Shopsmith PowerPro 556191

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PowerPro – LIFT ASSIST 556191

PowerPro

Lift Assist

556191

INTRODUCTION

SAFETY

WARNING

Please read, understand and follow:



ALL of the assembly and alignment pro-

cedures covered in this instruction sheet

prior to installing your PowerPro Lift As-

sist.

Headstock distance Pounds of effort Pounds of effort

from left side required required

of MARK V w/o Lift Assist WITH Lift Assist

0” 65# 25#

8" 57# 20#

12" 50# 12#

20" 35# SELF-LIFT

ools Neededools Needed

ools Needed

• 7/16" Open End Wrench

• 1/2" Open End Wrench

• Adjustable Wrench

• Small, Straight-Bladed Screwdriver

The Shopsmith Powerpro Lift Assist is a

great accessory that will significantly reduce

the amount of effort required to raise the Ma-

chine into full vertical (Drill Press)position.

The table below compares pounds of lifting

effort required with and without the Lift As-

sist.



Make sure the Mark is turned off and un-

plugged before assembling and adjusting

the Lift Assist.



Always use proper Safety Equipment and

Procedures when operating machines.



Be sure to tighten all hardware securely

before using.



To avoid damage to your machine and

possible personal injury:

jDuring assembly and installation of

the Lift Assist, both the Arm Lock

Knob and the Pivot Lock Knob must

be secured on the right end of the

machine. The Lift Assist is installed in

the vertical drill press mode of your

machine and if both of these locks are

not secured the force of the gas cylin-

der will cause parts of the machine to

slip out of position.

jMake sure that both pivot lock knobs

are secured for ALL horizontal ma-

chine operations. If they are not se-

cured during all horizontal operations

the force of the gas cylinder will push

parts of the machine out of position.

jBefore lifting the right end of the ma-

chine, for under-table operations, be

sure to pivot the machine up to the

standard vertical drill press position,

lock the machine in this position and

use the Quick Disconnect to remove

one end of the Gas Cylinder from the

Upper Mount of the Lift Assist. Only at

that time, can the machine be lowered

and then pivoted up to the left for un-

der table operations. Failure to dis-

connect the Gas Cylinder from the

Upper Mount will result in the force of

the gas cylinder pushing parts of the

machine out of position.

WARNING

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Summary

Introduction to PowerPro Lift Assist

Safety and Operational Procedures

Follow safety equipment and procedures, tighten all hardware securely before use.

Machine Handling and Safety Precautions

Precautions for machine safety during assembly: secure lock knobs and handle gas cylinder forces.

Safety Guidelines and Precautions

Pre-Installation Checks

Read all assembly/alignment procedures and ensure the machine is off and unplugged.

Installation Guide

Mounting Lower Assembly to Bench Tubes

Detailed steps for attaching the lower assembly to the machine's bench tubes.

Mounting Upper Assembly to Way Tubes

Detailed steps for attaching the upper assembly to the machine's way tubes.

Cylinder Installation and Adjustment

Instructions for installing and adjusting the gas cylinder component.

Adjustment Procedures

Pre-Adjustment Checks

Verify assembly positions and finger-tighten nuts before making adjustments.

Finalizing Ball Stud Alignment

Adjusting upper/lower assemblies for proper ball stud and cylinder receptor alignment.

The Shopsmith PowerPro Lift Assist (model 556191) is an accessory designed to significantly reduce the physical effort required to raise a Shopsmith MARK V machine into its full vertical (Drill Press) position. This device uses a gas cylinder to provide assistance, making the lifting process easier and safer for the user.

Function Description

The primary function of the PowerPro Lift Assist is to counteract the weight of the MARK V machine when transitioning it to the vertical drill press mode. By integrating a gas cylinder into the machine's structure, the Lift Assist provides a mechanical advantage, reducing the effective weight the user needs to lift. For example, the manual indicates that without the Lift Assist, raising the headstock to a 0" distance requires 65 pounds of effort, which is reduced to 25 pounds with the Lift Assist. At a 20" headstock distance, the machine becomes self-lifting. This reduction in required effort not only makes the machine easier to operate but also helps prevent strain and potential injury to the user.

The Lift Assist assembly consists of an upper mount and a lower mount, which are attached to the MARK V's way tubes and bench tubes, respectively. A gas cylinder connects these two mounts, providing the lifting force. The design ensures that the cylinder is properly oriented and secured to function effectively.

Usage Features

Proper installation and adjustment are crucial for the safe and effective operation of the PowerPro Lift Assist. The installation process involves several steps:

Preparation: Before installation, the MARK V machine must be in the vertical (Drill Press) position, with the headstock and carriage locks securely tightened. The worktable should be removed, and the headstock slid to within about 12" of the left side (top) of the machine.
Mounting Lower Assembly: The lower assembly is mounted to the bench tubes at the base and base arm (right) end of the MARK V. This involves placing caps across the bench tubes, laying the lower tie across them, and securing these components with bolts, split washers, and hex nuts. A threaded ball stud is then installed onto the arm of the lower mount.
Mounting Upper Assembly: The upper assembly is mounted to the back and front way (upper) tubes of the MARK V. Similar to the lower assembly, this involves securing caps and the upper mount with bolts, split washers, and hex nuts. A second threaded ball stud is installed onto the arm of the upper mount.
Cylinder Installation and Adjustment: The gas cylinder is installed in its full extended position. The smaller diameter end of the cylinder connects to the ball stud on the lower mount, and the larger diameter (quick-release) end connects to the ball stud on the upper mount. The cylinder receptors should rotate freely and pop easily onto the ball studs. Adjustments to the upper or lower lift assist assembly may be necessary to ensure proper alignment, which involves loosening nuts, repositioning the assemblies, and then tightening all nuts to their final tightness once alignment is achieved.

Safety Warnings:

The manual emphasizes several critical safety warnings:

Always use proper safety equipment and procedures.
Tighten all hardware securely before use.
During assembly and installation, both the Arm Lock Knob and Pivot Lock Knob must be secured. Failure to do so can cause machine parts to slip out of position due to the gas cylinder's force.
Secure both pivot lock knobs for ALL horizontal machine operations.
Before lifting the right end of the machine for under-table operations, the machine must first be pivoted to the standard vertical drill press position, locked, and one end of the gas cylinder removed using the Quick Disconnect. Failure to disconnect the cylinder will cause parts of the machine to be pushed out of position.
If the MKV Headrest Lock is not properly adjusted, and the Work Table and Headstock are at the far right of the Way Tubes, the MARK V may raise itself into vertical position, potentially causing personal injury. Adjustments to the Headrest Lock may be necessary.
Always remove the Gas Cylinder from the Lift Assist before removing the headstock from the way tubes. Failure to do so will result in the Lift Assist suddenly raising the way tubes into the vertical position, potentially causing personal injury.
Even with the Lift Assist, the MARK V should always be secured in the vertical position by tightening the Arm Lock Knob.

Cylinder Removal:

To remove the cylinder, for the lower mount end, a small, straight-bladed screwdriver can be used to pry off the retainer clip. For the upper mount quick-release end, the removal steps are the reverse of the installation process (pulling the outer sleeve and slipping the receptor off the ball stud). A warning is given to position a free hand behind the clip to avoid losing it during removal and to ensure the ball stud retaining clip is popped back into position before re-installation to prevent the cylinder from detaching and causing injury.

Maintenance Features

The PowerPro Lift Assist is designed for minimal maintenance. The manual states that the device requires "no maintenance other than an occasional cleaning with a clean, dry cloth." The gas cylinder itself is a sealed unit with no serviceable parts inside, meaning it does not require lubrication or internal repairs by the user. This simplicity in maintenance ensures that the device remains operational with very little effort from the owner, allowing them to focus on their woodworking tasks.