Shopsmith Forums

For those keeping score, my idler shaft on the PowerPro just puked a bearing (if you can call those tiny Chinese crap, bearings).

So so far I have replaced everything except the motor and the quill LOL.

I am trying to keep positive ... /:

rjent wrote:For those keeping score, my idler shaft on the PowerPro just puked a bearing (if you can call those tiny Chinese crap, bearings).

So so far I have replaced everything except the motor and the quill LOL.

I am trying to keep positive ... /:

OK, What size are these "tiny" bearings?

JPG wrote:

OK, What size are these "tiny" bearings?

So you are saying you want pictures ....

rjent wrote: So so far I have replaced everything except the motor and the quill LOL.:

This is hardly encouraging. If I may ask, (1) how old is your Power Pro and (2) was it a DIY install or did you buy the Power Pro pre-installed by Shopsmith?

algale wrote:

rjent wrote: So so far I have replaced everything except the motor and the quill LOL.:

This is hardly encouraging. If I may ask, (1) how old is your Power Pro and (2) was it a DIY install or did you buy the Power Pro pre-installed by Shopsmith?

I bought a Mark 7 in the spring of 2014 and I love the function of the machine, I truly do. It was a factory build of course. I have used it a lot, but my Mark V's probably have longer run times (at 40 years old) as I use them running the belt sander, band saw(s), etc. The PP starts, does it's function, then is turned off.

Like I said, I am trying to stay positive. The one thing that I have contention with is their lack of support. I don't see this as normal. If it is, then shame on them if it isn't then shame on them.

JMHO

It would probably be worth taking a look at what size the bearings are. If they are some standard size, you might be able to pick up US made replacement bearings to install.
Last I looked, there are still some high quality bearings made in the US. If you can find some, they could be your solution.

I asked because that is the second time in recent posts that they have been mentioned as inadequate. Curious if smaller than current or MVII idler shaft bearing pairs.

JPG wrote:

rjent wrote:For those keeping score, my idler shaft on the PowerPro just puked a bearing (if you can call those tiny Chinese crap, bearings).

So so far I have replaced everything except the motor and the quill LOL.

I am trying to keep positive ... /:

OK, What size are these "tiny" bearings?

Are these not the same bearings as those in a Mark V with the new idler shaft/eccentric?

JPG wrote:I asked because that is the second time in recent posts that they have been mentioned as inadequate. Curious if smaller than current or MVII idler shaft bearing pairs.

I will post a picture later today. My contention is that this is a shaft that will turn at 16000 RPM when the quill is turning at 10000. Ironically, I have not had to disassemble the bearings on the Mark V or VII as they are still in good shape. That kind of speed needs a solid bearing set. There is going to be some lateral loads because of the inaccurate method of "balancing the sound" when setting up the shaft in question. I have seen better bearings in dot matrix printers.

Just seems under designed. But what do I know ....

rjent wrote:

JPG wrote:I asked because that is the second time in recent posts that they have been mentioned as inadequate. Curious if smaller than current or MVII idler shaft bearing pairs.

I will post a picture later today. My contention is that this is a shaft that will turn at 16000 RPM when the quill is turning at 10000. Ironically, I have not had to disassemble the bearings on the Mark V or VII as they are still in good shape. That kind of speed needs a solid bearing set. There is going to be some lateral loads because of the inaccurate method of "balancing the sound" when setting up the shaft in question. I have seen better bearings in dot matrix printers.

Just seems under designed. But what do I know ....

I may be wrong but I am under the impression that the idler shaft bearings were upgraded on the new Mark V idler shaft in anticipation of the Mark 7. The difference between the shaft assembly for the Mark V and that for the Mark 7 is that the Mark 7 shaft is "shorter to accommodate the new pulley (without a sheave).