[Alt]

12 Amp Craftsman Professional Plunge Router
Model number: 315.248851

I'm having problems with a second hand router. I think the main spinning shaft is bent, but I wanted to get another opinion before wasting time and money on parts. It's not significant, but you can see the off-centeredness if you watch the bits come to a stop. I tested the same bits on my drill press and they spin perfectly centered, so I don't think its them.

Does anyone think there could be something I'm missing, or perhaps an adjustment I can make? Or if not, which parts are probably causing the wobble. I've attached a GIF of the wobble.

Thanks!
Alt

 

[Stick486]

welcome N/A..
it's called runout more often than not caused by a faulty bearing...

 

[Alt]

So I should start by replacing the bearings?

 

[Stick486]

So I should start by replacing the bearings?

no..
evaluate...
who made the router???

 

[Alt]

Craftsman. I haven't been able to find this specific model anywhere online.

 

[Stick486]

Craftsman. I haven't been able to find this specific model anywhere online.

315.xxx makes it a Ryobie...
the bearing will be a tough find... what's in it is proprietary...
a wholesaler may have it...

so now N/A let's introduce you to the world of Bosch...

picking out a tool(s)...
1st and most important, look to the company...
evaluate their CS and will they step up to the plate should there be issues...
see if they have a planned obsolesce program in force... as does craftsman...
what will the company and their product do for me...
try to figure out if they will respect me in the morning...

no sense in buying something that can't be fixed a few years later...

next the product...
quality..
will it have a long productive life...
will it do more than I need it to....
is it a good value...
will it protect my bottom line...
will it go the extra mile...
will it go obsolete or become disposable in short order...

tools that don't cut the mustard, suffer down time, hurt production and the bottom line need to left on the store shelf...

Online reviews...
not too much...
read a few too many that my VOE said other wise...
I prefer to use and abuse different brands and evaluate them myself and I pay attention at large job sites as to who has what and what, if any, issues they are having......
the testers should eval a tool and then put it in production mode for a few years and then do another eval..

Bosch fills the bill and then some...
2nd to none CS and support...
real work horse...
last long time...
protects my bottom line...

WHY I LIKE BOSCH...
2nd to none CS/TS support (American based) that's absolutely painless... They even support their tools that have been discontinued really well...
Their tools are real work horses...
planned obsolesce isn't an issue w/ them and come w/ less all around grief...
they make tools that last a very long time... decades of hard heavy use..
they make tools that protect the bottom line... this I like...
Besides they being comfortable to use routers, they are much more feature rich, mighty fine soft start, way better fine depth adjustment, quality collets, and so much more...
I think and believe Bosch to be an excellent outstanding company...

Keep in mind, that saving some money now just may cost you more down the road... Do yourself a huge favor and get a Bosch...
Bosch consistently scores high in/on all categories of quality, CS/TS, reliability and support, and they are as close as a phone call and your mail box...

http://www.routerforums.com/feature...ng-woodworking-equipment-tools-machinery.html

 

[Hypnotoad]

Years ago I used to have to go find bearings for alternators, I would go to a bearing shop with the old bearings and they would simply measure the inside, outside and depth and get me the same bearing. If you're wanting a new router Bosch would be a good choice, so would Makita and Hitachi if you want a plunge router.

 

[sunnybob]

A custom sized bearing is a very rare thing.
tool manufacturers use bearings made by bearing manufacturers.
If you can feel ANY side to side movement on the bit then its a bearing problem.
If you can disassemble the machine to get the bearing out you have a 99.99% chance of buying another bearing to fit, and it will be pretty cheap compared to a new machine.
But buy two because the one at the other end will be in the same state.

 

[Cherryville Chuck]

I would think that if the bearing is so bad that you can see the runout then you should also be able to hear and feel it. Usually when they get that bad they get noisy and vibrate. If you take the collet nut off and hold something with a sharp point across the base, touching the armature shaft, then when you spin it (by hand) there will be a gap when the armature is to one side if it's bent. At that speed the bearing won't be an issue unless it's really sloppy. When I say spin it I'm talking about maybe 1 turn in 5-10 seconds while you watch carefully to see if a gap becomes visible.

 

[Danman1957]

Welcome Alt,

Welcome to the Forum. What part of our great country do you call home.

 

[Multiwood]

Welcome to the forum N/a

 

[gmercer_48083]

As Charles recommended testing for run out would be a good start. Remove the Collet to do the test on the shaft of the armature. You could do your "gif" filming again. There may be a collet issue causing wobble. Usually there is excessive noise from bearings as they go bad as an indicator.

 

[Alt]

I thought they would have to be very specific bearings, so I didn't think I'd be able to do that. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Alt]

Thank you!

 

[Alt]

If I understand what you mean, I think I did do that test as well. The shaft its self also does not spin perfectly.

 

[Alt]

I appreciate the advise. I'd rather stick with the one I have for now, as I just bought it, but if I can't get replacements parts I can see how I have few options.

 

[Alt]

I'll have to check that... I don't think I could feel any wobble, but now I can't remember if I actually checked that.

 

[Alt]

Hey! Thank you. I'm in Ottawa. Where are you?

 

[Alt]

The router is new to me and quite a lot bigger then my old one, so I don't know if its noise level is partially the bearings I'm hearing or not. I'll give that test a try and get back to you. Thanks.

 

[Cherryville Chuck]

If the shaft is bent then it would require a replacement which wouldn't be worth it. 40 years ago I replaced a sears armature for $11 but that isn't the case anymore. A new router then was 80 or 90. That ratio got worse over the years. A few years ago I checked on an armature for a Freud and it was $10 cheaper than a new router.

There are several of us from BC but we have and have had members from all over the country. And we do a pretty good job of covering the globe too.