coolguy982

I recently purchased a craftsman 315.17492 1.5 hp router at an auction. I bought some new bits and cannot for the life of me figure out how to change the bit!! The router came with a wrench (shown in attached picture) and has a button at the top that claims to lock the shaft. When I move it over to Locked, the shaft will not lock. I thought all I would need to do is switch it to Locked and then use the wrench to turn the bit loose, but the shaft keeps moving. I tried putting a vice grip on the metal shaft but it would not hold it and it also began cutting into the metal on the shaft.

I should note that the router runs fine. I also tried to turn the router on with the switch in the locked position (just to see if it actually does anything), and the router would not turn on.

Can anyone tell me how to change the bit? Am I missing something simple, or did I buy a piece of junk?

I've attached some pictures of the router for reference.

Attached Thumbnails

     

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Hamlin

There should be a "detent" on the shaft near that button. Make sure that that has engaged in order for the shaft to "lock". You may find that you will have to rotate the shaft til you feel it lock. Don't use the vice grip method, this will only lead to problems further down the road if you ever have to do any repair work on lets the motor. Hope this helps.

__________________
Ken

"A VETERAN"
"Whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including my life". That is HONOR, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it." -Author Unknown

coolguy982

After I've moved the button to the "locked" position, it doesn't seem to do anything to the shaft. I can still freely rotate the shaft multiple revolutions in either direction without it catching or locking. Any other suggestions?

Hamlin

You by chance didn't get a manual with it did you? The simplest thing to do would go into your local sears store and ask them... "show me".
I wouldn't say you got a piece of junk. If you feel comfortable in repairing this yourself, simply take the housing apart and look for the "locking" button. The "ear" that sits in the detent may have been broken off not allowing it to work properly, or, take it to either your local sears store or find a local tool repair shop.

Hope this helps.

__________________
Ken

"A VETERAN"
"Whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including my life". That is HONOR, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it." -Author Unknown

bobj3

Coolguy982
The Lock device is in need of repair....take it into your Sears Service Center and have them check it out..
But if you have used a pair of vice grips on the motor shaft you may have turned the router into a boat anchor ,out of all the tools you can use this one will damage it more than most.
You can download a parts list (diagram) and use it to give you a hint what you are working on and what to look for in the lock device.
It sounds like it's a power switch and a lock all in one.
Once you see what it looks like inside take it down and you can order the part from Sears and repair the router.

Good Luck

Bj

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RWS on YouTube

http://www.routerforums.com/86898-post1.html
Besure and click on the Up Arrow key ▲ on the Youtube video, you can select other youtube videos on router tables
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bobj3

Sorry Ken
You and I are thinking on the same lines but it took me longer to get back to the post,I was looking for a parts list, but didn't find one but I did see one that was sold on eBay for 35.oo bucks (router) like new so it may not be worth the repair cost to fix this Sears router.
But that's up to him I think....have a good one.

Bj

__________________
PodCast videos
RWS on YouTube

http://www.routerforums.com/86898-post1.html
Besure and click on the Up Arrow key ▲ on the Youtube video, you can select other youtube videos on router tables
http://www.woodworkingonline.com/?s=dovetail
Machine Cut ▼
http://www.woodworkingonline.com/200...cut-dovetails/

http://www.woodworkingonline.com/woo...podcast-store/

http://www.woodshopdemos.com/menu2.htm

Bob J.