Anyone Have a Hitachi M12VC Router?

[Ken Krawford]

I purchased a reconditioned Hitachi M12VC Router from Big Sky Tools a while ago and am having problems removing bits from the collet. With most routers, tapping the bit with a block of wood was all it took to release it. I've run some emery cloth around the inside of the collet but still have problems removing the bit. It slides in smooth as silk and I'm sure I'm not over tightening the collet. I returned it to Hitachi for repair but the problem persists.
Other than buying a replacement collet, any other suggestions? If a replacement is needed, what brand do you suggest?
Thanks for your input.

[Robert Engel]

Before mine died :-( I had the same issue. A couple light taps did the trick.

I have other routers that do the same thing. You have to loosen the collet until it engages the c clip.

I think its due to micro corrosion in the collet. I wouldn't use emery cloth its too rough.

I want to try polishing the collet but I haven't done it yet.

[Ole Anderson]

Before you insert the bit, drop in a small o-ring or a space ball to allow you to tap the bit further in to loosen it. Works on my big green router.

[michael langman]

I have one and I always have to unloosen the collets twice to get them off. Turn the collet nut to loosen and then keep turning about 1 revolution and it tightens up and keep turning and it then loosens the collet. Happens every time I change a cutter.

[Bruce Wrenn]

I have a couple of routers that don't have self ejecting collets. For them, I loosen collet nut, then lay router down so nut is supported by my bench, then I whack nut with collet wrench, which ejects bit.

[scott spencer]

I have one and I always have to unloosen the collets twice to get them off. Turn the collet nut to loosen and then keep turning about 1 revolution and it tightens up and keep turning and it then loosens the collet. Happens every time I change a cutter.

Ditto.....

[John Lanciani]

I have one and I always have to unloosen the collets twice to get them off. Turn the collet nut to loosen and then keep turning about 1 revolution and it tightens up and keep turning and it then loosens the collet. Happens every time I change a cutter.

That is exactly how a self ejecting collet is supposed to work...

[Ken Krawford]

That's how my old Ryobi worked but not this new one. This router is mounted in a table so that presents a few problems for some of the techniques mentioned.


I have one and I always have to unloosen the collets twice to get them off. Turn the collet nut to loosen and then keep turning about 1 revolution and it tightens up and keep turning and it then loosens the collet. Happens every time I change a cutter.

[michael langman]

My hitachi M12V is in a table and I use the original wrench that came with it to remove cutters. Never had a problem doing it in the table.

[scott spencer]

If you loosen the collet nut until it comes fully off, is the bit still stuck in the collet?

[Ken Krawford]

Yes, I can take the collet nut completely off and the bit is still firmly stuck.


If you loosen the collet nut until it comes fully off, is the bit still stuck in the collet?

[Mike Heidrick]

Buy a new collet.

[Nick Decker]

Here's what I would do:

http://www.musclechuck.com/portfolio-view/type-12/

I use these on my Porter Cable and Bosch routers. Excellent stuff.

[Curt Harms]

Here's what I would do:

http://www.musclechuck.com/portfolio-view/type-12/

I use these on my Porter Cable and Bosch routers. Excellent stuff.

How do those work in a table where the collet doesn't rise above the table surface? They look very good for handheld routers.

[Ken Krawford]

I had a MuscleChuck but returned it. Aside from the fact that it is quite expensive, I didn't like how high you had to raise the router for the T wrench to clear the top of the table when tightening/loosening the collet nut..

[Nick Decker]

I use a hex wrench with a ball head, which gives you a little leeway, up or down, when inserting it, but I also have a router lift which raises the collet above the table. Without a router lift, the Muscle Chuck is probably not the best solution for a table mounted router.

[michael langman]

Ken, Did you take the removable base off of the router, and remove the springs, before mounting it in the table?
This makes it easier to reach the collet from above the table, and adjust the router.
I never could remove the collet from the locking nut on my M12 router from the day I bought it. It has always released the cutter though.

[Brian Holcombe]

I have one of these routers, haven't had that issue. Take it apart and clean it, you should not have to whack anything to get the bit to come out. I've worked with a lot of collected and chucked tools, whacking the bit along the side is not how your supposed to do this.

[Ken Krawford]

The base is off the router and it’s mounted in a lift.


Ken, Did you take the removable base off of the router, and remove the springs, before mounting it in the table?
This makes it easier to reach the collet from above the table, and adjust the router.
I never could remove the collet from the locking nut on my M12 router from the day I bought it. It has always released the cutter though.