Shopsmith Forums

While making "crafts" for an upcoming craft fair I started out with first not being able to get my belt sander tensioning knob to hold and function properly. Then My band saw had the blade keep coming off the front of the upper wheel. New tires on it and has been used for 20-30 hrs. Then the coup de gras, my power plant started giving an error message, "Low Voltage", then System Error, RPS, Error 0" ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED AS I AM IN A TIME CRUNCH, OF COURSE.

Photo of belt sander tensioning knob.

0) Remove belt.

1) Release any remaining tension - Hold the idler drum with one hand, depress the catch with the other. Allow the knob to rotate CLOCKwise until the catch stops it. Repeat until all tension is removed(until knob will not turn when catch is depressed).

2) Set tension - While still holding the idler drum, turn knob COUNTERclockwise 4 revolutions(catch drops fourth time).

The arrows on the knob can lead one to do this incorrectly. i.e. human factors 'suck'!

The messages you got on your PowerPro were all related to a shutdown of the voltage coming from your power cord. First thing to check is your plug's connection, then circuit breakers or fuse. If you can't get resolution, call Shopsmith.

I think the directions for adjusting the belt sander are somewhere in the "Sawdust Sessions".

I'll look for where, but maybe someone else can find the instructions faster than me. JPG always remembers this stuff! Good for him! Beat me to it!

What size blade on the BS? Is the upper wheel 'canted' correctly?

Coup de gras - no knowledge available on that one!:(

Missed the part about the bandsaw entirely:o The upper wheel should be tilted back so thaat a straight edge laid across the upper wheel should extend at least 1/4" in front of the top of the lower wheel.

First, check the upper wheel bearing. There should be no looseness. Use wheel bearing grease to pack that bearing. A good grade of lithium grease will work.

Once you know the bearing is in good shape, You can get the proper tilt by grasping the upper wheel and pulling on the bottom while pushing in the top.

DISCLAIMER: Bill Mayo says he has seen several bent upper wheels from doing this operation and has another method using a pipe on the wheel shaft. I have had no problem in doing the two hand bending operation/

My tilt gives a half inch between the straight edge and the lower wheel and everything works fine.

I'll try tomorrow, thx.

Tried 3/8 and 1/2.

charlese wrote:The messages you got on your PowerPro were all related to a shutdown of the voltage coming from your power cord. First thing to check is your plug's connection, then circuit breakers or fuse. If you can't get resolution, call Shopsmith.

I think the directions for adjusting the belt sander are somewhere in the "Sawdust Sessions".

I'll look for where, but maybe someone else can find the instructions faster than me. JPG always remembers this stuff! Good for him! Beat me to it!

Thx I'll try tomorrow, I'm through cursing for the night!

The wheel is loose. It is less than a year old. Will the bearing grease take care of that? Unfortunately I can't try anything because the headstock has to be sent back to SS. Of course I'm in the middle of a project, but that's Murphy's law.

If the bandsaw is that new, I'd call shopsmith customer service. I don't think you should have to grease/repack a bearing that is that new. (Maybe I'm wrong?)