MuscleChuck on an old Makita 3600BR Router

When I purchased a Type 8 Musclechuck for my Triton TRA001 router, I also got a Type 11 Musclechuck to fit to my Makita 3600BR router. Note: The Type 11 does NOT fit the 3600BR out of the box, so please don’t buy one thinking it does. However, the collet chucks on the Makita 3600BR and the old-style Triton TRA001 have the exactly same thread and almost the same internal taper (within 1 degree). So I bought the Musclechuck with the intention of re-machining the taper to fit the 3600BR.

I’ve managed to recut the taper without screwing it up and the Musclechuck is now installed in the Makita. Runout is excellent at 0.02mm (half a thou).

I created this thread to provide general info on the Musclechuck, rather than on fitting one to a Makita 3600BR specifically, as I realise most people wouldn’t be mad enough to attempt this.

Note that any Musclechuck will add about 20mm to the length of the collet assembly. That can be an issue with long bits which may not fully retract above the base plate. It just means you can’t place the router down on the baseplate when using the router free-hand.

I’m so happy with the runout, I’m sorely tempted to replace the TRA001 with the 3600BR in my router table. But I can’t decide if I’m willing to trade the improved runout on the Makita for the above-the-table height adjustment and speed control on the TRA001.

You could use the Makita in a router table by adding a Router Raizer, or equivalent (as I am not sure they are still being made/sold). There are examples on YouTube. I have the RR, MC and an Elu 177e.

Regards from Perth

Derek

I think that's what might end up happening Derek if (when?) the Triton's speed controller lets the smoke out.

I wonder whether you had more difficulty setting up the Musclechuck on the Triton due to poor machining on the armature shaft. As you saw, machining of the thread was poor on the Triton chuck.

Some of the runout was due to the TRA001's armature. My collet had zero runout when mounted on the mandrel in the lathe (as you would expect), but had 0.05mm of runout when fitted to the router. There's definitely runout in the Musclechuck too. I was getting up to 0.3mm of runout on the Triton until I found the sweet spot.