Oscillating Tool: Bad Vibration

To inspect the bearings, first, remove the brush caps and pull out the brushes (if your model has brush caps). If not, remove the screws securing the two halves of the housing together and open to remove the brushes. On some models, you will be required to separate the head from the main housing of the tool in order to gain access to the armature. Remove the armature from the housing. Spin the bearings of the armature to determine which one, or both, are worn. Bearings should spin freely, with no noise. If the bearing spins rough and/or makes noise, replace it.

To replace the lower bearing, remove the rubber ring with a bearing puller. Note: not all models will have this vibration-absorbing ring. Clean the shaft and install a new bearing using a socket and a hammer and tap in place. The socket must only make contact with the bearings inner race to avoid damage to the bearing. Reinstall the rubber ring. To replace the upper bearing, use a bearing puller or a bearing separator, if clearance is an issue. Install the new bearing by placing a socket that only makes contact with the bearings inner race to avoid damage to the bearing. Tap in place with a hammer. Reinstall the brushes if you had to remove them when the tool was open, or reinstall once it is all back together (if it has brush caps). Finally, reinstall in the housing and reassemble the housing back together.

Replacement of the shaft bearings will vary from model to model. To replace the shaft bearing, open the tool housing. Lift the drive shaft out of the tool. You may have to lift up on the motor to release the drive shaft. Remove any other parts on the drive shaft to reach the bearing. Remove the bearing with a puller and install a new bearing with a socket. Tap in place with a hammer. Only use a socket that will make contact with the inner bearing race to avoid damage. Reinstall any parts that you had to take off to reach the bearing and reassemble to drive shaft back into the housing. Finally, reassemble the housing.

The fan is located on the armature shaft and keeps the motor cool during operation. If the fan has a heavy build-up of debris, it can cause a bad vibration. A bad vibration also could be the result of a broken fan, with missing fan blades. To inspect the fan as the culprit of the bad vibration, remove the brush caps and pull out the brushes.

Not all models have brush caps and the brushes cannot be removed until the housing is open. Remove the screws securing the two halves of the housing together and separate. On some models, separate the head from the main housing of the tool. Remove the armature from the housing. Clean the fan of any debris and inspect it for chips (or cracks) in the fan blades, missing fan blades or anything else out of the ordinary. To replace the fan, remove the bearing with a puller or a separator, if clearance is an issue. Remove any clips that may be securing the fan on the shaft, then pull the fan off of the shaft. Install a new fan and reassemble.

When reinstalling the bearings, make sure you use a socket that only makes contact with the bearings inner race, to avoid damaging the bearing, and tap in place with a hammer. Reinstall the armature into the housing and reassemble the housing. Reinstall the brushes and caps.

The drive shaft transmits power from the motor to the cutting blade. If the drive shaft warps, or bends, this will cause a bad vibration within the tool. To replace the drive shaft, first remove the cutting blade from the tool. Open the housing of the tool and remove the drive shaft from the housing. You may have to lift up the motor assembly to wiggle the drive shaft out. Remove any parts off of the old drive shaft that you will be transferring onto the new one. Use a bearing puller, or separator, to remove the bearing. When installing bearings, always use a socket that only makes contact with the inner race of the bearing to avoid damage. Tap in place with a hammer. Reassemble back into the housing then put the housing back together.