kicks the breaker

markflow · Post by **markflow** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 11:18 am

Hi Everyone....I am having trouble just purchased and older shopsmith v and when I power it up it kicks the breaker ....I took the drive belt off and it ran perfectly but as soon as I put any attachments on it after about 30 seconds it will kick the breaker....any suggestion on what it could be ....thanks::rolleyes:

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 11:26 am

markflow wrote:Hi Everyone....I am having trouble just purchased and older shopsmith v and when I power it up it kicks the breaker ....I took the drive belt off and it ran perfectly but as soon as I put any attachments on it after about 30 seconds it will kick the breaker....any suggestion on what it could be ....thanks::rolleyes:

My first reaction would be to clean out the headstock and do a headstock lubrication. I believe that the sheaves all need some oil.

The fact that the motor runs properly with the belt removed is a very good sign. The rest of what might be causing your problems are pure mechanical.

You might want to consider purchasing new belts. They tend to get a bit stiff and brittle when they get old.

markflow · Post by **markflow** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 11:50 am

Ty Dusty I am new at this but I am going to give it a try...thanks for the info

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 12:04 pm

Also after you lube everything let the machine run for a while with no load other than the drive train in the headstock. Lube in bearings tends to set and get hard a little heat from running will loosen it up.

Just keep an eye on it listen for any new or strange noises and touch the headstock case every so often to make sure it isn't getting too hot.

The headstock as you are standing looking at the speed control tends to get hot up on upper left surface. That is where the belt turning the arbor runs. Mine gets hot enough that touching it can be uncomfortable. Doesn't burn you but it is hot.

Then let the machine cool down and try a little more lube as it cools. As metal cools it contracts and this causes bearing to pull in lube. I know the bearings are sealed but trust me thin oil (watch maker or Marvel mystery oil) will get sucked right pass the seals.

Try cycling through these steps a few times and your SS will run like a top.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 12:10 pm

markflow wrote:Ty Dusty I am new at this but I am going to give it a try...thanks for the info

Since you are new, this is the right place to be with questions about your Shopsmith.

There are many folks here who can help - with almost any problem that might occur.

markflow · Post by **markflow** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 1:19 pm

I cleaned out all the headstock and oiled everything with 3in1 oil and its still tripping my breaker ....starting to get discouraged now...I just bought this shop smith this week and never got to use it yet....hope I am not out alot of money....anymore ideas from anyone thanks

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 2:10 pm

Give the oil some time to work in.

Also can you find another electrical circuit to try.

Some perfectly normal SS trip breakers if the circuit isn't just perfect.

Shopsmith requires real close to 15 amps at startup and if the breaker is weak it will trip. So try another circuit also don't use an extension cord.

Also many forum members report circuit breaker failures when they tried to use an extension cord.

If you must use an extension cord make sure it is 12 gauge wire nothing less.

Again give the oil some time to work in and make sure your problem isn't just a weak circuit breaker.

Don't worry assuming the motor is okay everything else that causes this is fixable and not all that expensive. Even a new motor with all the Power pro upgrades have come down in price.

curiousgeorge · Post by **curiousgeorge** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 2:12 pm

What size breaker are you running it on and is it on a dedicated circuit?
OOPS! Ed beat me to it.

markflow · Post by **markflow** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 2:18 pm

Hi, I am running off a 20 amp breaker and nothing else is plugged in just my shop smith and it still trips the breaker

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Sat Feb 23, 2013 2:28 pm

Still could be a bad breaker however 20 amps should handle it.

Have you let the motor run for awhile without a belt? How does it seem?
Noise? vibration? hot?

I still think the problem is either a electrical circuit problem or the drive train needs to get the oil into the tight spots. If you grab the quill can you turn it by hand? Put on a sanding disk so you have some leverage and see it that helps.

Also some Shopsmiths must be started in lowest speed.

Do not turn the speed control without the motor running!

If the speed control is set as something other than the lowest speed mount a sanding disk and as you turn the disk begin to crank down the speed range. If it get hard to do it stop and turn the sanding disk a couple of time and try again. Careful you don't want to break the speed controler