Smoked Elu 177 router advice?

[JFC]

I wouldnt have a router without one .

 

[Pekka Huhta]

I got a dead Elu when I bought all the tools from an old woodenboat shop. I took it apart, noted that the rotor winding was shot and the brushes and brush holders were just about exploded to pieces.

I went to the local service shop, showed the parts and they gave me new rotor, brushes, brush holders and bearings. It got a bit pricey, but still it was about one third of the price of a new one. Assembling the parts was easy, and the router has worked purrfiktly ever since.

Only problem I would see on your router is the molten plastic: if the machine has heated up enough to soften the plastic, the surfaces where your bearings should fit into are most probably deformed. As a router has so high revs, even a very small error on the bearing alignment will cause heating and/or vibrations. So even if you would be able to replace the components, there is a possibility that the new components won't last very long.

It looks a bit scary. But then again the blown brushes looked pretty scary as well.

Pekka

 

[gidon]

I reckon the Trend T12 will have the XX fitted as standard !
Thanks Pekka - think you're right they would have to replace the plastic bits too.
Cheers
Gidon

 

[Shivers]

Lookes like bushings severely worn(as in completely gone),so thats means the armature is srewed,new bushings & a remachined armature(skimmed on lathe) might be answer.plus whatever melted bits need redoing,might as well do bearings at same time :--looks like just getting a recon unit instaed.



regards.

 

[gidon]

Well I've had a Dewalt service agent look at the router. You told me I need to get a new one .
The top bearing has seized and melted the grey housing - this grey housing is not available anymore.
Oh well - I'll probably put it on Ebay for spare parts.
Thanks for all your advice.
Cheers
Gidon

 

[woodslayer007]

I had my 177E repaired last year, its worth mentioning that they now fit Dewalt parts in them as Elu have long since gone. I have to say it is no where as smooth as it used to be, and I suspect the parts now used are not as good as the Elu one originally fitted.

 

[Steve Maskery]

Hi Woodslayer
Welcome to the forum!

What you say does not surprise me at all. I have an original 177e, a DeWalt 625 (or whatever it is) and a Trend T11 (made for Trend by DeWalt, according to a DW sales engineer). On the face of it they are all identical, but neither the DW nor the Trend are the same quality as my ancient 177e. I hope it never goes Pop!

 

[Newbie_Neil]

Hi Woodslayer

Welcome to the forum.

Cheers
Neil

 

[gidon]

Steve, woodslayer (welcome!) - agreed - the T11 is pretty similiar to my burnt out MOF 177 (which was pretty similiar to my old MOF 98 - bet you've not had one of those ). But the quality of the parts is not in the same league.
For example my T11 arrived with the thread on the adjustment bolt stud dented slightly in transit I guess, so the brass nut wouldn't run over it. I filed it so the brass nut now runs over it. But I'm sure the Elu's have a much harder grade of steel - two strokes of a fine needle file was all the Trend needed - it doesn't bode well!
Cheers
Gidon

 

[woodslayer007]

Thanks for the welcome fellas often looked at forum for advice, thought time to get involved.

 

[Shivers]

If you look at the lable on the old Elu's it says parts(germany),assembled(switzerland)--say no more.

The dewalts were originally assembled in hampsted maryland(usa) using mexican parts--until they diversified into black& decker plants around the world,the key thing to remember about b&D is that when they took over elu-they had the worst reputation for quality out of all the main tool companies.

The Elu name was foreign to usa so black & decker bought out the name of an old american powertool co(dewalt )to be able to sell elu in the usa,then Dewalt name took over ,btw the original elu's used british bearings.

dewalt designs are very good--but their build quality & longevity leave a lot to be desired.

shivers