Thread: Nearly killed me router!

Dam gave myself a fright a few days ago, I needed to cut some lock mitre's using the large sized bit... silly me didnt slow the router down before starting it I spun this huge lock mitre bit flat chat 30000rpm, it vibrated(like a you know what)enough to dislocate one of the power leads on one of the bushes. I stopped it(didnt know about the lead at this time), then turned the speed down and proceeded to cut the mitres. The router seemed to be fluctuating in speed while cutting, as we had a real bad storm earlier that day(lost me armond tree, dam it)I thought it was something wrong with the incoming power supply, the next day when I went to use the router... nothing say what TF is going on here, left me scratching me head for a while so I decided to have a look inside the bloody thing.
Thats when I noticed this lead hanging off, apon closer inspection the lead had fallen back against the bush and the armature, this is what was causing the fluctuating speed, while this was happening it was burning/pitting the living hell out of the bush and armature. The lead end was half melted.
So after a few words spoken in language that the SWMBO doesnt think much of:mad:, I went looking for a new female lead plug thingy, you think I could find a side entry plug not likely(not in my town)so I used an automotive style one and bent it at a right angle so it would fit in the availbe space. I soldered it on just to be safe, she no more come off!
The contact area on the armature I cleaned up with some 800 W&D paper using my C/drill to spin the armature while holding the assembley in the vice. It cleaned up Ok a few small pits remained on the contact area, slapped it back together then crossed everything I could find and hit the switch off she went all OK, pheww thought I lost a near $600 router(when I brought it, its cheaper now).
I reckon its gained some lost power, as when it was apart I cleaned the armature out by using compressed air to blow all the dust out of it, you'd be amazed how much dust and crap came out of it.
Ever since it just roars thru the wood, even when cutting full depth with the big lock mitre bit!(only in pine tho!)
Might start doing a 12monthly inspection/ clean out of my power tools, keep my wooden investments safe and in tiptop condition.
Maybe we should have a reminder for this on this site every so often, after all safety/performance is paramount to our hobby/lifestyle!

Oh and its a 3612C Mak router!