Thread: Long shot - a collett for a 9 year old Triton TRA001

The new style collets were availble on ebay (body, 1/2in collet and nut and 1/4in collet and nut) as an upgrade for about $85 during the period when Triton was off the market. This kit is interchangable with the original collet system as it shares a common mounting thread on the base of the armature, although the individual parts not interchangable. If you don't get a response to your origininal request, you may be able to get the conplete collet system from Kingchrome (new distributor) or one of their dealers.

At one stage there was a link to the installation instructions somewhere on the forums. Basically, it involves removing the motor brushes from the brushholders, threading blind cord or bootlace through one brushholder, around the commutator a couple of turns, and out through the othe brushholder. Engage the collet lock by fully plunging the router as if you were about change bits, then pull on the cord to "crack" the collet body loose from the armature thread. (Or was it spin the armiture like a top with the cord, then mannually plunge the router to engage the collet lock for a sharp sudden stop). Then uscrew the lossened collet boddy and repace with the new style one.


The new style collet was standard equipment on US versions long before it came here and is a better unit than what we had. A lot of people changed, so you might find a removed unit to get you going.

As i recall it, there was a problem with the early Triton 1/2 inch collets not wanting to release the bits. The solution was to drop an appropriately sized "o" ring into the collet to stop the bit from bottoming out. This somehow allowed a little bit of flexibility/movement of the bit in the collet allowing it to be loosened easier. It did not detract from the accuracy settings of depth because when the collet was tightened the bit was still held firmly. I have 4 routers with 1/2 inch collets and I do this on all of them and it makes changing bits easier, even on the two Makita's. I dont bother with the "o" ring on the 1/4 inch router but often still make sure it does not bottom out when I tighten the collet.

Hope this helps,

Doug

Thanks to you both. I will look into both of these solutions. I am also pondering just putting in a Router Raizer extension collett, which would be permanently fastened into the collett.

I might be able to help you out here, I bought a TRA001 when Bunnings were clearing their stock and I scored a freebie set of the USA style Collets that Malb mentions to fit to the router.

If you can post a pic of the collet fitted to yours and it matches the one I have, you can have it, I'll even shout for the postage cost

DJ, Even if the collet is physically different from what you have removed, if you can supply the complete unit (collet and base), JohnLyn should be able to use it to replace his collet assembly as the thread on the shaft has not changed through the model variants of the router. All he would need to do is remove the original collet body from the armature and replace it with yours, then fit the matching collet.

To the best of my knowledge, there have only been two collet styles for the model, the local original and the US/new version.

DJ, that is a very generous offer. Very much appreciated. I will take some photos and try and post them.

Attached is a photo of the 2 types of Triton router collets. The old one (sold mainly in OZ because they do not value our safety) is the one with the red line through it. The newer type is really great. It grips as well as my Festool router collet. These collets are also available in 8mm size for Leigh jig dovetail routing.

Les