used the sanding disk as a load.

Wes at Shopsmith sent me a container & back to Poe Ave it went. Everything mechanical was replaced without success. Finally everything else was replaced and voila! It ran like a DVR powered headstock should- reminded me of the tuneups my father did on the family car in the 50's where he would take a glass of water and place it on the fender and adjust until there were no ripples in the water.

Unfortunately, my headstock did not survive the shipping process back to me from Dayton to New Jersey. Don't ask me how, as hard as it is to believe, the idler shaft somehow took a hit by FedEx Ground that drove it into the headstock! I never bothered to put the hubs on the shafts or I would of noticed the idler arm shaft was pushed into the headstock 3/4 the width of one of the idler shaft bearings. FedEx Ground was the shipping company. One time I received a Shopsmith Power Station. I was standing in my garage when I observed the driver give the box a kick & out the side door it went, landing upside down on the cement driveway. Amazing!

I was so excited to get my 'counseled' PowerPro headstock back, I mounted it on my new double-tilt system bench- be careful one of the knurled screws is always screwed in or you'll be surprised when that end of the tilt assy pops up... Opps...

I turn it on & ran it up to speed. My PowerPro was vibrating so bad that both the SPT handles both fell off the double tilt assemblies as did any partially screws which just vibrated out & landed on the floor after 5-10 minutes of operation.

But despite the wheels being up and my Shopsmith being solid on the floor, my Shopsmith started vibrating across the plywood subfloor. I should of videoed it. It was alive, moving in a westerly direction- back to Dayton? I turned it off & pulled off the motor cover. What I saw were the belts were both at an angle. Upon closer inspection, the inner new-style-idler-shaft bearing was almost completely out of the eccentric! As a result, the belts were at a 20-30 degree angle which caused some really bizarre things to happen.

Back to Poe Ave it went for more 'counseling'. Well, this time it worked and I requested a hub protector be used to provide protection against about I think was impossible from happening again. I happened to buy a another used Shopsmith with a new bandsaw thanks to someone posting it on this forum on or around April 5th. It is Shopsmith 520 with a bandsaw that became mine on April 30th and it came with the hub protector- a great safety device & shaft protector!

My PowerPro headstock runs better than the Mark 7 used at the Lowe's demo on Memorial Day weekend. That weekend I was unable to resist and purchased a second DVR DIY kit as prices had gone up significantly on May 1st and at this demo, the $1286 DYI price was being charged. After all, I had a "new" 520 and it seemed natural to upgrade it to a Mark 7. Another bargain I couldn't walk away from was Lowe's offered me 10% off military discount (applied to the DVR and also to shipping!) and best of all 18 month interest-free financing. I figured my wife couldn't argue that: a great sale, a discount, and free shipping! She'd of probably slapped me if I didn't jump on it.

I installed the headstock and have to say that this one, I believe serial number 1255 (might be wrong), was far easier to install. Any problem or issue with the original DIY kits was resolved. This new kit included a new power switch as well. I think this second upgrade only took me 4 hours. This newer headstock runs just as good as the headstock I got back from Shopsmith a couple of weeks later. Be sure to use/read the instructions as they have been slightly revised and the original DVD video included in the kit is the same as the original. Whoever thought to include the DVD video in my humble opinion is really smart.

I have a speed reducer, but haven't set up my new wood shop up yet. I know that Teknatool is concerned on how the motor performs. During my tour I mentioned it would be great if this flesh sensing technology is mandated by politicians who wouldn't know the difference between a left handed or right handed hammer mandate all table saw manufacturers comply with. My DVR motors stop faster than any motorized tool I have that has an electric brake. I believe the PowerPro might already with a slight modification would comply in a simply manner like the Whirlwind flesh detection system works that is adaptable to any table saw: http://www.whirlwindtool.com Teknatool has larger 2 1/2 HP and smaller 1 1/2 HP DVR motors. They have a history page on teknatool.com. YouTube has a video showing many different motor configurations. I would love to use DVR motors on my 10E/ERs. The torque is what impresses me most along with no maintenance, belts, or other issues most AC motors experience over time. But nothing beats great customer support.

So was it a simple alignment issue or was it something else? One good thing is to know that Shopsmith support a reality as is their warranty/guarantee.

JPG40504 wrote:I like to read the 'instructions' first, then use that other stuff when they do not work.

Yeah, me2. But I've seen so many instructions that didn't work that when I try one and it doesn't work the first time-- like the Band Saw Post mounting block-- I give up on it too quickly. Until, like this case, somebody (forum) tells me it should work, or I get desperate, and try it again (with a bigger hammer).

Then too, it took me a while to realize that this particular Mark V is possibly unique in the history of the tool, with attendant special problems that defy standard procedures.