Hitachi M12V Height Adjustment Knob

[jackellis]

Has anyone had the apparently flimsy knob on the Hitachi M12V's height adjustment break off? Mine has and while I can order what appears to be an all metal replacement for $20 shipped from Razor Tools, I'd be inclined to repair the one I have right now and save the 20 bucks toward eventual purchase of a router lift.

It looks like the base of the plastic knob is bonded to the threaded metal tube even though a threaded connection makes more sense. I can't get the broken plastic free of the metal tube to even begin thinking about a repair and wondered if anyone had any clever ideas.

Thanks.

[lrogers]

Drill a hole in a piece of scrap, put a bolt of the same size/thread pitch through the hole, slip a washer over the bolt and screw the knob onto the bolt and keep tightening. That should pull the insert out. I just fixed a knob off another tool in similar fashion. I rebonded the insert in the knob and then put a nylon cable tie over the end of the knob, close to the end, and pulled it as tight as I could get it. It has held up so far, but it just a temporary fix.

[vaking]

The flimsy knob on my M12V got broken and I replaced it with wood. The plastic can be drilled out - chipped away without big difficulties. Metal tube has a hex-shape on the inside. The thread does not go all the way. I used a 3/4" poplar dowel, shaped the end with hex and inserted it tightly into aluminum tube. Holds just on a tight fit.