I understand your frustration. Like many others, I keep a complete conventional headstock on hand as backup. In addition to the high cost, many PowerPro repairs take a comparatively long time.stephen_a._draper wrote: ↑Wed Aug 02, 2023 9:26 pm I completed the upgrade of my Powerpro headstock from Generation 1 to Generation 2. My machine was working just beautifully cutting some 1/32" veneer on the bandsaw and suddenly I heard a loud pop and the Powerpro shut off with the display being blank. The circuit breaker did not trip. I shut off the power switch on the headstock, unplugged it, plugged it back in, turned the power switch back on and still a blank screen. I am so aggravated with this headstock. I do not want to be an electronics or mechanical repairman. I just want to use it to do woodworking.
I bought this headstock from Shopsmith new in 2016. After four years the power supply failed and Shopsmith sent a new power supply to me under warranty. Now I have to send the headstock back for repair out of warranty. I e-mailed Customer Service on this issue and am waiting for their reply.
I am about to call it quits on the Power Pro headstock and go back to the traditional Mark V headstock.
For clarity, there is no circuit breaker in either the Gen 1 or 2 PowerPro, but there is both a thermal disconnect (resettable) and a fuse in the Gen 2. Did you check both? I'm not tying to nitpick, just to understand. Counting the facility circuit breaker for the circuit you are on, that is three possible sources of power interruption with the same basic symptoms. If it is on a GFCI circuit there is likely one more.
IIWM I would disassemble it to inspect internal power wiring. Seeing the modification in only two-dimensions, I was not completely comfortable with the added power wiring and its proximity to moving parts like the quill feed. In three dimensions there may be all kinds of clearance, I haven't seen an actual Gen 2. IIWM I would also put the original display back on to confirm it is not simply a problem with the new display. But I agree that the loud pop symptom is more consistent with a power supply.
These all fall under the category of things you've said you don't want to do, and I get it. Chances of an easy fix are slim, and it won't make the PowerPro reliable or maintainable in the way a conventional headstock is.
- David
