TRA001- is the free plunge stiffness normal?

[rocketwiz]

Just took the plunge and got one of these. However in free plunge mode the plunge action is quite stiff and I can't get a smooth plunge unless I put a lot of weight on it. Also I can hear a faint clicking of the rack as it plunges down which doesn't occur if I push down on the base when the router is upside down. It's not been used yet so it's not due to clogging.

I've been advised to use the rack and pinion knob (which is pretty good and I will) but can't help wondering if it's normally like this out of the box. The router will find its way into an old mk3 table I picked up for this but I still want to hand hold it on occasion (no funds left for a separate unit at this stage!)

[BobL]

Mine was fine until I mounted it into a table and then it became very stiff to move up and down. I would take it out of the router table and it would work fine but in he table it was very stuff. Eventually I worked out that the underneath of the table was not flat and distorted the base so I had to shim up one side to make it flat. I don't know if this is a common problem with them

[rocketwiz]

Thanks

After working it a bit it's gotten somewhat better - I guess I'll rely on the rack and pinion knob for the most part. At this point I'd normally take it apart but as it's brand spanking new, perhaps not yet.

EDIT: Actually it hasn't gotten better at all. I've noticed that if plunged up to halfway down it's able to stay there without returning to the top without a bit of a nudge. BobL, from what you have said it now looks like it's jamming on the guides, possibly due to some imperfection in the base? Anyway I'm going to take it back to where I bought it, I'm pretty sure there's an issue with it.

[BEKKY]

If mounting in a table remove the spring from the guide post, undo the small plastic cap and it will pop out.
I don't know how it would go in free hand mode as I have never used one this way.
Leith.

[rocketwiz]

Ok returned it and got another, much better plunge 'feel' but still not as good as the smaller 1400w version which has a silky smooth plunge.