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The worm drive saw won’t respond or appears to be broken.
If the switch fails to operate the saw, it could contain dirty contaminants. Open up the switch and use a brush or blowing device to rid it of dust.
When trigger can’t be pressed or remains lodged, there may be something within the physical switch preventing it from working or work sporadically. To repair this, remove the right half of the handle and check the voltage where the cord joins the switch. Check the continuity across the switch where the trigger is pulled, telling you it is the switch. Consider purchasing a replacement trigger and replace it using this guide.
If the trigger doesn’t allow the saw to start, when pressed, this could be the result in faulty contacts, no continuity across terminals of switch. This could be due to the spring contacts, within the saw, fatiguing or corroding over time. You can make sure of this by pressing the contacts against the mating contacts to complete the circuit. If you get continuity on the negative and not the positive, your contacts are dirty. Clean the contacts and you should get continuity when pressing them together manually.
While operating the RIGID R32104 saw, the bearings won’t allow engine shaft to rotate, preventing the saw from functioning properly.
If the engine shaft is not rotating when the saw is powered on, there might be a problem with the engine shaft itself. With the saw unplugged from the power source, dismantle the engine and gearbox; trying to figure out which one of the bearings has failed, you would need to rotate the engine shaft. When rotating the engine with the shaft, the engine must not be wedging, it should rotate evenly. If the engine is wedging or rotating with jerks, then the engine shaft has failed.
If the engine shaft is not rotating when the saw is powered on, there might be a problem with the bearings. Disassembling the engine would be your next step and you should thoroughly check the bearings. The first bearing should be in the engine casing, and the second one in the engine rotor. One of these bearings is to blame for the engine shaft not rotating; the first bearing is easy to replace, and the second is complicated as you can’t take the bearing off without a special device. Using this guide will help you replace these bearings with the proper tools. Attempting to do so may damage the engine rotor. Taking the whole saw for repair will be cheaper and easier.
If the saw powers off midway through its use, it may be due to a damaged motor brush. If the motor brush is damaged it may not be correctly lined up with the armature. The armature should also be inspected for damage, as damage with the motor brush corresponds with armature failures. Replace the motor brush using this guide.
While operating the RIDGID R32104 saw, the motor rotor produces strange crashing noises.
These conditions can contribute to the motor producing noise. Check the wiring connections and voltage input at outlet.
Motor rotor noise can be caused by misalignment of the motor due to its mounting position or due to bad shaft couplings. To resolve this issue, realign the motor or replace the bad coupling. Replace the motor rotor using this guide.
Bad motor bearings can cause vibrations at the shaft support at either end of the motor and produce noise. If this is the case, check for bearing damage, loose, noise, or visible damage. The cause of this could be due to improper mounting or motor misalignment. Replace these bearings using this guide.
If the saw is powered on and a banging sound starts coming from inside the motor, this can be caused by the broken armature. This sound can also be caused by the motor brush. However, a failure in either or will require a repair of both objects.
During a cut sparks and/or smoke starts coming out from the engine and or blade.
If sparks or smoke come from the saws motor during use, it can be caused by an out of date motor brush. The saws armature moving around a worn out motor brush may cause sparks or smoke to form. Replace the motor brush using this guide.
If the blades teeth are worn out, depending on the material being there can be a lot of friction. The excess heat caused from the cut can lead to smoke coming from the blade, and potentially overheating the saw. Replace the blade using this guide.
During use of the saw, you notice a sudden decrease in power/engine performance.
If you notice the saw has decrease in power outage, it can be caused by two issues. One being a trigger/switch issue, the other being a motor brush issue. The motor brush should be checked first due to its accessibility. If the motor brush seems fine, check the saws armature to see if its properly in place. Replace the motor brush using this guide.
Refer to the section above on triggers, if the saw has a decrease in power.
Inspect the power cord for any discontinuities or damage If the cord is slightly tangled an will not operate, then it is most likely damaged on the inside. A damaged power cord is unsafe to operate with and should be replaced.
Kickback is when the saw loses control and lifts out of the space toward the operator. The blade will stop, and the motor will push it back to the user. It will happen if there are issues with the blade, such as it being misaligned or pinched.
If you experience kickback, it may be a control issue. It is important to grip the blade and make sure that you always have full control of the saw and avoid cutting into objects like nails or places where you would have blind spots.
If you interrupt a cut and pull the saw backward while it is in motion, you may experience kickback. Avoid removing the saw from the material you are cutting while the saw is still powered on and the blade is in motion.
