Shark is Down

[Larry Gardner]

Well the Shark is fine I shoud say the Bosch 1617 router started acting up looks like the Bearings are shot, you can hear metal to metal rubbing or grinding I should say. Has anyone replaced the bearings on this model yet and if so I would like to have your help with a step by step procedure on the replacement of them and the brushes. I called Rockler and they will get back with me tomorrow, I bought everything last febuary so we will see if the y will replace the router or not... never knwo, keeping my fingers crossed.
Any help would be great Thanks

[Eagle55]

Larry,
I'm about to do the same service on my PC690 router that began to die after about 4 months on the Shark. I think this might be a skill that we need to have with whatever router we use as they are just not intended to take what the Shark dishes our in demand. Just for reference, did you buy it this past February or last February? A year and a half isn't too bad but less than a year is not good. Seems like the warranty may cover it but then often the warranty service cost more than the self repair in shipping, loss of time etc. Good luck with a rapid recover time. Hope you don't have withdrawals LOL

Roger

[Larry Gardner]

Hi Roger, I bought it Feb 2012 so only 10 months old. I put in a call to Rockler to see what they could do since it was within a year and I am waiting to hear form their Tech support. I was trying to find something online with a bearing replacement guide but not much luck on the Bosch 1617EVS model. Do withdrawals yet, I do have a PC892 but the cord it way to short to get to my control box.... so now I wait to see what happens... perfect timing right when I start getting busy for the holidays....

[SPH01]

Larry, I too would like to get the tear down/replacement proceedure. I've been through two of them and so I've been leaning towards the spindle idea. (that and my neighbors would be thankfull)
The first router was one I had laying around when I got the shark so I wrote that off to age. But like you my second one is under a year and is starting to make the tired bearing noise after it warms up.
I really hadn't thought about the warrenty, I assumed since we were not using it as intended that all bets were off.
I may run mine down to the Bosch store and see what they say.
Thanks Steve.

[Larry Gardner]

I called Acme tool who is a service center for Bosch. Lady gave me a quote of $150.00 to do the brushes and bearings... hell if I cannot do it myself might as well buy a new one.... Has anyone changed the bearings and brushes on the Biscuit 1617EVS????

[Larry Gardner]

I called Acme tool again and talked to a different guy and they will fix since it is under a year old. So that is good. Bad news they do now know how long it will take to fix.... such is life guess I might end up buying a new one for a backup

[Eagle55]

Larry,
Might want to view my similar question of last night regarding the PC892 if you haven't already. Rungemach posted and interesting finding that indicated the bearings are of lower quality than what is available. I suspect the warranty repair would likely be done with the "factory" bearing and although free comes with the price tag of down time and the same problem that will happen again. I think we may have to face that we are asking more of our routers than what they are built for and that having a backup to slip into place while repairing one may be the best option to keep the down time manageable. Better repair parts may very well be an important consideration also. Buying with an extended warranty at some place like Lowes or Home Depot was also suggested to me as a way to minimize repair, downtime and all. Just walk in with bad router and walk out with new one. A lot to think about, but the back up unit on the shelf seems like a good route to go.

Roger

[Larry Gardner]

Roger, I went out today and Purchased another Bosch 1617EVS so I am back up and running while the other is being repaired, so now I have a back up if ever needed again. so we are good to go, Time to go make some more Dust.... Thanks again

[Eagle55]

Good choice. I'm pretty sure I would have done the same thing.... however I feel that you may have misstated part of that sentence. I thinking it might be WHEN you need it next instead of IF.

[ohiococonut]

Is this coincidence or what? I bought my shark and router in Feb. of this year also and it started making noise. Sure, it's covered by a warranty but I figured it's going to be too much hassle shipping the entire unit back and waiting. I also bought a another 1617EVS and am using it right now. When time permits I'll tear the other one apart and fix it up. I'm using it on my dovetail jig right now and it doesn't appear to be having the same problems? Who knows? You can't have too many routers

BTW, I placed a small foam filter from a computer fan on top of mine. It's held in place with two toothpicks in the mounting screw holes. My router is enclosed in a shark tank and saw dust tends to fly everywhere even with the dust collector running. You'd be surprised to see how much dust it collects and the filter doesn't restrict the motor enough to affect it. After each cut I lift it off and shake off the dust. I tried using the aux. hose on my dust collector to clean it off but nows there's two of them in the bag so I don't do that any more