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Kiwi with Triton Issues

1825 Views 15 Replies 11 Participants Last post by  Bstrom
Hi My name is Dennis and since retiring 3 years a go have been spending a lot of time equipping my shop and now making things.
I also have a small saw mill so have enjoyed cutting my own lumber and am now able to start using it - Gum, Chesnut, Macrocarpa.

Gradually becoming familiar with my new machinery- but my Triton Router TRA001 has me beat.... I have it mounted in a table - with the spring removed- but cannot get the winder that you insert through the top of the table to work - sometimes it will go down- but never up... Even when I remove it from the table reinsert the spring it will only wind 5-6 revolutions then jam up....what am I doing wrong
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Welcome to the forum Dennis. The first thing I would do is call support at Triton and see if there are any known issues. It could be as simple as dirt/dust being in the system that is preventing this from functioning as expected but they should be able to guide you. That said someone on the forum may have had that same issue and can give you some ideas, If you have a parts diagram it may also give some clues. Hold tight and I expect you'll get better replies. I don't own a Triton and use router lifts on my 2 tables.

Also if you get a minute please fill in the user profile info with name and location. I'm guessing from your handle you are in New Zealand. Location can make a difference in answers especially on where to buy and or electrical issue/questions.
There is a "pinion" gear in the housing at the bottom of the shaft...older models have plastic gearing...it might have stripped.

Mine has a plastic gear so I generally use the gross adjustment to get it close and the fine to dial it in...it relieves some of the pressure.

The gear is easy enough to get to but there's lots of parts and springs in the way to get to it.

Others may chime in with different thoughts...

...and welcome to the Forum...
I don't have a Triton, but I have heard really good things about them. In particular, their support is supposed to be excellent. May I suggest contacting them?

Ben Crowe of Crimson Custom Guitars has done some reviews of Triton routers on YouTube and speaks very highly of them.

Hope this helps.
Hi Dennis and welcome. Triton users are generally very happy with their machine and this is the first time I've heard of this problem. Quite a few own them so we'llsee if others besides Nick think it's the pinion gear. On another thread running we're finding out that the Triton collet doesn't hold 1/4" shank bits securely, especially spiral bits, so that's another issue to keep in mind.
Hi Dennis, welcome to the party. I have a Triton and it is trouble free, so I can't be of much help. Definitely would call their support line.
Hi, Dennis-
The only problem I've had with my table-mounted Triton is that every now and then it will refuse to let me wind it all the way up to lock the spindle and change bits. I've found that if I then wind it all the way down and then back up (sometimes more than once) it will clear out whatever is making it stick and then it will allow full winding. I suspect that the gears get jammed up with dust/debris and winding it up and down repeatedly clears it out.
Good luck!
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Hi, Dennis-
The only problem I've had with my table-mounted Triton is that every now and then it will refuse to let me wind it all the way up to lock the spindle and change bits. I've found that if I then wind it all the way down and then back up (sometimes more than once) it will clear out whatever is making it stick and then it will allow full winding. I suspect that the gears get jammed up with dust/debris and winding it up and down repeatedly clears it out.
Good luck!
This reminds me that one feature I remember for the Triton is that it pulls air UP through the motor, and that means that if you have a dust collection box below your router, and it doesn't have adequate air flow, the router might suck sawdust up through the mechanism, and that could be an issue.

Stick suggested putting a hose on the bottom of the router, taping it in place and running out, like a snorkel to a clean air source. I can't recall the exact dimension of the bottom, air intake, but either a short piece of four or five inch flex hose, or aluminum/steel tubing will easily attach with some aluminum duct sealing tape. Cut small, half inch tabs in the end of the metal tube if you need it to be a little larger.

With that updraft, you need to make sure you have adequate above table dust collection.

The Triton's safety interlocks are occasionally annoying, but I feel safer using it than my old 1617 setup. Check to see that the switch is in the correct position because it is the key to the interlock system. Check the reference manual for clarity. I had to read it a couple of times to understand the way it works.
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Welcome to the forum Dennis.
Hi Steve, Thanks for responding- I have read through the other replies and think my problem is dust and chips I have dust collection from under my table but the plastic guards around the router collect debris, I have taken the guards off as the machine itself is in an exposed cabinet and will try and clean the router. I will add to my profile- started it yesterday - pushed the wrong key on my keyboard and lost everything..
Thanks Tom - I will check the dust collection and will make improvements. Like you I have read the manual several times.... Today I had it working (very stiff to turn ) but again will go down but not up..
I think you are correct about it being debris - Ive taken the clear plastic guards off to stop dust etc accumulating.
Thanks for the advice re1/4 inch collett - I forgot that it even had one. Found it in my drawer this afternoon.
Check to see that the 'lock' is not on.


From memory, the button has to be locked. Should be in the manual.
Whew! Dennis, certainly hope you get this sorted but I’ve never heard so much flack from such a regarded brand. The lift mechanism sounds like it gives the same headaches the Bosch design does. I went to a Jessem lift after fighting with Bosch’s overly simplistic and highly flawed approach. The Jessem lift is effortless and dependable - I adde a Rout-R-Lift II to my Bosch table and never looked back. Hope you find a real solution instead of a convenient inconvenience...
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