Jig Saw: Blade Doesn't Reciprocate
Is the blade not reciprocating on your jig saw? Inspect the shaft, gears, carbon brushes, bearings, and yoke bar for damage. Once you know the part that is causing the issue, read our expert repair advice for tips on how to do your own repair. Reference your owner's manual for detailed instruction.
Bearings
If the bearings are seized, they will prevent movement. To inspect the bearings, remove the clamping screw and base. Remove the screws securing the case together and open the case. Remove the brush holders. Pull out the armature from the case and spin the bearings to see if one, or both, are seized.
To replace a seized bearing, use a bearing separator to remove the bearing. Once the separator is installed on the bearing, place the separator on top of a bench vice, opened enough so it will not make contact with anything but the separator. Then, tap on the shaft with a punch and a hammer until the bearing is free. You can also use a bearing puller to remove the bearing. To install a new bearing, place the shaft in a bench vice with the soft jaws attached, to avoid damage. Now, place a socket on the inner...
To replace a seized bearing, use a bearing separator to remove the bearing. Once the separator is installed on the bearing, place the separator on top of a bench vice, opened enough so it will not make contact with anything but the separator. Then, tap on the shaft with a punch and a hammer until the bearing is free. You can also use a bearing puller to remove the bearing. To install a new bearing, place the shaft in a bench vice with the soft jaws attached, to avoid damage. Now, place a socket on the inner...
If the bearings are seized, they will prevent movement. To inspect the bearings, remove the clamping screw and base. Remove the screws securing the case together and open the case. Remove the brush holders. Pull out the armature from the case and spin the bearings to see if one, or both, are seized.
To replace a seized bearing, use a bearing separator to remove the bearing. Once the separator is installed on the bearing, place the separator on top of a bench vice, opened enough so it will not make contact with anything but the separator. Then, tap on the shaft with a punch and a hammer until the bearing is free. You can also use a bearing puller to remove the bearing. To install a new bearing, place the shaft in a bench vice with the soft jaws attached, to avoid damage. Now, place a socket on the inner race of the bearing to avoid damaging the bearing and tap it in place with a hammer. Reinstall the armature back on the field then place the motor back in the housing. Reinstall the brushes. Reassemble the case back together and reinstall the base.
To replace a seized bearing, use a bearing separator to remove the bearing. Once the separator is installed on the bearing, place the separator on top of a bench vice, opened enough so it will not make contact with anything but the separator. Then, tap on the shaft with a punch and a hammer until the bearing is free. You can also use a bearing puller to remove the bearing. To install a new bearing, place the shaft in a bench vice with the soft jaws attached, to avoid damage. Now, place a socket on the inner race of the bearing to avoid damaging the bearing and tap it in place with a hammer. Reinstall the armature back on the field then place the motor back in the housing. Reinstall the brushes. Reassemble the case back together and reinstall the base.
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Carbon Brushes
The carbon brushes transmit electricity to the armature. If the brushes are worn out, they will not transmit power, causing the blade to remain still. To check the brushes for wear, remove the clamping screw on the base and remove. Remove the screws securing the jigsaw case together and then separate the case. Located the brushes and remove the holders from the unit. Brushes 1/8 of an inch, or less, are worn out. Remove the brushes from the holder and replace. Insert the new brushes in the holder and reinstall in the case. Reassemble the case back together and reattach the base.
The carbon brushes transmit electricity to the armature. If the brushes are worn out, they will not transmit power, causing the blade to remain still. To check the brushes for wear, remove the clamping screw on the base and remove. Remove the screws securing the jigsaw case together and then separate the case. Located the brushes and remove the holders from the unit. Brushes 1/8 of an inch, or less, are worn out. Remove the brushes from the holder and replace. Insert the new brushes in the holder and reinstall in the case. Reassemble the case back together and reattach the base.
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Gears
Stripped gears will cause the blade to stop moving and may even be accompanied by a grinding noise or the motor may spin freely. To inspect, remove the clamping screw on the base and remove. Next, remove the screws that are securing the case together and open. Locate the gears and inspect them for missing teeth by rotating them around. Inspect the gear that drives the reciprocating motion. There will be a tiny bearing, or a nub, on the face of this gear that fits in a slot on the yoke that drives the blade up and down. Ensure it is not broken off.
Replace any gears necessary. Remove any hold down clamps as needed. If you need to lift up the armature to pull out the gears, remove the brushes first. Pull out the damaged gear and replace with a new one. Place the motor back down and reinstall...
Replace any gears necessary. Remove any hold down clamps as needed. If you need to lift up the armature to pull out the gears, remove the brushes first. Pull out the damaged gear and replace with a new one. Place the motor back down and reinstall...
Stripped gears will cause the blade to stop moving and may even be accompanied by a grinding noise or the motor may spin freely. To inspect, remove the clamping screw on the base and remove. Next, remove the screws that are securing the case together and open. Locate the gears and inspect them for missing teeth by rotating them around. Inspect the gear that drives the reciprocating motion. There will be a tiny bearing, or a nub, on the face of this gear that fits in a slot on the yoke that drives the blade up and down. Ensure it is not broken off.
Replace any gears necessary. Remove any hold down clamps as needed. If you need to lift up the armature to pull out the gears, remove the brushes first. Pull out the damaged gear and replace with a new one. Place the motor back down and reinstall the brushes. Reinstall any hold down clamps. Reassemble the case back together and reattach the base with the clamping screw.
Replace any gears necessary. Remove any hold down clamps as needed. If you need to lift up the armature to pull out the gears, remove the brushes first. Pull out the damaged gear and replace with a new one. Place the motor back down and reinstall the brushes. Reinstall any hold down clamps. Reassemble the case back together and reattach the base with the clamping screw.
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Shafts
A broken drive shaft will not transmit power. To inspect the shaft, remove the base and open the case by taking out the screws. Examine the armature shaft for a break (the armature shaft is also the drive shaft). To replace a broken drive/armature shaft, remove the brushes. Lift the armature up and slide it out of the field. Clean the inside of the field with electrical contact cleaner and install the new armature into the field. Place the motor in the case and reinstall the brushes. Reassemble the case back together and reinstall the base.
A broken drive shaft will not transmit power. To inspect the shaft, remove the base and open the case by taking out the screws. Examine the armature shaft for a break (the armature shaft is also the drive shaft). To replace a broken drive/armature shaft, remove the brushes. Lift the armature up and slide it out of the field. Clean the inside of the field with electrical contact cleaner and install the new armature into the field. Place the motor in the case and reinstall the brushes. Reassemble the case back together and reinstall the base.
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Yokes
The yoke bar changes rotary motion into reciprocating motion and attaches to a bearing, or nub, that is located on the face of the drive gear. Over time, the yoke bar can sheer off. To replace the yoke bar, remove the blade and then remove the base and open the jigsaw by removing the screws securing the case together. Locate the yoke bar and proceed to remove it by pulling it up to get it over the attachment point on the face of the gear and slide it out. Install the new yoke bar by sliding it in place and lining up the hole on the yoke bar, with the drive nub on the face of the gear. Make sure everything is secured back in the case and reassemble the case back together. Reinstall the base.
The yoke bar changes rotary motion into reciprocating motion and attaches to a bearing, or nub, that is located on the face of the drive gear. Over time, the yoke bar can sheer off. To replace the yoke bar, remove the blade and then remove the base and open the jigsaw by removing the screws securing the case together. Locate the yoke bar and proceed to remove it by pulling it up to get it over the attachment point on the face of the gear and slide it out. Install the new yoke bar by sliding it in place and lining up the hole on the yoke bar, with the drive nub on the face of the gear. Make sure everything is secured back in the case and reassemble the case back together. Reinstall the base.
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