Thanks for the video, saved me lots of time and money. Mine acted just like yours so I appreciate you not editing the thing working at the beginning. Got a chuckle out of that as I felt your pain.
Thank you Thank you!!! I knew it has been an issue from the reviews. But I haven’t used it THAT much! Of course, I use mine in a table doing flutes on columns...so guess where ALL the dust goes! And yes, it died on the last flute I needed to do on a project. 🙄 Bout ready to find a local shop, but decided HEY, maybe I can do it! 20 minutes and ZERO DOLLARS later...Happy, Happy! 👍
Wow, thanks so much. I googled repair and clicked on your video, presto, we fixed our 1617EVS which would no longer turn on. Great video repair. Been nice if your hands were more in it but it did the job. Thanks loads. Alaskans
I have this same router and have had the power switch quit working numerous times from early on in the life of the machine. I've read somewhere on-line in the past that the problem is that the electrical contact space of the switch is not dust proof, and I can say positively that this is indeed the problem. I'm here on-line now because, once again, my router has failed to turn on, and once again, I have removed the cover, and disassembled the switch, and found a small wood chip (imagine that) sitting proudly on top of the contact nub that rocks with the rocker switch's on/off action. I quit using contact cleaner years ago, because I found that it doesn't wash away a wood chip that is wedged between the contact points. The switch needs to be disassembled, or you can buy switches in bulk and just replace them. I don't know if Bosch has come up with an improved switch, but replacing the existing switch with an identical part does not stop the problem from reoccurring. The router creates microscopic as well as macroscopic dust particles and the motor cooling fan that pulls straight down through the cover that needs to be removed in order to access the switch is quite the vacuum source. That 2.25 HP motor requires some serious cooling. If the vents in the cover are blocked, even momentarily, for example by placing the router upside down on the bench after powering down the machine, but before it has actually stopped turning, the cooling fan pulls from any available openings, one of which is the space around the rocker portion of the power switch. Of course, any time the top of the router comes into contact with shirts or trousers while powered up, the fan sucks dust into the switch. Keep in mind that the business end is nowhere near your shirt or trousers. You've got your hands on the knobs, and the bit pointing safely away from your clothing and body, but guess what, that top vent is possibly touching your stomach area, blocking the airflow, and voraciously sucking dust you just created into the contact area of the power switch. This is the problem. I'll even venture that the vacuum that the fan pulls is sufficient even without blocking the vents to suck dust particles into the switch. That fan pulls a serious vacuum! I'll mention a few pointers: 1. My machine has Torx head screws, not allen heads. T-20, I believe. 2. An Ohmmeter across the small blade (Hot side or black wire on the power cord) of the plug to the spade connector on top of the speed controller while actuating the rocker switch can be used to diagnose the problem. However, if your router was working fine, and then all of a sudden, it isn't, ... It's the switch. . . . I'm trying to find a sealed power switch.
Any luck on finding a sealed switch? I’ve done this video repair twice. And if that doesn’t work, how is a new IDENTICAL switch going to be an improvement? I’ve had mine for a month and I hate it for the reasons you discussed. How has this machine earned so many good reviews?!
@@alexcurry9388 Hey sorry to take so long getting back with you. I haven't found a replacement switch. I've been thinking about how I could seal the switch, some how. However that would make cleaning it harder if I failed at sealing it. . . I bought a Makita palm router to use for most lighter duty jobs. . . No problems with the Makita.
Thank you Rob!! That was great. My router is now fixed thanks to your excellent video. I had the same oh crap moment when disassembling the switch, but luckily the toggle piece didn’t go to far.
Thank you for this clear and straightforward video. I just cleaned the switch in my router for the second time in as many years. Your video helped me complete the job in about 30 minutes, compared with several hours the first time. I like Bosch equipment but find it unpardonable that they have this widespread and longstanding design flaw with such a popular tool. Hopefully they have fixed the problem on their newer models.
I couldn't agree more. I love Bosch tools everything just feels so solid on them but that isn't the first time I've fixed that switch. They could fix it in the soft-start electronics.
In fact, "chopstick" is one of the tools that Bosch recommends in its repair manual. I would recommend trying blowing the switch and speed control out with air, squirt in some DeoxIT D5 and work the switch and dial. Allow the DeoxITto dry and then try your router. If that gets it working without taking your router apart, bonus! Meanwhile, contact Bosch to see if they will send you a replacement switch.
Smashing repair :-D For switch contacts i've found the rubber+fine abrasive blocks do a nice job, and the fine grade types don't take too much material off too fast. Garryflex blocks is the name i remember, but there is likely many others.
What worked for me is to take the switch completely out and put it in a bag of 90% Isoproply Rubbing Alcohol. I shook the bag up vigorously and out came a lot of small dust that even after tons of spraying with the air compressor wand it didn't remove. After shaking it for several minutes and letting it soak, I took the switch out and again sprayed it with air so it was completely dry. Plugged the switch back in and it fired up. So just FYI, air alone might not solve this problem.
Thanks. I've needed to do this for years. Even had the part. If I held my mouth right, it would eventually work, so - no need to fix it, right.. I lost my touch!! So now, it's working' great, And no more trying to remember how I had my mouth last time. J.R.
