Thread: Triton TRA001 1/4” reducer - broken or by design ???

I don’t have one and the images online don’t show the end of the ring but that ring would have to have a gap so it can be installed on the sleeve.
Heres a picture from toolsonline. If you don’t get an answer I would email them. They have always responded to queries from me reasonably promptly

DC107773-2CA5-4A97-AFA1-768CEDD76259.jpg

I'll photograph mine for you today.

Ah mine's the different style, like
Router Collet | TritonTools.com
Screen Shot 2020-10-22 at 8.31.34 am.jpg

The little ring would be designed with the gap as it would be made from high tensile wire and just get stretched open to get into the groove.
It wouldn't have anything to do with your bit slipping, it's more likely either the reducer is worn/scuffed inside or the thread on your collet nut is tight for some reason. Make sure there is no accumulated buildup on any of the parts and clean the threads. Then put some dry type of lube on the thread and the taper of the collet. Don't put it on the surface that grips on the bit or the reducer.
Are you using straight bits or spiral bits to do your mortices and what speed to you have your router running at?

Originally Posted by Lappa

I don’t have one and the images online don’t show the end of the ring but that ring would have to have a gap so it can be installed on the sleeve

I do have the early model and I can confirm the ring is supposed to have a gap to enable it to slip over the end.
The purpose of the ring is simply to prevent the reducer from being pushed too far into the collet, I don’t recall seeing any other brand of reducer having the feature. I use the Triton reducer on all my 1/2” routers in preference to the cheaper made normal split versions that other manufacturers supply.

If have bits slipping there are a couple of simple checks you can make; firstly check that EVERY mating surface is clean with no dust or dirt anywhere. Next look for any signs of scoring or galling. Finally the router bit shafts must be a smooth ground finish with no rust, scoring or pitting.

What is the quality of the bits you are using? Diablo, Freud, CMT, Trend or Carbitool are the brands to aim for if you can afford them; stay away from “budget” or Chinese no-name products.

Some people have had issues with the original style collets and reducers on the early series TRA001 units. The collets were the cause of a lot of complaints with US users, and 1/2' shank bits were in for their fair share of complaints, but combining with the 1/4" reducer really stirred up the routing forums for the poor clamping provided. Hence Triton basically had to redesign the collets they used in the US, and came up with the style shown by lyricnz above, which use a different holder on the spindle and dedicated collet/nut units for each shank size (1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" in imperial, or 6mm, 8mm, and 12mm in metric). For a while US users were able to obtain the revised collet system from the US distributors (free of charge from memory) and retrofit them to their early routers, while new stock was distributed with the revised collets.

Units supplied with the revised collet system were supplied with the largest and smallest sized collets in the box for the prevailing dimension system in the country they were supplied in, but collets for the alternate system or the intermediate sizes were available as spares in Europe and the US.

There was then a reasonable number of Aussies upgrading the early series routers by buying the collet sets from the US and retrofitting them as well, then Triton disappeared in OZ when GMC collapsed. Later incarnations with different distributors appeared, utilising the revised collet system, but the most recent distributor dropped the line in July and I haven't heard of a replacement distributor being appointed.

The original collet system was generally viewed as marginal, particularly if the reducer was needed for the smaller shanked bits, while the revised system is regarded as one of the better collet systems in regard to grip.

Thanks @treecycle. will give it a clean & lube - dont think collet is moving - so maybe worn reducer. Cutting using 1/2" straight bit, speed 5

Great, thanks @ChiefTiff - I suspected that was the case. will give all the surfaces a checkover. Bits ... that was my 1st suspicion ... originally was a no-name old thing, but did same with a new CMT.

Thanks @malb.


Has anyone on the forum updated their early TRA001 collet to the newer version for these reasons ... and if yes, where did you get them (TritonUK didnt answer my original email, just pointed me to toolsparesonline website)

It would appear that Tool Spares Online have the Triton collets, reducer sleeves and an adaptor to fit the later style collets to early model routers, see here - http://www.toolsparesonline.com/imag...%20Collets.pdf

I converted my MOF001 a couple of years ago but the TRA001 is the same. You need to buy the Chuck Body 711027 and both the 1/4" Chuck 844276 and the 1/2" Chuck 335735. It's not advisable to use a reducer in the 1/2" chuck for 1/4" bits.
As aldav says, toolsparesonline.com are the way to go.

awesome @Treecycle, thanks very much - I really appreciate the help.

Hmm, got to have a think about spending £75 / $140 to update a 10+ year old router ... although the Triton is a bit of a beast with 2400W ... only use it in a table, and being so old doesnt have that winder thingo. [have been trying to work out how old it actually is. MFG date on it says 0419 ... definitely not 2019, so guessing 2004 - especially given serial number is 00283]

I believe the system they used was year/week for manufacture date so yours should be 19th week in 2004.
When you say you don't have the winder thingo, I assume you mean the above table height winder. Is that correct? I had one that was manufactured in 2002 and it didn't have it either.

@Treecycle, yes, above table winder.

Anyone know if it is standard with new versions ?? I thought it was, but cant seem to confirm.