woodmizer sharpener won't start

[LT40HDD51]

...I noticed in the video the push rod from the cam is on top of the pivot pin. Mine is on the bottom....

Thats the way it should be, on the bottom. Thats how they all come new. Good to see another Bluenoser  ;D Where you from?

that's another thing with it, is it doesn't have very much power... how much can you take off in a pass?

In the clip you are taking off a bit too much for one pass. You dont want to hear the grinder motor bog down too much, when it does the wheel loses its rim speed and cant cut very well. There comes a point where you get so heavy that stalling the motor makes it take less material off...