OF 1400 router lost power

[WoodWhisperer]

Was using my router the other day to rout out some pretty large rabbits when I suddenly started losing power and motor started slowing down. Not sure if it was overloaded or maybe the brushes are finally worn down? Anyone else ever experienced this?
-Sean

 

[Rip Van Winkle]

You might want to check the Plugit cord, and router Plugit connection, to see if there sre any signs of shorting, since this is a known issue with the Plugit cords.

I'm not sure what type of switch is used in the Of1400 router, but switches getting filled with dust seems to be a common issue that causes routers to stop working.

The brushes might also cause this issue if worn out, but you would have had to be using the router frequently since most motor brushes seem to be fairly durable nowadays.

 

[Robert Hewetson]

I have encountered the same slow-down with the OF1400 while working the machine hard.  It it is simply a safety mechanism in the electronics to prevent damaging the machine when overloaded.  I'll bet that once the router cools
down, it works fine again.  Cheers, Robert

 

[Doug S]

When the brushes are worn the of1400 stops and won't run anymore to prevent any damage being done. That's on 240v UK models anyway because mine did it.

Doug

 

[peter halle]

I guess that you would need to evaluate the age of your router and its usage.  Used a lot?  Might be brushes?  Not?  Definitely check the plug it connections.

Peter

 

[awil66]

Yes I stopped an of 1400 running a lock miter bit on 3/4" ply. Even a very slow feed rate the machine cut right back. Leave it a while to cool down and it should come back to life.

 

[WoodWhisperer]

Just picked my router up from festool repair (yes I live only 45mins from festool headquarters) and they fixed a bunch of stuff. Armature, roller bearing, ball bearing, brush holder, & connector housing. The biggest thing was the armature. Had all of that done for just over $200. I didn't think that was too bad. Only charged $20 in labor. This is basically the #1 router I've used for 6-7 yrs now so it needed a little TLC.

 

[chippy]

Thermal protection kicking in , machine slows so that the armature does not over heat and become a molten heat sink. It goes slow keeping the air flow around the motor.  Cause ? Blocked air flow?

 

[peterfisp]

Well, this topic looked like such a promising lead. But there is no solution offered.
My Festool OF 1400 does exactly that is described here. But there is not obvious reason for it doing so. Without load, just turning it on, it will slow down almost immediately; might then speed up again, and slow down once more. It still works OK, but clearly something is not right.
There has to be a specific reason for this problem; and someone who has had it happen would know what the issue was. It would be nice to hear about it. [eek]

 

[xedos]

Your issue doesn't sound exactly like Whisperer's,  but similar.

At any rate, issues like these are rarely atributable to one thing.  Your issue could be what was suggested here already : plug it cord or socket is faulty, or it could be the motor going tits up like Whisperers, or it could also be the speed controller. 

Or, maybe none of those. 

Bottom line is you (or someone else) has to go through and test things that might be the problem to eliminate them.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Well, this topic looked like such a promising lead. But there is no solution offered.
My Festool OF 1400 does exactly that is described here. But there is not obvious reason for it doing so. Without load, just turning it on, it will slow down almost immediately; might then speed up again, and slow down once more. It still works OK, but clearly something is not right.
There has to be a specific reason for this problem; and someone who has had it happen would know what the issue was. It would be nice to hear about it. [eek]

As you can read, the solution was to send it in to Festool service for repair. If they replace the armature my guess is that was the problem.

 

[peterfisp]

OK, sending if off was the plan anyway. However, I still think that there is one specific problem with it. And it would just be useful to know in advance what that problem is.
thanks, guys, for responding.

 

[Roseland]

My OF1400 has once done exactly as peterfisp explains - erratic speed even when under no load.  I put it down to dust under one of the brushes, that then cleared itself.

I'd rather believe that than the speed controller is on its way out.

Andrew

 

[AlexThePalex]

OK, sending if off was the plan anyway. However, I still think that there is one specific problem with it. And it would just be useful to know in advance what that problem is.
thanks, guys, for responding.

The problem with your router can only be determined by inspecting the tool itself.

I could repair your router if I had it in my hand, but not over the internet. Unless you go to someone with the technical know-how to do this, you're not getting any answers.

If you are comfortable opening power tools yourself and be confident you get everything back in the right order and do this safely, we could give you pointers for troubleshooting.

There are a number of things that could be the cause of your problem, from easy and cheap to difficult and expensive:

- worn brushes
- broken cord or Plug-It connector
- faulty On-Off switch
- faulty electronics module
- burned armature.

If I have to repair a power tool, I take these steps:

- open it, and clean everything I see.
- check the items mentioned above, generally in that order to see if they work or not, by using replacements or bypassing them. You can take each part out and apply mains power directly to the brushes to see if the motor works as it should.

Determining if the brushes are worn is the easiest. If that happens your tool simply stops and does not turn on again. Visually inspecting the brushes will show you an exposed spring inside the brushes. Replacing them is cheap and easy.

All other cases where the tools powers up intermittently, has speed fluctuations or weird noises can have a variety of causes and to find that you have to inspect each part individually and use a process of elimination.