Duff bearing on router ?

[Rhossydd]

I recently bought a secondhand Elu MOF96E router. So far I've only used it vertically and it's been fine, but yesterday I mounted it upside down in a router table for the first time and was greeted by a serious screeching, so I guess the upper bearings have failed.
As it's one of the good Swiss versions, I'd like to sort to out for another 20 years ;-)
I know bearing replacement has been covered before here, but what's the current best advice for this ? any good new resources on how to do it ? or reliable suppliers of good bearings ?
Also, is it worth putting in new brushes at the same time whilst it's all apart ?

Thanks in advance.
Paul

 

[Spindle]

Hi

There's a small magnet around the shaft, (item 6 indicated below), part of the speed sensing system, which is known to work loose. It can be re-secured with Loctite if this is the issue. Is the speed control function operating correctly?

Regards Mick

 

[Rhossydd]

Is the speed control function operating correctly?

Yes, speed control is working fine and I've just checked the sensor and it's solid on the end of the shaft.
Having now opened it up; It's amazingly clean inside and no perceptible play in the motor shaft at either end. Maybe the bearings have simply dried up, but whatever, it still needs attention.

 

[Myfordman]

Assuming yours is like the newer DW/Trend ones based on your Elu. there is a labyrinth dust seal built into the spindle lock. Remove this and you will possibly find compacted dust in there. Clean this out and then stand the router base upwards and allow some oil to soak into the bearing overnight - plain engine oil is about right. Don't use 3 in 1 - is is too thin and won't stay put
Turn it back base down on some rag for a few hours and clean any excess oil off.
This might buy you some time before having the do a bearing change?
MM

 

[Rhossydd]

Assuming yours is like the newer DW/Trend ones based on your Elu. there is a labyrinth dust seal built into the spindle lock.

No, this is an original Swiss one. No spindle lock on those.

 

[scholar]

It's a pretty easy job to replace the bearings.

I did so on my Elu MOF96e before I sold it as the bearings had started to make a bit of a screech sometimes. You can buy generic bearings to match, but I think I just ordered the correct parts through MTMC as it was only about £12 I recall.

There is some useful advice here replacing-router-bearings-t10235.html?highlight=mof96%20bearings. (I think this is the reference source I used, but try a bit of googling and I thinks there is quite a bit of guidance available).

Well worth doing - give the machine a thorough clean in the process and it will purr like new. I have too any routers, but still miss the MOF 96e...


Cheers

 

[Eric The Viking]

+1 for Miles (MTMC). I've bought Bosch router spares from them in the past - excellent service.

Hope you get it fixed - it'll be worth it.

E.

 

[Rhossydd]

Finally bit the bullet and fitted new bearing and brushes today.
The instructions in the thread referenced by scholar, especially the post written by mailee 1/6/06, were pretty much spot on. A few minor differences in design/model type caused a little puzzlement at times, but overall it wasn't the hardest job like this I've done. You get the impression when worked on Elu tools that they actually thought about how the kit could be maintained in future.
I bought the bearing kit and brushes from a local dealer, Issac Lord in High Wycombe, who had the parts in stock. I really don't mind paying a few quid more to support a dealer who carries spares for 30 year old kit

The 96E is running sweetly like new, hopefully for another 20 years.
Thanks all.