Shopsmith Forums

Welcome to the addiction ! All of the advice given to you previously was spot on. Be safe and time to make some projects. Good luck !
Paul

well, I think I may have found the limit of my SS. tried cut some 1"x1/4" strips for trim of some shelves. well, don't know how cold it was in the garage (-3F outside - much warmer inside...probably 30F???), but it would spool up to maybe 500rpm, then pop the breaker. found out it's only a 20AMP - don't know if that matters. I haven't had any problems the other days I was cutting the same strips, but it was much warmer those days. Heck, I didn't even get to cut any wood tonight since it wouldn't stay running nor spool up to tablesaw speeds. if it's the cold causing the problems, then I guess I'll just wait for warmer days. if not, gonna hate ripping it apart. just got it together and running a few weeks ago.

2rr2nv wrote:well, I think I may have found the limit of my SS. tried cut some 1"x1/4" strips for trim of some shelves. well, don't know how cold it was in the garage (-3F outside - much warmer inside...probably 30F???), but it would spool up to maybe 500rpm, then pop the breaker. found out it's only a 20AMP - don't know if that matters. I haven't had any problems the other days I was cutting the same strips, but it was much warmer those days. Heck, I didn't even get to cut any wood tonight since it wouldn't stay running nor spool up to tablesaw speeds. if it's the cold causing the problems, then I guess I'll just wait for warmer days. if not, gonna hate ripping it apart. just got it together and running a few weeks ago.

Which motor?

What speed setting?

P.S. The start switch actuator may be sticking(switch not opening).

I've operated my shopsmith in the above freezing temperatures of my garage but never as low as 32 or less. It has always started up fine but once on some advice I got about using bee's wax on the speed control I found I could not turn it when it got cold. The bee's wax just hardened and I had to chip it off the gears to get things moving again. Once I did that it was up and running up to speed.

I'm not sure of a lower temperature limit but if I can I like it to be about 50 degrees in the shop to do anything. Maybe more of my limit then the tools but I like to think it is better for the tools and me to do so.

Ed

20 Amps is "Ample" for a Shopsmith, if it's a dedicated circuit. But if you have other loads on it, maybe not. Any chance that there are heaters, fluorescent lights, or some such on the same circuit that would draw extra current in cold weather?

beeg wrote:I wood say that that temperature is to low. The operating temp is more like 45°/50° minimum.

I'm curious ... why? Mine is in a heated basement, and so I have absolutely no practical experience. But I just Googled the effect of low temperatures on V belts, and Gates claims that low-temperature effects are negligible down to -30F.

http://ww2.gates.com/IF/facts/documents/Gf000190.pdf

I think it has the 1 1/8 HP motor.
and I had it set on the "R"
It is not a dedicated circuit, but nothing else was turned on. last week when I was cutting, I had the shopvac and SS turned on at the same time with no problems.
wonder if the belt is an issue since it is original from the early 80's.

cold don't bother me. I grew up in em. heck, I've worked on my ole Ram when it was 9 above, wind/snow blowing like the dickens, and just doing my thing. I'm a fan of the cold, not heat. If I ever have to move south, I'm gonna be a very unhappy retiree...

Still suspicious of the start switch failing to open.

Does it act the same if set to slow rather than "R"?

I thought we weren't supposed to change speed when off? I can't change speed before it pops the breaker...