Thread: GMC Router & Plunge Springs

I removed my springs (totally different model gmc router) with a pair of sidecutters.
Just grab the spring & pull till it all unravelled & came out.
Another advantage of no springs is that the chuck now comes up a lot higher. Which is a big advantage on a router table.

But if you fitted a router lift you might not need to remove the springs at all.
If you search niki's posts there is a simple but practical lift he made.

Echnidna, can you give brief instructions on how you did it as when i take the top off the motor housing, where you would expect to see the top of the plunge rods all i can see is a lot of plastic with no visible sign of removal options.

I see at the base there are two pins one through each leg of the plunge rods, when i have the original base plate off i can see two caps at the end of each rod, my original thought was if i drill out these two pins then it would release both springs, knowing my luck this week it will release the base of the router from its baseplate and will not be able to be replaced, making the router U.S

David

The router I modified was totally different to the R1200 it had the springs exposed so I didn't need to pull the router apart to remove the springs.

Its most unlikely that you need to drill the pins out but you need advice from someone who has pulled an R1200 apart.

Maybe post some closeup pics, Dave.

You need to remove the whole router body from the uprights to get at the springs. This involves undoing all the screws that hold the plastics together...

Hi guy's
just spent 5 hrs removing plunge spring from r1200 and then some, I did this before reading harry's post.

1. Removed all screws that attach the metal to the plastic body
2. Unscrewed the speed dial handle to allow more travel for the cable
3. Spent 1 hour trying to remove the #####$@$% spring, it was a complete pita. with a lot of wrangling managed to remove it and the floating post - see pic 1 below.
4. putting it all back together minus spring , not a walk in the park more like an mt everest style expedition. Lifted the plastic body a little higher, tried to put it back no joy 1" gap between plastic body and metal. Took the top off the router and i could see two springs jamming the motor at the top i.e. sat atop the motor spindle and not allowing the body to lower.

5. Brainwave or brain fart I will let you decide, I traced the springs back to these copper/brass thingamajigs, unscrew the first no problem can see spring attached, put it on bench ok. Undo second release it and all of a sudden theres a boing sound, look at what i am doing and I am holding a copper/brass recepticle minus carbon brush!!!.

6. 3 hours spent cleaning garage so that i can find the thingammy, no joy - brain wave remember that i have some gmc carbon brushes for angle grinder spare - cool - 1 hr spent trying to find it no joy swmbo is screaming at all the mess pulling cupboards apart etc no joy, so make a 50/50 decision how often have i used my angle grinder in last 3 years once, spend 1 hour taking it apart, (GMC when you mention that you provide replacement brushes for angle grinder PLEASE put it in the instructions how to change them!!!!!) take it apart looks similar but isn't, decide to make do with them. Put the brushes in, screw everything back together - plug in router and stand well back -5 4 3 2 1 we have ignition the little beauty works

7. Now check plunge depth - take refence from base of handle at full height 107mm, take same measurement when router is fully plunged 38mm 69mm difference.

The main reason for doing this was that the router itself takes close to 10kg plus of pressure to compress it when it is table.


Have also attached pics of my new router table, this is a wip as there are still a few things to be done, just for those tall guy's 6'2" + the distance from the floor to the top of the router table is a little over 1 metre.

Dave........

Glad you got there, mate.

Have you found the brush yet? If it still has the braided tail attached, you may be able to solder it back onto the base. (I have a couple of soldering irons if needed)


Cheers..................Sean

I'd try sending a PM to eagle and see if he can help.

cheers guys, found the spring this morning for it, its quite strange that on the angle grinders carbon brush the brush is attached to the copper/brass shell withe braid through the middle of the spring, and that spring is permanently fixed to the carbon.

On the router it seems that its different in that the spring is loose and that the brush is not attached to the brass/copper shell.

If anyone has a spare replacement one for the r1200 i would really appreciate it.


David

Should be able to pick up a set of brushes for $5 or $10

Maybe a stupid question DJ, any suggestion where to get them?

Dave

Try the GMC hotline or maybe special order thru Bunnings.