Shopsmith Forums

I have had and used a Power Station for years but have not used mine for a couple years now (since I moved). Yesterday I set out to clean and lubricate all of the shop equipment that has been setting idle. First candidate was the Power Station. I was shocked at how noisy mine is. Did I just forget?

Is there anything that needs to be lubricated that I might have ignored.

My guess is that your belts took a set, and that they're just exciting the flat sheet-metal mounting base resonances more than usual.

Power Stations are pretty noisy. But how noisy is too noisy? First thing I'd try is Belt Dressing, because the OEM-style belts might have taken a set. The only standard lubrication I know of is the motor bushings, though I use a bit of grease on the variator shaft too. (Not required/recommended per manual.)

Two 'known' improvements are segmented belts and Dennis' angle iron reinforced Base. I had both on my to-do list when I decided on a mini instead.

- David

I can't say with any certainty at all just how long it has been without being run so it is quite likely that the belts took a set. I turned it on and ran it up and down a few times. I think I could hear the noise level reducing.

However, with my hearing aids, no matter where I have them set some frequencies are exaggerated while others are suppressed.

The motor on mine has an oil cap but what I hear is not bearing noise.

Yes, I wish I had done the angle iron reinforcement but that is no longer likely to happen here.

Link belts may help. Scott did this on My Growth Rings. If I ever want to use my Power Station I'll change to link belts. I'll also use something to reinforce the top and deaden vibrations. I think the rest of the stand is a little shaky also and needs some bracing or gussets. Adding a switch to change motor direction could be useful sometimes and the motors come with wiring instructions for that. And finally, it needs a better way to adjust belt tension from the motor. It makes more sense for me to make shorty to use instead of the Power Station because I have the parts, but I think if the work is done to tame the noise and another Shopsmith is not and option then the Power Station would be useful.