I converted to the Powerpro Gen 2 over a year with no concerns from my original Mark 7 that is about 5 years old. Lately my quill has become very tight to where it has a hard time retracting.
I took the quill off and found that the quill feed pinion rod seemed to be the culprit as it was still tight. I took that off and cleaned, lubricated (with graphite spray), and waxed the quill feed pinion. I could then easily wind the spring by hand and thought I had found the solution. When I reassembled as per the exploded views it was better but still sticking some. The spring winding and unwinding still does not seem to be free like it should. I can’t seem find anything else on line, as it seems to be when everything is reassembled.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Fred
Powerpro gen 2 Quill Feed Pinion Tight
Moderator: admin
Re: Powerpro gen 2 Quill Feed Pinion Tight
Have you tried loosening the set screw that holds the quill in place? I've found good quill retraction to be very sensitive to set screw tightness. You can also increase spring tension. Even after de-burring, cleaning, & waxing the quill I had to both loosen the set screw and increase the spring tension to get my oscillating sander attachment to work smoothly. A very small change in the set screw tightness made a very big difference.
- Matanuska
1984 Mark V upgraded to 520 PowerPro. Shopsmith cast iron table bandsaw, jointer, belt sander, and 60's vintage 610 jigsaw SPT's. Makita 2040 15" planer, JessEm Mast-R-Lift II router table.
1984 Mark V upgraded to 520 PowerPro. Shopsmith cast iron table bandsaw, jointer, belt sander, and 60's vintage 610 jigsaw SPT's. Makita 2040 15" planer, JessEm Mast-R-Lift II router table.
Re: Powerpro gen 2 Quill Feed Pinion Tight
I'm using the Gen 1 exploded parts diagram for reference because I don't think the Gen 2 is available to us: (https://www.shopsmith.com/powerpro-service-parts)
Ensure #37, flat washer, is present. Ensure both Items 36, serrated washers, are present and properly oriented. These face opposite directions, sandwiching the depth dial (34) between the serrated sides of each washer.
Wax item 96, Quill Feed Sleeve, and the headstock bore that it rotates in. The depth stop end of the Quill Feed Pinion bears inside the return spring housing, I don't remember exactly what that looks like, it has been a while. IIWM I would try some powdered graphite in there to see if it helps. If there is something wrong with this part it is likely under warranty.
If none of that helps, the only thing I can think of is that the two bearing surfaces for the pinion's rotation are not aligned with one another causing some binding.(?) I'm pretty sure I have experienced this before, but never knew how it got out of alignment to begin with. I would assemble everything including the quill but with no spring tension and without the quill locked. Then back off the spring housing setscrew to give the housing some freedom of movement. Firmly lock the quill, then retighten the spring housing setscrew. My thinking here is to align the two bearing surfaces as well as possible. (Note: never apply the quill lock without the quill in place.)
And if nothing suggested in either of the responses helps, do you still have your Gen 1 Pinion Shaft assembly?
- David
Ensure #37, flat washer, is present. Ensure both Items 36, serrated washers, are present and properly oriented. These face opposite directions, sandwiching the depth dial (34) between the serrated sides of each washer.
Wax item 96, Quill Feed Sleeve, and the headstock bore that it rotates in. The depth stop end of the Quill Feed Pinion bears inside the return spring housing, I don't remember exactly what that looks like, it has been a while. IIWM I would try some powdered graphite in there to see if it helps. If there is something wrong with this part it is likely under warranty.
If none of that helps, the only thing I can think of is that the two bearing surfaces for the pinion's rotation are not aligned with one another causing some binding.(?) I'm pretty sure I have experienced this before, but never knew how it got out of alignment to begin with. I would assemble everything including the quill but with no spring tension and without the quill locked. Then back off the spring housing setscrew to give the housing some freedom of movement. Firmly lock the quill, then retighten the spring housing setscrew. My thinking here is to align the two bearing surfaces as well as possible. (Note: never apply the quill lock without the quill in place.)
And if nothing suggested in either of the responses helps, do you still have your Gen 1 Pinion Shaft assembly?
- David
Re: Powerpro gen 2 Quill Feed Pinion Tight
I think David is on to something with the two bored holes on either end of the quill feed pinion being slightly out of alignment. Maybe it happens through normal wear and tear? A sudden or slight jolt?
I reassembled everything and it works “good enough” for hobbyist woodworking. It’s still slightly tight but workable.
I really appreciate the feedback. Thanks!
I reassembled everything and it works “good enough” for hobbyist woodworking. It’s still slightly tight but workable.
I really appreciate the feedback. Thanks!
Re: Powerpro gen 2 Quill Feed Pinion Tight
Here’s an update - could help someone else out in the future:
I got to thinking about this issue a little more. I took the quill assembly and the quill feed pinion out again for probably the 5th time. Once you do this once it’s really pretty easy to disassemble and reassemble.
The problem was actually the quill feed pinion (part 42 in PowerPro headstock exploded view) rubbing and sticking against the spring housing (part 39). The spring housing contains the quill spring (part 40). I noticed this while trying to turn the housing while holding the quill feed pinion.
The solution was to squirt dry lubricant (graphite) into the housing a few times and then rotate the pinion back and forth. I also sanded, cleaned, and waxed the pinion head where it was rubbing against the housing. It now works better than new. No sticking whatsoever!
It’s a fairly easy solution to anyone who experiences a tight quill feed pinion. And also, be sure to not let the spherical washers drop into the casting. The string method works well. Good luck!
I got to thinking about this issue a little more. I took the quill assembly and the quill feed pinion out again for probably the 5th time. Once you do this once it’s really pretty easy to disassemble and reassemble.
The problem was actually the quill feed pinion (part 42 in PowerPro headstock exploded view) rubbing and sticking against the spring housing (part 39). The spring housing contains the quill spring (part 40). I noticed this while trying to turn the housing while holding the quill feed pinion.
The solution was to squirt dry lubricant (graphite) into the housing a few times and then rotate the pinion back and forth. I also sanded, cleaned, and waxed the pinion head where it was rubbing against the housing. It now works better than new. No sticking whatsoever!
It’s a fairly easy solution to anyone who experiences a tight quill feed pinion. And also, be sure to not let the spherical washers drop into the casting. The string method works well. Good luck!