Abstract: A tension reducer for a tension controller for use on a power tool such as an inverted router. The router has a drive motor, a motor driven pulley, a router bit-carrying spindle moveable between a lowered inoperative position and an raised cutting position, a drive belt for transferring rotational motion from the motor driven pulley to the spindle, and a drive belt tension control apparatus. The drive belt tension control apparatus includes a mount for mounting the motor driven pulley in continuously variable spaced-apart relation to the spindle during operation of the router and a pressure source for exerting a predetermined pressure on the motor driven pulley and thereby a predetermined tension on the drive belt during operation of the router for rotating the spindle. A tension reducer reduces the tension on the spindle during movement of the spindle between its lowered inoperative position and raised cutting positions for preventing tension-induced hesitation in the movement of the spindle.