DeWalt Powershop DW1501 Radial Arm Saw - Power Issue

[AlecUK]

I recently inherited by dad's Dewalt DW1501 Powershop Radial Arm Saw. He had it for at least as long as I've been alive. For the first 15 years of my life it scared the hell out of me, but since then it's been a key tool in developing my love for woodworking. I recently moved to a 'project' of a house, and the saw has had a new lease of life, I've had it back up and running, and I don't know what I would have done without it!

Anyway, it's got a problem, I'm sure something simple but I just don't know where to start or how to go about diagnosing & fixing.

I noticed last week that when I swivelled the arm round to make a mitre cut, I hit the power switch and nothing happened. I shuffled the arm back and forth, and jiggled a few cables around and it worked fine again. This week, the same thing happened, I did get it going again after moving the arm back and jiggling cables around again, but only once, and no matter how much cable jiggling I do now it hasn't come back alive!

This would say to me a loose cable / connection. I opened up the switch housing, and all cables look safe & secure. I can't see how I could easily get into the cable terminal at the back of the saw (i.e. from switch to saw), but this is probably my next step this weekend.

Has anyone had similar issues before, or perhaps any ideas on what a likely culprit may be? Or any helpful ideas on ways to diagnose? Had wondered if a faulty switch might be likely.

This is my first 'tool repair', so sorry for being a beginner! I do have a degree in electrical & electronic engineering so I'm not afraid of breaking out the multimeter to try and identify the issue, but had hoped it might be easier to identify than that!

Thanks in advance for any ideas!

 

[Rhossydd]

If it's happened since swivelling the arm, my first suspect would be a fault in the power lead to the switch.
Just replacing the whole lead from plug to switch ought to be cheap, quick and relatively easy.
I had to replace a switch in mine some years ago and from what I can remember the switch housing comes apart pretty easily without any horrors.

As ever only attempt repairing mains items when disconnected and if you're competent to do so, if not get a qualified electrician to do it.

 

[Myfordman]

The switches in these are notorious for giving trouble. Maybe consider bypassing it and using a DOL starter to turn it on and off instead?

 

[Inspector]

If the wires connections to the switch and motor are secure and the switch hasn't failed then it is possible there is a break in one of the wires. With power disconnected using a multimeter to check each wire while it is moved should show if any are broken. That's what I would do before I went buying parts and being an old machine the wires might need changing anyway if the insulation if getting brittle.

Pete

 

[BentonTool]

The switches in these are notorious for giving trouble. Maybe consider bypassing it and using a DOL starter to turn it on and off instead?

I have also found that the switches are usually the point where they fail most often. Replacements for older models may be hard to find. You may have to get creative... perhaps adapt a conventional switch to your RAS, but definitely worth the effort.
I have had two RASs in the past. My first was a 10" Black & Decker that I donated to our church. I now use a Rockwell Delta PLUS 10, and mount 12" blades in it. I found it locally for $200 US.

 

[cemannion]

I recently inherited by dad's Dewalt DW1501 Powershop Radial Arm Saw. He had it for at least as long as I've been alive. For the first 15 years of my life it scared the **** out of me, but since then it's been a key tool in developing my love for woodworking. I recently moved to a 'project' of a house, and the saw has had a new lease of life, I've had it back up and running, and I don't know what I would have done without it!

Anyway, it's got a problem, I'm sure something simple but I just don't know where to start or how to go about diagnosing & fixing.

I noticed last week that when I swivelled the arm round to make a mitre cut, I hit the power switch and nothing happened. I shuffled the arm back and forth, and jiggled a few cables around and it worked fine again. This week, the same thing happened, I did get it going again after moving the arm back and jiggling cables around again, but only once, and no matter how much cable jiggling I do now it hasn't come back alive!

This would say to me a loose cable / connection. I opened up the switch housing, and all cables look safe & secure. I can't see how I could easily get into the cable terminal at the back of the saw (i.e. from switch to saw), but this is probably my next step this weekend.

Has anyone had similar issues before, or perhaps any ideas on what a likely culprit may be? Or any helpful ideas on ways to diagnose? Had wondered if a faulty switch might be likely.

This is my first 'tool repair', so sorry for being a beginner! I do have a degree in electrical & electronic engineering so I'm not afraid of breaking out the multimeter to try and identify the issue, but had hoped it might be easier to identify than that!

Thanks in advance for any ideas!

I have the same saw, the switch is a neat overload portecting latching solenoid switch. I biought a modern zero volt style latching switch and printed something to fit it. I'll look out the file and hopefully details of the switch and post them. I had bypassed the switch but then found it wasnt great to use so did the mod

 

[Amplidyne]

Unplug it, and use the meter to check continuity of all the leads to start off with. Not being funny, but you're sure you have power at the socket?
If the cables are all OK, then it's odds on the switch as already said. Don't know the specifics, but again as others have said fit a new NVR type starter is what I'd do.