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My 20 year old worm drive saw finally quit on me last Thursday
I was ripping pressure treated 2x10s for a deck in Portland when the motor just stopped with a faint click. No smoke, no smell, just done. I had a backup cordless saw to finish the day, but it felt wrong. Took it apart that night and the brushes were completely gone, worn down to nothing. Has anyone found a good source for replacement brushes for older Skilsaw models, or is it time to just retire it?
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thomasb4116d ago
Twelve bucks for brushes on a belt sander? That's wild!
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corap612mo ago
Used to just toss tools when they got old, figured new was always better. Had an old belt sander my dad gave me, motor quit and I almost trashed it. Found the brushes online for like twelve bucks, fixed it in twenty minutes. That thing runs smoother than any new sander I've bought since. Maybe check ereplacementparts.com, they had stuff for my ancient model.
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john_lopez2mo ago
Actually, worn brushes usually don't damage the commutator unless they're completely gone and the spring is grinding on it. If it was still running when it quit, the commutator is probably fine. Just clean any carbon dust out when you put the new ones in.
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Honestly that's a real bummer about your saw, those old worm drives are solid. @corap61 has a good point about fixing the simple stuff, it's crazy how long tools can last. Tbh though, with brushes worn down to nothing, did you check the commutator for any scoring or damage? Sometimes when they go that far it can chew up other parts.
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