Craftsman Router Not Working Properly

I tried to looking up the router on sears parts but they don't seem to have it.....

It could be that Bob N is right or it could be that the switch on the router is going bad.... here is my reasoning: The router might have an interlock switch so it will not power up when the lock is on.... if so when you use the lock it wipes the contacts and it will work for a short while.... But my other idea is more likely and comes for an experence I had that sounds a lot like what your is.

It could also be the other trigger switch (if it has one....). On one of my sears routers the trigger is pulled and it touches a microswitch which starts the router. When you pull the switch in far enough a button lets you lock it on...and believe it or not they had used some foam tape on the trigger where it contacted the microswitch...and it wore out. The foam takes the little extra pull of the switch going in to the locking position and then should keep enough pressure on the microswitch to keep the router on..... mine would do that until you started routing and then the vibrations etc would start and the router would shut off.

I took the handle apart and found the problem, put a new little piece of foam tape and it was working in less then 5 minutes. If you feel up to it you might want to "crack" it open and have a look around.

Ed

Thanks for the replys guys!

When i first started cutting the slot...i tried to do it in 1 pass...for about a 1/4 of an inch...kind of silly i know . i then lowered the bit an performed several passes...a smarter solution i suppose. So i'm pretty sure that's not the problem.

There IS a locking button next to the trigger. I squeeze the trigger then lock it in place when i push the stock through. Once there's pressure on the bit..the router shuts off..with the trigger still locked in place. So i unlock the trigger...then press it again to see if the router turns on..but no luck.
The router will ONLY come back on if I Lock then shaft...then unlock the shaft....then press the trigger.

I really don't know too much about the internal workings of the router...but the shaft lock/unlock button is obviously "resetting" something???
I tried letting the router sit for a while to cool down...without touching the shaft unlock button...tried pressing the trigger again...and nothing.

Perhaps it's the heat sensor...or this trigger lock button...i really don't know.

Does this extra information confirm your original thoughts...or give you any other ideas??

I appreciate the feedback...thanks

Hi Cosmo: When you lock the shaft you probably have to turn the shaft a little till the lock can be depressed. Then you unlock it and press the switch. At least that's the way I understand what you are saying. My guess is that the armature inside of the motor has a winding or two that is open when it gets under the brush it's an open circuit. You turning the shaft, which is the armature if those motors, moves tthe open from under one of the brushs. Then it will start. If you have an ohmeter you could test the armature through the brushes by connecting the meter from one brush to the other when the meter dont read on a particular segment in the armture you found the open circuit. I would get a new router rather than fix a Sears tool, that's my opion for what it's worth. Woodnut65