Smoked Elu 177 router advice?

[gidon]

The bearings (I think) on this router have always been a little worn since I bought the router second hand. But apart from getting a little hotter than I'd expect it's done pretty well. The other day - when I was getting an unusual amount of chipping on some AWO, I pulled the router out from under the table and noticed the bearings were stiffer than ever. I double checked the bushes were ok. And then ran the router some more unloaded. It then started smoking! I've taken some pics of the result.

It still runs, but I'd be weary to use it! It looks to me like the router's got so hot (prolly 'cos the bearings needed replacing) and the heat has melted the plastic above the bearing and that brown thing above the bearing too.

What should I do with it? Is it still worth trying to replace the bearings, if so where can I get them from - the Elu ones come in at around £30 which seems a lot for a couple of small bearings. Is it difficult to do? Would I need to replace that brown thing? Would I need to replace anything else?

Is it worth getting it to a service centre to be repaired?

Or should I just bin it (it put it on Ebay as faulty)?

Your advice as ever very much appreciated.

Cheers

Gidon

 

[JFC]

Hmmm pics not working at the mo but every time i've had smoke coming from a tool i drop it in for repair , its usually the brushes and i normally get charged between £30-£40 . If its beyond repair they tell me and no charge .

 

[Scrit]

Well a new DW625 is around £200 at absolute best discount, so JFCs advice seems pretty good to me

Scrit

 

[gidon]

Thanks chaps - I'll definately get a quote for repair if you reckon it's in that sort of price bracket.
Cheers
Gidon

 

[Steve Maskery]

Hi Gidon
I've replaced the bearings on my MOF96 (with some excellent help from Mailee) and it was in GWW a few issues back. I did get some stick for it from an engineer, for tapping the bearings on and off with a hammer. I should point out that it was a GENTLE tap-tap (Norm-style), I wasn't beating the living daylights out of it. But use a bearing-puller if you have one.

The process was easier than I had imagined, straightforward, and took me a morning, including going shopping for the bearings (£9 for the two, IIRC). I then did the job again to photograph it for the mag, and did the whole thing in about 45 minutes.

The results are very pleasing, it sounds like a new router again. The only thing that does worry me slightly is that the bottom bearing does get hot - quite hot - and it never used to, so I'm assuming I don't have that seated quite right. There is no resistance to rotation though, so I don't think it's that bad.

Anyway, I've taken delivery of a nice new Festool router this morning :lol: :!:
(and a shopvac, and a 2.4m track, and.....)

 

[Scrums]

Do you think I could reincarnate my 96e........It was spitting bits of metal and making an 'orrible noise last time I tried it and I'm NOT impressed with the Trend I replaced it with.

Chris.

 

[mailee]

Give it a try Chris. Got to be worth it for the cost of the bearings. :wink:

 

[Scrums]

Well, if Mailee or Steve would like to divulge their source of bearings, I might just do that......

 

[Lord Nibbo]

Looking at those pics and the fact you said it was spitting metal out, I would imagine those bits were part of the winding or armature, in which case it would need far more than bearings. If you can get an estimate for free then OK go ahead with mending it, but I think your router has had it's day, sorry!

 

[mailee]

Hi Chris, I got my bearings from Tool Shop Direct on the internet although I do know that Steve had a supplier of cheaper ones. Can't remember what I paid for mine off hand but think it was around £20 for both. Still may be worth a try taking it apart and having a look to see what has happened IMHO. May be more than the bearings but it may not. I have a Makita drill that I thought I had toasted once and it turned out that it was fine after I bought a new one. :wink:

 

[Steve Maskery]

Well, if Mailee or Steve would like to divulge their source of bearings, I might just do that......

Hi Scrums,

I purchased mine over-the-counter from a local supplier who does not do mail order, but it's near the Showcase in Nottingham, if that's any use to you!

I found them in Yellow Pages, and there were several to choose from, IIRC, so I don't think you should have a problem finding a reasonably local supplier, unless you are out in the wilds, of course.

 

[dickm]

'fraid I have to agree that it looks pretty sad - not sure it would be worth spending money on bearings unless you are sure that the other burnt bits are not also vital. If the burnt plastic is where the bearings sit, then they may slop about too much to be useable.
If you do replace bearings, then it's worth hunting out some appropriately sized bits of steel tube, so that when you are pressing/tapping the bearings into place, you only apply pressure to the bit that is sliding against something That is, not hitting the outer ring to force the inner ring on to the shaft, or the inner ring to force the outer ring into the housing. Of course, if you can find someone with a bearing press, then that could solve all your problems.
(I've got a set of sleeves for rebuilding Volvo gearboxes, but they are a bit on the big side for this job!)

 

[9fingers]

These guys should be able to supply bearings.

http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk website works best with IE

I've used them a number of times and they are highly regarded by associates of mine on mechanical engineering forums.

Rapid service and keen pricing.

hth

Bob

 

[9fingers]

The only thing that does worry me slightly is that the bottom bearing does get hot - quite hot - and it never used to, so I'm assuming I don't have that seated quite right. There is no resistance to rotation though, so I don't think it's that bad.

Steve,

Might I suggest that you do find out what is causing the heat build up. I feel this will only end in tears if not fixed and could lead to the melt-down experienced by Gidon.

Bob

 

[Routermonster]

Hi Gidon and Chris

Like Steve Maskery and Mailee, I had to replace the top bearing on my MOF96E after it seized. I bought the parts form Tool Shop Direct -
here's a link to the list of routers for which they carry spares

 

[mailee]

Ha ha, Routermonster this sounds familiar to me: "What have you bought this time? Haven't you got enough tools already?" Maybe my wife is your wife's sister. :lol:

 

[gidon]

Thanks everyone - some very helpful advice. I'm going to get a quote first (but of course the Dewalt service centre is closed for Christmas ). If it's more than £60 odd - I may give it a go myself (but know I'll make a mess of it!). I do fear the worse though .
LN - it's not spitting any metal out ... yet .
Steve - I couldn't be without my router table (on hols for another week and had lots of things planned) so I took delivery of a T11 this morning . Let us know how you get on with your new toy .
Cheers
Gidon

 

[Steve Maskery]

Gidon
You should find that the T11 is good for use in a RT, the built in height adjuster is one of its best features. Trend did a good job there. What a pity they didn't redesign the rest of it to overcome the other shortcomings of the old Elu design! It's still difficult to change a bit, dust extraction is still poor and vulnerable and the risk of debris falling into the body when inverted is as great as it ever was.

I'm not saying it's a bad router, it isn't. But it's not the SuperRouter it should - and could - have been.

 

[gidon]

Thanks Steve - it was a toss up between the Trend and the Triton. But I like the support I've had from Trend - and I like the way everything fits it (including odds and ends I've made for my Elu).
It's basically exactly the same as my Elu 177 - with a Router Razier attached! Bit change wasn't an issue - I use an Xtreme Extension with makes bit changes a cinch.
Cheers
Gidon

 

[Steve Maskery]

I use an Xtreme Extension with makes bit changes a cinch.

You are right there, and so do I.