Laminate Trimmer: Bad Vibration

Remove the base from the laminate trimmer and take off the motor cover. Release the tension on the brushes by pulling the tension spring to the side. Note: some models may have caps on the side, holding the brushes. The brushes can be removed with a screwdriver. Make a reference mark on the upper and lower motor housing. Separate the upper and lower half of the motor housing by removing the screws that secure the two halves together. You may need to tap the two halves loose.

Next, remove the collet from the shaft. Using a rag, or a thick glove, tightly hold on to one end of the armature shaft, as you use an impact wrench to remove the chuck. Use a rubber mallet to tap the armature free from the housing. For units with bearings mounted in the housing – opposed to on the armature shaft – use retaining ring pliers to remove the ring holding the bearing in place, inside the housing.

Next, use a socket that only makes contact with the inner race of the bearing and tap it free from the housing. Now, flip the housing over and insert the new bearing in place and use a socket that only makes contact with the outer race. Tap the bearing in place.

Reinstall the retaining ring. Install the armature back in the housing and tap in place with a rubber mallet. To replace the bottom bearing, you can leave the armature in the housing. Use a bearing puller to remove the bearing. Apply a small amount of grease to the shaft and install the bearing on the shaft. Place a socket on the bearing that only makes contact with the inner race to avoid damage to the bearing. Tap the bearing into place with a mallet.

Reinstall the chuck with the impact wrench, as you hold onto the opposite end. Reinstall the collet. Rejoin the two halves of the motor housing. Make sure the reference marks are lined up. Reinstall the tension on the brushes and reattach the motor cover. Reattach the base.

The carbon brushes provide electricity to the armature by riding on the commutator. When these brushes become badly worn, they can produce a bad vibration. To examine and replace these brushes, move the motor cover and then remove the tension springs on the brush by sliding them over. Remove the brush from the holder. Some brushes may be attached to a spring and screwed in. Brushes 1/8 of an inch, or less, are worn out. Replace any worn out brushes and always replace both brushes at the same time. Install new brushes and reply the tension spring. Reinstall the motor cover. Some units will have caps on the side of the unit. To replace brushes with caps, simply remove the cap with a screwdriver to access the brushes. Insert new brushes and install the caps and tighten back up.

The collet holds the cutting bits in place. If the collet is worn out, it will cause a bad vibration and poor cuts on the wood. To replace the collet, remove the base from the motor. Use the two wrenches that came with the unit to remove the collet by holding the but close to the unit, as you rotate the other nut. Remove the old collet, clean out any saw dust from the shaft and install the new collet in reverse order.

A loose, or broken, fan will cause a bad vibration within the trimmer. The following repair procedure will vary on different models, but is similar. To examine the fan, and replace if damaged, remove the base from the laminate trimmer and then remove the motor cover. Release the tension on the brushes by moving the tension spring to the side. Some models have caps on the side, holding the brushes in place for easy access, which can be removed with a screwdriver to remove the brushes. Make a reference mark on the upper and lower motor housing. Remove the screws securing the two halves of the motor housing together and then separate the upper and lower half of the motor housing. You may need to tap the two halves loose. Remove the collet from the shaft. Using a rag, or a glove, tightly hold on to the one end of the armature shaft as you use an impact wrench to remove the chuck. Use a rubber mallet and tap the armature free of the housing. Remove the wave washer and then use a bearing puller to take the bearing out. Remove the retaining clip and pull the fan off of the shaft.

Install a new fan onto the shaft then reinstall the clip to secure it in place. Install the bearing with a press or put the shaft in a bench vice with the soft jaws attached, to avoid damage to the armature. Use a socket big enough that only makes contact with the inner race of the bearing and tap it into place with a hammer. Put the wave washer back in. Reinsert the armature in the housing and use a mallet to tap it in place. Reinstall the chuck with the impact wrench as you hold on to the opposite end. Rejoin the two halves of the motor housing, making sure the reference marks are lined up. Reinstall the tension on the brushes and reattach the motor cover. Reattach the base.

If the router bit is dull, or the shaft is bent, it will cause a vibration as well as give you very poor cuts in the wood. If the blade is dull, it will be very obvious during cuts. Replace any that are dull. Remove the bit from the collet and examine for a bent shaft. If the bit is bent, replace with a new one. Sometimes the bit may be bent a little, making it hard for you to see it. Try a different bit to see if the problem persists.

If the base of the trimmer is loose, it can cause a bad vibration. Make sure the base is installed correctly and the lock mechanisms are locked in place, keeping it tight. If the locking mechanisms are worn, they will need to be replaced. The majority of locking mechanisms on all units can just be unscrewed from the base to be removed. Once removed, install the new ones and secure them into the base. For some models, the locking levers are held in place by a pin. If the lever is worn, or broken, tap the pin out, remove the lever and install a new lever. Then, reinstall the pin. If the base itself is the problem, due to damage and is no longer flat on the bottom, this can cause a vibration as well. If it is damaged, replace the base of the unit.