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Posted

I've got a Jessem router lift that I bought ages ago.  I seem to recall it was on sale as a discontinued model.

Anyway, I just noticed that it doesn't hold it's height setting.  If I set it so that the dial reads 1/64, after routing four sides of a raised panel (only taking off 1/64th more than the previous pass), the dial will read a couple ticks higher than 1/64.  This was consistent.  It was weird to me that it should be higher; I'd expect if there was movement then the router would drop due to gravity and the pressure of the wood.

Any thoughts?  Is this a common problem?  Is there a known fix?  Do I need to buy a new router lift?

I figure someone will tell me to contact Jessem customer service.  I will, but it's more convenient to ask you guys, first.

 

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Posted

I don't know of any locking mechanism.  The work was fully covering the dial, so it should be pushing equally on both sides?  I'll see if I can move it by pushing with my fingers.   [time passes] Hmmm, interesting:

  • the dial is slightly below the table, so I doubt that the work sliding over the table would push on it
  • but, I was able to turn the dial by pressing hard on it with my finger in a circular motion
  • and, when I turned the dial in that way, the crank did not move, so I assume the height didn't change
  • which makes sense, since I doubt I'd be able to raise the heavy router by rubbing on the dial with my finger

I'm going to assume that the router height didn't actually change.  I might do an experiment where I keep cutting rabbets until the dial moves, and then check with a caliper to see if the bit height changed.

I guess the dial position is only useful when setting up for a pass; you can't set it at zero, cut some wood, change the setting, cut some more wood, and then set it back to zero and assume you're at the first position.

Thanks for the ideas!

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Posted
16 hours ago, Beechwood Chip said:

  If I set it so that the dial reads 1/64, after routing four sides of a raised panel (only taking off 1/64th more than the previous pass), the dial will read a couple ticks higher than 1/64.  This was consistent.

After the fourth pass (side) routing the panel did you see (or feel) any misalignment of the cove at the junction of the fourth and first pass?  A "couple of ticks" on that dial is a very tiny amount, but if there is a misalignment, then the lift is definitely "lifting".  If not than the difference may be undetectable or maybe the lift is fine and it's the dial.

If I understood you, you were able to move the dial while holding the crank handle fixed.  Is there a set screw for the dial?

If you have a fine tip Sharpie you could draw a line from, say, zero on the dial across to the crank socket.  Then it should be easier to see if the two are moving relative to each other.

Any tension adjuster on the lift itself?

  • Like 1
Posted
On 11/27/2024 at 2:31 PM, Von said:

Could it be backlash, similar to adjusting the blade in a hand plane?

No, because the dial moves securely with the crank.  It's just that it can be physically moved without turning the crank if I push hard enough.  I'm willing to call it user error.

 

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