[Charlie68]

I need to hear from someone who has purchased a 3 ¼ horse Porter Cable router motor since the first of the year. I am looking at that time period because I know in the past Porter Cable made a good product.

I ordered mine May 5th and got it 2 weeks later. I built a router table for it and got the unit in service 1st part of June. I noticed the bits were hot when I removed them from the unit. To test the motor, I let the router sit overnight. Next morning I ran the router with no load/ no bit for 3 minutes. The collect was so hot I could not hold my fingers against it.

Porter Cable does not publish a phone number on their web site I had to do the email form. A week later their customer rep sent me a link to start the warranty repair process.

My nearest repair center is Denver so I shipped the unit there 7-13-20. Per UPS tracking the unit arrived at the repair center 7-14-20.

I received the unit back today 8-19-20 with the same over heating issue. According to the service order enclosed with the router, they had changed just about every part of it. I called the Denver repair center and was told that “we changed almost all of the parts TWICE. Please send the unit back and we will try to exchange or replace it.”
I asked if it was going take another month to get a different unit and was told to be sure to enclose the service order. The repair tech said
hopefully that will help speed up the process.

To say I am upset does not even come close.

The point of my question: Am I just under a bad cloud or have others had this hot collect problem?

Also if you are looking to buy one of these routers, test the unit as soon as you get it.

 

[DesertRatTom]

That's why so many of us buy Bosch and other brands. Whoever bought out Porter Cable is doing what they've done all the other brands they bought out. Exploiting what's left of a good reputation. However, any bit you use will likely heat up, depending on the material and the amount you're cutting off. Any thing more than 1/8th per pass is my rule.

 

[DaninVan]

Tom; it's overheating with no bit and no cutting. Ie it's defective.

 

[Charlie68]

I have a couple Bosch routers but I wanted a 3 1/4 horse unit and Bosch does not make one. I guess what I am whining about the most is the time line and the actions of their service group. We all get a bad product once in awhile but to just send it back to me still failed!!!

 

[Stick486]

That's why so many of us buy Bosch and other brands. Whoever bought out Porter Cable is doing what they've done all the other brands they bought out. Exploiting what's left of a good reputation. However, any bit you use will likely heat up, depending on the material and the amount you're cutting off. Any thing more than 1/8th per pass is my rule.

Tom...
it's overheating while running at idle...

 

[Stick486]

I need to hear from someone who has purchased a 3 ¼ horse Porter Cable router motor since the first of the year. I am looking at that time period because I know in the past Porter Cable made a good product.

best of luck dealing w/ PC...
https://www.routerforums.com/395455-post25.html

 

[Stick486]

Next morning I ran the router with no load/ no bit for 3 minutes. The collect was so hot I could not hold my fingers against it..

does the body get hot???
sounds like a bearing failing/failed...
there is the possibility the router is being run at the wrong voltage... what the data label on the router says it is, isn't what it is...

also.. check for run out and see in the shaft moves up and/or down at all... there should be zero play...
if it does it's the bearings and/or the housing...
if it's housing... the router is now junk...

unplug the router...
free hand turn the shaft and listen for bearing noise...
squeaks and grinding noises are a bad sign...
stethoscopes sure are handy... Lisle 52750 Stethoscope Kit
for faster turning.. wind a string on the shaft and pull like you were trying to start a lawn mower...

I've dealt w/ Denver...
my money is on they did nothing more than plugged the router in, it ran, you got it back and they billed PC for a warranty...

 

[Pcurry]

Sorry to hear about the experience but as someone thinking about buying a larger table router, glad you posted it.

 

[Cherryville Chuck]

It also sounds to me like a bad bearing. It's the only part close to the collet that could be causing the problem. If it's something higher up then the case should get too hot to touch too. PC has used cheap bearings for years. I had two sanders with bearing failures at the same time and Stick has said he had them fail in his routers in other threads about them.

 

[Stick486]

Why motors overheat.....

1. Electrical overload caused by excessive voltage supply or overwork by drawing more current will lead to overheating issues. As the motor works harder or under unusual load, heat will be the chief byproduct, leading to failure. Speed controller has issues or failed.

2. Low resistance is the most common reason behind electric motor failure. Degradation of motor windings by heat will pave the way for short-circuits and leakages, which leave the motor at risk for failure. AKA insufficient isolation between the conductors or motor windings or insufficient insulation. The motor, internally, could be physically damaged.

3. Contamination of dust and debris will raise the internal temperature of a motor and keep it from cooling, which leads to excessive heat over a longer period of time. This generally occurs without proper maintenance or venting for particles.

4. Start-stop frequency plays a big role in heat damage. Excessively starting, stopping, and starting your motor again won’t allow it to cool properly. The result is a high-heat environment that wears on the integrity of components.

5. Vibration from a condition like soft foot* failed/failing or loose bearings, misalignment, or even corrosion** which leads to excessive heat. If vibrations are severe enough, they’ll raise temperatures to unsafe levels and stress components beyond their capacity for heat.

6. Manufacturing w/ substandard components. Insufficient wire insulation. Poorly constructed field or commentator. The cooling fan could be installed backwards.

Note:
*Soft foot is machine frame distortion relative to the armature's center of operational axis. in tools caused by poor manufacturing practices and poorer QC not catching the issue...
**Corrosion generally is a result of subpar components.

See if something at this link will be of help...

 

[Stick486]

I have a couple Bosch routers but I wanted a 3 1/4 horse unit and Bosch does not make one. I guess what I am whining about the most is the time line and the actions of their service group. We all get a bad product once in awhile but to just send it back to me still failed!!!

see if you can find a 1619 by Bosch..
go w/ a Triton...

 

[RainMan 2.0]

I purchased not one but two PC75182,( motors only )

I joined here and unfortunately didn’t ask before I purchased. Haven’t heard one good thing about the newer ones here , bad bearings etc .
I’ve never installed one in a lift yet , so I don’t know what to expect .
These reviews on amazon add to my fears. I mean it’s one thing changing out a bearing ,but another if the bearing doesn’t stay in position any more . Pretty much 900 bucks down the drain for me I suspect.
Almost tired of this game

https://www.amazon.ca/Porter-Cable-75182-Variable-Speed-Router/dp/B0007SXHXM

I have been using this router motor for years on my CNC machines. I have purchased around 36 of these motors for the past 12 years.
Lately the new ones are failing within 50 hours of use in that the top bearing gets loose -- That is -- the bearing does not have a tight fitting either to the shaft or to the housing. That causes the bearing to move up and the shaft to wobble. In the past I would only need to maintain these motors every 200 hours for new brushes and about every 400 hours for new bearings. Only after many years of use would I have problems with the bearing getting lose in the housing and/or shaft.
The problem I have now is that for some reason the housing for the top ball bearing is not available as a replacement part, making these motors unusable.
Very disappointing.

After owning this router for less than six months, with only occasional use, it has now developed a bearing issue...it's either failed or come loose, allowing for visible play in the collet and unacceptable routing results (bit chatter). This unit replaced another 3hp router that I had used for over 15 years, and this was my first Porter-Cable power tool. I purchased it based on rave reviews and their reputation for producing quality tools. I'm going to withhold my ultimate opinion of this company and its tool pending their response to my circumstance. To say the least, for a $300+ tool to fail inside of a year, based on my use of it, is extremely concerning. May have to go back to the 'old' brand.

 

[Stick486]

I purchased not one but two PC75182,( motors only )

I joined here and unfortunately didn’t ask before I purchased. Haven’t heard one good thing about the newer ones here , bad bearings etc .
I’ve never installed one in a lift yet , so I don’t know what to expect .
These reviews on amazon add to my fears. I mean it’s one thing changing out a bearing ,but another if the bearing doesn’t stay in position any more . Pretty much 900 bucks down the drain for me I suspect.
Almost tired of this game

https://www.amazon.ca/Porter-Cable-75182-Variable-Speed-Router/dp/B0007SXHXM

try 2,000 dollars....

from an earlier post.
5. Vibration from a condition like soft foot* failed/failing or loose bearings, misalignment, or even corrosion** which leads to excessive heat. If vibrations are severe enough, they’ll raise temperatures to unsafe levels and stress components beyond their capacity for heat.

 

[Stick486]

It also sounds to me like a bad bearing. It's the only part close to the collet that could be causing the problem. If it's something higher up then the case should get too hot to touch too. PC has used cheap bearings for years. I had two sanders with bearing failures at the same time and Stick has said he had them fail in his routers in other threads about them.

Have roller skate bearings will travel....

 

[RainMan 2.0]

try 2,000 dollars....

from an earlier post.
5. Vibration from a condition like soft foot* failed/failing or loose bearings, misalignment, or even corrosion** which leads to excessive heat. If vibrations are severe enough, they’ll raise temperatures to unsafe levels and stress components beyond their capacity for heat.

Just checked my amazon account and I bought them back in 2014 . To bad they already botched them up by the. . My old PC690 has been awesome

 

[Nickp]

Sorry to hear you had so many problems with service. I would offer for you to replace the bearing with a good one but if the upper and lower housings are not in alignment it would just repeat the problem in a short time. If in fact they replaced the bearing twice it would mean they tested it after the first replacement and realized they should replace it again. The horrible part is they must have tested it again, it failed, and sent it back to you anyway. So, that says they either did nothing at all or sent it back with no conscience.

I agree with the recommendation to return it for refund and purchase another brand...Bosch 1619 or the Triton. There certainly is no repair for the anxiety they've cost you and that deserves to hit them "in the wallet"...

 

[gmercer_48083]

I am surprised they didn't replace it or offer a refund.

 

[Stick486]

It also sounds to me like a bad bearing. It's the only part close to the collet that could be causing the problem. If it's something higher up then the case should get too hot to touch too. PC has used cheap bearings for years. I had two sanders with bearing failures at the same time and Stick has said he had them fail in his routers in other threads about them.

the more I think about it....
the more I believe the center axis is off...
cheap bearings aren't helping the issue either...

 

[Cherryville Chuck]

the more I think about it....
the more I believe the center axis is off...
cheap bearings aren't helping the issue either...

That is a good possibility. Out of alignment would case lateral loading on the bearing even without the motor being under a load which could generate the heat he's getting.

 

[Bstrom]

It's a sad day in the tool world - don't know which brands you can trust or not. Bosch is still owned by Bosch so they may be the holdout for quality. Guess to make and sell what we want is too cost intensive for them to make a buck. I'm all Bosch on power tools...