Shopsmith Forums

Alright so I am new to SS and to this forum. My Dad bought be a new SS and it was delivered one week ago today and I still have not been able to use it.

First, I completed the set up as told by the manual. I then started running the motor and all seemed good to go. However, I then start to make my first cut and the motor stopped. I turned the switch to "On" and nothing. No movement, no humming, no cut, and incomplete projects. Grrrrr.... I have now replaced the switch with a new one from SS and it did not work. I am now thinking it is the motor.

Does anyone have any suggestions or am I going to have to return this thing (headstock) to SS already and wait for a replacement?

FYI, I swapped the switch with one from my drill press and the switch works in my drill press. Correct voltage is getting to the switch, and all terminals are connected. The SS is plugged directly into the outlet.

Hi and welcome to the forum!

What sounds like bad news to you might not be so bad if we can find the problem.

Before we even get to that I wanted to mention that this is the first shopsmith that I have heard about that ever came from the factory dead. I haven't even heard stories about a cousin's girlfriends fathers dad who works at the Ford plant that heard one of the guys talking about his wife's sisters son in-law who knew of someone that had this problem.

This also the first shopsmith that I have heard about that shipped out of the factory in some time... this is good news on that front.

So here is my list of things to try and where to start.

I would go to the outlet and start by plugging in an item like a toaster and toast some bread. I would feel the toaster cord near the outlet to see if it gets warm or HOT. I have had outlets fail and had to replace them in my house, so it happens and that can be an issue. If the toaster does a good job making toast and the cord near the wall stays cool to warm then it proves the outlet and fuse/circuit breaker are working. It would also be a good idea to make sure it is on a circuit by itself. The 15 amp or so required by the shopsmith can be hampered with other things on the same circuit.

(Since you have had the switch out and made sure it is working then you might want to make sure the cord is working. If you have an ohm meter and know how to check this then do so... if you don't we can work you around this or we can skip it for now).

I'm guess you know not to turn the speed dial with out the machine running or being turned over by hand (while unplugged) using the sanding disk to do the turning and then turning the speed dial at the same time. If you or anyone has manged to turn the dial while it wasn't moving the belts can become "stuck". Now the machine should have been set at low speed when it arrived but now after sawing you most likely have it at saw speed right? Sometimes they don't like to start at a higher speed especially if the room it is in is cold. I think shopsmith asks for 55 degs.

Put the disk sander on and turn the disk while turning the speed dial, you might want to go to high speed first then back all the way to slow. If it takes a lot of force on the speed dial then stop as something else might be wrong. When you get back to slow you can attempt power it up again and see what happens... you should listen for any sound or movement when you turn it on. It may just start up or it may start humming. If it starts humming shut it off right away. Dead quiet might also happen.

If it is totally quite then we will have to go one direction, if it hums we need to go another way. I think this might be a good place for me to stop and wait for a reply. You can either follow what I have written or follow someone else on their path but I would not mix and match as it will be come to confusing.

Ed

you say that the correct voltage is getting to the switch so you have already made sure that something else plugged into that outlet will run (that the breaker isn't tripped or bad).

have you tried putting on the sanding disk (sand paper not needed) and turning it by hand (with the SS unplugged). if you cannot turn the disk by hand, then something is jammed. take off the belt cover and you should be able to see where the jam is - based on the belts being tight or loose when you try to turn the disk one way and then the other.

you might also consider plugging something that draws a lot of current into that outlet and making sure that something is not severely limiting the amperage (admittedly, this would be as unusual as the sudden infant failure of the SS that you are experiencing).

sorry to hear that you are having problems, but welcome to the forum.

Ivan

I am somewhat local. If you want we can get together and look at it.
I sent a PM with my contact info.

Hi;
Sorry to hear about your problem. If there is no humming from the motor when you turn the switch to "ON" then that is an indication that
1. there is no current getting to the motor from the outlet assuming that the outlet is OK and the switch in the SS is OK. Plug a high current device into the SAME outlet that you use for the SS to check the outlet. A clothes iron will do OK.

2. I think that you wrote that the SS quit while making a cut. If so and the electrical supply checks OK then it could be a motor problem.

3. Be sure to check the electrical outlet and do NOT use the push in terminals on the rear of the duplex outlet. Use the screw terminals on the outlet to attach the wires. I have found on several occasions that the push in terminals can be intermittent.
If all this fails then call SS Customer service and be guided by them. I believe that they still provide a loaner headstock while yours is being repaired.
Bill V

Cotact SS and tell them to repair it now, or you are going to ship it back. If you paid by credit card, you may have buyers protection.

mark-b wrote:Cotact SS and tell them to repair it now, or you are going to ship it back. If you paid by credit card, you may have buyers protection.

You and I are very very different...
Shopsmith is not some fly-by-night company that you have to defend yourself from for fear of getting screwed...

robinson46176 wrote:You and I are very very different...
Shopsmith is not some fly-by-night company that you have to defend yourself from for fear of getting screwed...

I agree with you. Shopsmith would be running over each other trying to take care of the problem, if it is a Shopsmith mistake.