Miter Saw: Bad Vibration
If your miter saw has bad vibration, check the bearings, saw blade, blade flange, spindle, and more. Once you have narrowed down the part responsible for causing the issue, use our repair guide for expert advice on how you can fix this yourself, saving you on time and money.
To check and replace armature bearings, start by removing the belt cover and then walk the belt off of the pulleys. Some models will have screws holding a sliding bracket in place – loosen these screws. Loosen the belt tensioning screw at the back and remove the belt. Remove the brushes from the miter saw by first taking off the motor end cap, sliding the tension spring over and then pulling out the brushes. Some models will have brush caps on the side, which can be easily removed with a screwdriver. Remove the dust bag bracket. Remove the armature housing from the saw. Pull the armature housing free from the saw and tap the end of...
To check and replace armature bearings, start by removing the belt cover and then walk the belt off of the pulleys. Some models will have screws holding a sliding bracket in place – loosen these screws. Loosen the belt tensioning screw at the back and remove the belt. Remove the brushes from the miter saw by first taking off the motor end cap, sliding the tension spring over and then pulling out the brushes. Some models will have brush caps on the side, which can be easily removed with a screwdriver. Remove the dust bag bracket. Remove the armature housing from the saw. Pull the armature housing free from the saw and tap the end of the armature lightly with a rubber mallet, or brass hammer, to free it from the housing.
Spin the bearings on the armature shaft to determine which one is bad. For bearings beside the fan, remove the pulley screw. Use a heat gun to heat up the pulley in order to remove it from the shaft, with the keyway. Take out the retaining ring with a small screwdriver by walking it up the shaft. Do not damage the fan.
On some models, the fan is not sold separately and, if damaged, you will have to replace the entire armature. If there is no room between the bearing and the fan for a bearing puller, you will have to score the bearing with a cut off wheel and then insert the bearing into a vice and tighten until it breaks off.
With the outer race now off, use needle-nose pliers to remove the cage and balls. Install the bearing separator onto the inner bearing race and then install the screw back into the armature shaft to avoid damage from the bearing puller. Install the bearing puller onto the separator and proceed to remove the inner race of the bearing.
Next, install the new bearing onto the shaft using a socket that only makes contact with the inner race of the bearing. Tap in place with a hammer.
Now, reinstall the retaining ring and reheat the pulley back up for easy installation on the shaft, making sure to install the keyway with the pulley. Install the pulley screw. To replace the lower bearing on the armature shaft, use a bearing puller to remove it and then install the new one onto the shaft, using a socket that only makes contact with the bearings inner race – to avoid damage – and tap in place with a hammer. Slide the armature back into the housing and lightly tap on the pulley screw with a hammer (to avoid damaging the armature shaft) to seat the lower bearing into the motor housing.
Reinstall the motor assembly to the miter saw and tighten the screws. Reinstall the brushes and the motor end cap, followed by the dust bag bracket, the belt and lastly, the belt cover. To replace the saw bearing, remove the outer flange, blade and inner flange – including any washers. Remove the spindle assembly. Once removed, use a bearing separator to take out the bearing on the shaft and then tap a new one in place on the shaft with a socket that only makes contact with the inner race of the bearing to avoid damage. For the bearing inside the bearing box, use a bearing puller to separate the bearing box (sleeve) from the spindle and then use a socket that only makes contact with the outer race of the bearing. Tap it free with a hammer. Install the new bearing with the same socket to avoid damage and tap it in place with a hammer. Reinstall the spindle assembly into the saw and reattach the inner flange, blade and outer flange.