Hello - I’ve just over 20 hours on my set up and my Carbide Compact router started whining on startup about a hour or so ago. While I’ve been blowing out the nut and collet a few times a session, I took the router out of the holder, blew everything out and checked the brushes and decided to change them (the old ones looked fine) but it’s still acting up. It screeches on start up, does not hold a consistent speed based on the hum it’s making, and a few times while troubleshooting - it heated up very quickly and sounded like it wants to stop the bit even though it was not cutting through anything. Any thoughts on how to manage the router? I’d really love to use it for the weekend!
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Sounds like you have a bad bearing. Does the casing heat up right where the shaft enters the body?
Some people have changed the bottom bearing on the router, so it’s doable.
EDIT - more info here
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yes - that is where it is heating up. 
Thanks for the google-able terms - I appreciate the assist!
Oh - that is great to know - thank you! I happen to have a Makita 701 so I’ll put that in as a hot standby until we can get the C3D replaced via warranty.
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I’ve just started having the same issue. Screeching is a good word for it…and an intermittent drop in the pitch of the spindle. Same thing.
[EDIT]
I followed the link and ended up purchasing the ER-11 router for $60 USD. Seems worth it considering my time and effort to change the bearings.
So…my new ER-11 router showed up this morning! That’s fast. Thanks Carbide! That’s gets me back in business a lot faster than if I had tried to fix it myself!
By the way, I put a Amana 60 degree vee bit into my old router yesterday, and it sang like a strangled bird. Much worse with the larger bit. I didn’t dare cut with it and decided to wait until today with the new one. I was so glad I was replacing the router.
I would suggest that anyone with a Carbide Compact Router should take advantage of the sale on the ER-11 and buy a spare router. My original Carbide router also died with fairly light use after about 1 year exactly as described above. I only use the machine for a couple hours per week so it should have lasted longer than this. When I took the router apart to examine it, the bearings were wore out. I can’t recall having a power tool that died this quickly. Hopefully the ER-11 will now last longer.
Do yourself a favor and get a spindle.
I checked out the C3D ER-11 router page and it says:
“There’s only one reason to buy this router over the less expensive Carbide Compact Router: you need to use cutters or drills with a shank diameter other than 1/8” and 1/4". Other than the collets, there is no difference."
That said I wonder if the thinking is that the style of the ER-11 collet does a better job of holding the endmill thereby reducing the load on the shaft and bearing?
I’ve heard that the ER collets hold better.
And, just saying…with the current sales, the ER-11 is $20 less than the Carbide Compact Router…so not buying the ER-11 makes no sense.
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Yeah…I plan to get the larger spindle when I upgrade to the 5 Pro…which is an upgrade waiting for a job to justify the cost, particularly since my 3 XXL with its HDZ and now, ER-11 router - is still a workhorse and is doing just fine.
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