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Thanks for the help everyone... I replaced the shaft and support, took apart my unit, removed rust and old finish with the grinder, and repainted the stripped chassis. Real forest green of course! I was reasonably impressed by the quality of the guts of the tormek, there's nice cotton pushback wire, and thick quality bolts.

The ground connection tab had cracked inside the switch, which I suspect was the main culprit in my power issue. I replaced the tab, reassembled my tormek, and it really cooks now. Plenty of power. I have to be careful sharpening my smallest chisel as it visibly shortens the end of the chisel as it grinds!

I have been building doors in white oak and mesquite lately, and mortising those woods for locksets and hardware catches really eats your chisels. My tormek has kept me efficient and happy through some long days. It takes me no more than three minutes to get a perfect fresh edge on my wide chisel.

Thanks everyone!

I'll try roughing up the rubber on the drive wheel as suggested, thanks. That's where it is slipping.

Otherwise I'll post back when the new axle is in. I expect the smoothness of a new part will get me half way there.

Hi Everybody,
I bought an old Super Grind machine about two years ago and have been using it ever since for my chisels and planes. It works okay, gets the job done, but it doesn't have the power it should. I can pretty easily stop the grinding wheel by putting too much pressure down on the chisel while sharpening. Of course having a nice fresh truing on the wheel makes it better. I went in to the store and tested a new T-7 with my hand on the grinding wheel to make sure. The new machine is noticeably more powerful.
I took mine apart, took the grinding wheel off (not as carefully as I should have!), and of course it is all rusted where the water ran down the side of the stone. I greased it up with 90-weight grease, but little change in apparent power.
I ordered a new axle today, along with a horizontal base and U-support with microadjust.
My question is: can I expect the fresh axle to deliver more power, or should I take the motor apart and check for loose leads and the like? I can't imagine that the motor is worn out, that just doesn't seem likely from what I've read.