Shopsmith Forums

Is there a motor out there that I could use to retrofit my 510 headstock to something with more HP, would like something comparable to the Power-pro. I also like the option to reverse the motor. I just cannot justify 1700 bucks for a power-pro upgrade. Would like to be at around 1.75HP as I find that my current motor bogs down or pops the breaker when making any bigger cuts. PN# would be great for both the switch and motor.

I don't know the answer to the question about bigger motors for the Shopsmith but I would also be interested in what kinds of cuts in what dimension and type of material and what blade are bogging you down.

I have found that with my Mark V properly aligned I can cut through 8/4 Sappele with no problem using the stock shopsmith combo blade.
Try slowing the speed control down a little to get more torque.

Before I spent any money on a new motor, I would make certain that I had a good 14 gauge power cord and that I was connected to the power source with a good 15a or 20a circuit breaker. I might even pop for a new circuit breaker. No extension cords.

I would also clean and lubricate the headstock and align the main table.

If that has not resolved the problem, new bearings in the motor would be considered.

Now, I might talk about a new motor. Good luck on finding a motor that is any larger than what is available from Shopsmith.

I have already done everything listed with the exception of new bearings in the motor. Bearings seem fine though. I have also replaced the blade with a new blade. When I try and rip anything thicker than about a half inch the motor bogs and pops the breaker. My new belt sander also routinely pops the breaker.

superpop wrote:I find that my current motor bogs down or pops the breaker when making any bigger cuts.

Is your blade sharp and have ya oiled the SS lately?

superpop wrote:I have already done everything listed with the exception of new bearings in the motor. Bearings seem fine though. I have also replaced the blade with a new blade. When I try and rip anything thicker than about a half inch the motor bogs and pops the breaker. My new belt sander also routinely pops the breaker.

That is highly suspect. I think an investigation into the circuit you are using (including the breaker) is in order.

Yeah, definitely something wrong. A bigger motor is simply going to mask whatever the problem is. And then it's gonna bite you in the butt.

I rip 2" maple, no problem. Perhaps not fast enough for a production shop, but plenty fast for me. My table and rip fence are aligned with the blade, but I use no heroic methods (e.g. dial indicators). Plus my Shopsmith is on a 15A circuit that's shared with the dust collector (and maybe other smaller things).

rjent wrote:

superpop wrote:I have already done everything listed with the exception of new bearings in the motor. Bearings seem fine though. I have also replaced the blade with a new blade. When I try and rip anything thicker than about a half inch the motor bogs and pops the breaker. My new belt sander also routinely pops the breaker.

That is highly suspect. I think an investigation into the circuit you are using (including the breaker) is in order.

AMEN!!!

Bigger motor will make the breaker tripping worse.

Using an extension cord?

I had the same problem and found it was my fence was not aligned with the blade. It was not off by much but it made a big difference.

I am not using an extension cord and have tried two different circuits both 20A. I will double check blade alignment but I don't think that is the issue. I figured this was a common problem as the folks with the Power pro heads seem to like the fact that the headstock is much more robust. Otherwise why would shopsmith up the HP and torque if what I have was more than enough.