In post #7175 here, I mentioned a find at the end of Dec. It was at the local Habitat for Humanity. I got a Craftsman 1/4" shank 8 amp router, 315.175040 for $2. It was priced at $19.99, but when I plugged it in, no-go. So, I know the floor managers, I asked one of them, "what are you going to sell this to me for, ___ (another floor manager) plugged it in and it doesn't work." He told me $5, I countered, "hey not working! I'll give you $2!" He took it.
When I got home, I set it aside until I could get to it. Today 1/2/17, I opened it up. I was hoping for something like a bad switch, and praying it wasn't a toasted armature, or field coils. I took a whiff to see if it had that acrid, 'cooked' odor, in the store, no-such odor. So, I figured, $2 is like a lotto ticket, if it's something I can fix cheaply, I get a cheap tool, if not, I am not out $$$.
Off came the switch cover. Connections OK, action OK, next!
I removed the top cap, and what I found was one of the brush holders had popped-out of the plastic receptacle. I wire-brushed the metal brush holder, which works by contact w/the metal underneath, re-assembled the top cap, which has arms to hold the brush ***'y in place, and plugged it in. Success! The second picture shows one of the commutator brush holders dislodged and the one on the opposite side is removed, for comparison. A functional 8 amp router and a nice 1" quarter-round carbide roller bearing bit for $2! A good way to end the prior year, and to start this one. Happy new year.
. We have a Florida Chapter.
