How to Replace the Spindle Bearing on a DeWALT Swivel-Head Shear

Power tools use many bearings to allow various components to rotate. Over time, a ball bearing will wear and begin to fail. A bearing that is failing will usually give warning, often with a squeaking or squealing sound.

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REMOVING THE SPINDLE BEARING   1. Remove the handle cover.

a. Remove the (3) screws securing the handle cover to the motor housing.

b. Remove the handle cover from the unit.

  2. Remove the motor brushes.

a. Use a small pick to lift and pivot the brush spring away from the back of the motor brush.

b. Remove the motor brush from the brush holder.

c. Release the brush spring.

d. Repeat this step to remove the motor brush from the opposite side of the motor.

  3. Remove the gear case.

a. Remove the (3) screws securing the gear case to the motor housing.

b. Separate the gear case from the motor housing.

c. Remove the gasket from the gear case (or from the gear case cover).

  4. Remove the cutter head from the gearbox.

a. Use a hex wrench to loosen the two (rearmost) screws securing the cutter-head to the gear case.

b. Use a screwdriver (as necessary) to pry the cutter-head assembly away from the gear case.

c. Remove the cutter-head assembly from the gear case.

  5. Remove the eccentric assembly.

a. Use a small wrench to prevent the spindle from rotating.

b. Use a large wrench to loosen the outer nut.

c. Remove the outer nut.

d. Remove the eccentric bearing.

e. Remove the washer.

f. Remove the spacer.

  6. Remove the gears.

a. Remove the intermediate gear from the gear case.

b. Remove the spindle gear from the gear case.

  7. Remove the spindle bearing.

a. Use retaining-ring pliers to remove the retaining ring securing the spindle bearing to the gear housing.

b. Place the gear housing (bearing-side down) across the jaws of a vise. The vise jaws should be opened wide enough to support the gear case assembly without obstructing the bearing when it passes through them.

c. Use a socket and a rubber mallet to tap the bearing out of the gear case.

INSTALLING THE NEW SPINDLE BEARING

  8. Install the spindle bearing.

a. Place the gear case assembly (bearing-side up) on the anvil-portion of the vise.

b. Install the new spindle bearing into the gear case assembly.

c. Locate a socket that is slightly smaller in diameter than the outer race of the new bearing.

d. Use the socket and a hammer to tap the new bearing into the gear case assembly.

e. Use retaining-ring pliers to re-install the retaining ring (securing the bearing).

REASSEMBLING THE UNIT

  9. Reinstall the spindle gear.

a. Install the spindle gear into the gear case.

  10. Reinstall the eccentric assembly.

a. Install the spacer onto the spindle.

b. Install the washer onto the spindle.

c. Install the eccentric bearing onto the spindle.

d. Secure the eccentric assembly with the nut.

  11. Reinstall the intermediate gear.

a. Install the intermediate gear into the gear case.

b. The base shaft of the intermediate gear should contain two washers and a bearing. The bearing should be ‘sandwiched’ between the two washers. Occasionally, these items will stick to the inside of the gear case cover when it is removed. If that is the case, remove the components from the gear case cover and install them onto the intermediate gear as described above.

  12. Reinstall the cutter-head.

a. Install the cutter-head assembly onto the gear case.

b. Rotate the cutter-head assembly until the blades are aligned with the center mounting hole on the gear case.

c. Tighten the two hex screws to secure the cutter-head to the gear case.

  13. Reinstall the gear case.

a. Install the fiber washer onto the armature (pinion) gear.

b. Install the gear case gasket onto the gear case.

c. Install the gear case (and cutter-head) assembly onto the motor housing.

d. Secure the gear case to the motor housing with the (3) screws.

  14. Reinstall the motor brushes.

a. Use a small pick to lift and pivot the brush spring away from the brush holder.

b. Install the motor brush into the brush holder.

c. Reposition the brush spring onto the back of the motor brush.

d. Repeat this step to install the second motor brush.

  15. Reinstall the handle cover.

a. Install the handle cover.

b. Secure the handle cover with the (3) screws.