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+-- Thread: PC 690 LRVS Ser. #019923 (/showthread.php?tid=7378525)
PC 690 LRVS Ser. #019923 - Bill Holt - 05-19-2025
Looks like the plastic fan inside the housing shredded itself. I stopped using it the moment the 15 little plastic blades appeared. I have questions:
...how vital is the fan to the life of the router?
...even though I've had it 20+ yrs, it's had light usage, and it appears to have been made in USA, is it worth having it repaired?
...what router would you buy to replace it? (I have 3 1/4 hp PC in router table, DW611PK, Makita 18V, PC 690 single speed Made in Mexico, and a 50 y/o Craftsman 1 3/4 hp) I seldom use a router but two weeks ago, I had four of them set up and in use every day for a week.
I know a lot of you guys enjoy repairing your own tools, I have done some, but I'm not comfortable.
I do have great respect for the WoodNet community, so I eagerly await your suggestions.
RE: PC 690 LRVS Ser. #019923 - Tapper - 05-19-2025
I have to say I'm router "heavy." Seem to have collected them over the years at various places without dispensing of the rest of the "herd." I have at least a couple of versions of the PC 690 and as many here know, they are considered one of the best.
However, my go to routers in recent years have been the Makita brand. They are smooth with soft start, quiet with plenty of power and reliable. I bought two off of Ebay several years ago and they still run like new. I also recently was "re-introduced" to my Bosch router set. Had a project where I needed a fence and used it. Another smooth and ergonomically comfortable router with soft start.
Were I in the market for a new router, Makita would probably be the first I'd look at with Bosch a close second.
Good luck!
Doug
RE: PC 690 LRVS Ser. #019923 - jteneyck - 05-19-2025
(05-19-2025, 10:32 AM)Bill Holt Wrote: Looks like the plastic fan inside the housing shredded itself. I stopped using it the moment the 15 little plastic blades appeared. I have questions:
...how vital is the fan to the life of the router?
...even though I've had it 20+ yrs, it's had light usage, and it appears to have been made in USA, is it worth having it repaired?
...what router would you buy to replace it? (I have 3 1/4 hp PC in router table, DW611PK, Makita 18V, PC 690 single speed Made in Mexico, and a 50 y/o Craftsman 1 3/4 hp) I seldom use a router but two weeks ago, I had four of them set up and in use every day for a week.
I know a lot of you guys enjoy repairing your own tools, I have done some, but I'm not comfortable.
I do have great respect for the WoodNet community, so I eagerly await your suggestions.
I don't know how long it will last w/o the fan, but if you use it continuously it won't be long. The fan draws air across the armature to get rid of the heat produced by power transfer between brushes and commutator. If the heat's not being taken away, something's going to fry. I'd look for a junker that has a good fan, or a completely good armature assembly. It's not a hard job to disassemble and reassemble that router. On the other hand, new routers just aren't that expensive. Maybe it's time to treat yourself to a new toy.
John
RE: PC 690 LRVS Ser. #019923 - MstrCarpenter - 05-19-2025
quick search shows 696328. Is the part number.. obsolete, but DeWalt has the same number for a fan blade. Could be the same?
RE: PC 690 LRVS Ser. #019923 - Cabinet Monkey - 05-26-2025
1. If it wasn’t necessary - it wouldn’t have been in the design and dropped from production to save money.
2. It’s worth repairing IF you can do it yourself. Sending it to a svc. center won’t be economical and that’s IF they can (will) even fix it. Replacing the fan should be a pretty simple affair if you can find the part.
3. What I’d buy as a replacement would really depend on my needs. The 690 is/was a really good platform, but there’s nothing really special about them. Especially the later versions. If you need another router for edging - get another DW611. If you need another all rounder - then Bosch, DeWalt, or Makita make fine examples- get the one that feels best in your hand. The festool 1010 is a nice package if you can get over the price and don’t hate the ergonomics. If you need a beast then get a Milwaukee 3-1/4hp.