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Ridgid R4512 Squeel On Startup

12K views 17 replies 9 participants last post by  Robotdad 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hey guys! I am relatively new to LumberJocks, but I had a question for all of you. I recently purchased the Ridgid R4512 model table saw, and I just got a chance to assemble it today. So far, I love it! I assembled it all and it looks perfect and when I turned it on for the first time, it purred beautifly. As I was making a few test cuts, the saw was working just fine, but when I changed the blade bevel to do a few practice 45 degree cuts, the saw made an aweful squeel when I powered it on. The squeel lasted about 1-3 seconds and throughout the time the motor was on, there is a lighter squeel/grinding noise. When I powered the saw back down, there was a metalish grinding sound when the blade was about 4 or 5 seconds from being completely stopped. I reset the blade angle to 90 degrees, thinking that would fix whatever was making it make that sound, but the squeel is still there and so is the grinding sound when the blade slows.

Please help! The saw was literally assembled for an hour before the sound started!

Any help would be great!
 
#2 ·
Sounds like bearings to me. The squeeling could also be belt, but the belt wouldn't make the metallic grinding noise. How does it sound when you turn the blade by hand (with the saw unplugged)?
 
#4 ·
Could be several things, but the squealing/grinding sound ain't normal (I have this saw and it runs smooth as silk).

Check to a make sure you got the foam packing block out from on top,of the motor when you assembled the saw. It's hard to see and might have slipped into a moving part.
 
#5 ·
knotscott - When I turn the blade when the saw is off, there is no noticeable grinding or any noise except for some very subtle squeaking. The blade doesn't seem to wobble and there is clearly nothing rubbing against the blade. I removed the back panel to get a better look at things, but since I don't know much about table saw motors, everything looked fine. The belt was nice and tight and there also was no noticeable wobble to the belt or pulleys when I manually turned the blade.

Howie - Nothing has fallen into the blade and I made triple sure about that.

nwbusa - I removed the Styrofoam while I was assembling it, so its not that.

I recorded the sound it is making and uploaded it to YouTube, here is the link:
 
#7 ·
If you look at the link http://www.mastertoolrepair.com/images/RIDGID_parts_R4512_saw.pdf the problem sounds like it's between parts number 52 and 63. Most likely an arbor bearing due to a bad bushing or shim letting some dust in there, or just a factory part problem. I'd call them and send the sound link in an email. They will likely send you some parts free.
 
#8 ·
I have this saw, so I'm familiar with the sounds it makes. Yours sounds like when the power is turned on, it has a stuck bearing which frees itself of the shaft seconds after you start it. Then it intermittently sticks while the blade is turning. Then when you power it down, the torque is coming from the opposite direction, blade to motor and you dont hear it as much. While it's idling down, the motor releases the torque and the bearing or bushing starts to make noise again.

I doubt you'll be able to see anything happening, but if you take the arbor apart you'll see what's been happening. I wouldn't use it until you get that fixed. It's really a much quieter saw than that.
 
#9 ·
Sorry about all these comments, but if you call Ridgid and let them listen to the sound, they'll probably send you 080035003701 Arbor Assembly. Or you could return it, which is a pain. I actually had to remove the motor assembly from my 4512 to get the thing out of the box because I had no help, very heavy unit.
 
#11 ·
Well, thanks everyone for the help and input! I contacted RIDGID and they said that the sound was coming from either the belt or the motor, and since I couldn't figure out how to remove the belt, I contacted Home Depot. Home Depot has been very helpful in this situation and have agreed to swap out the cabinet part of the saw with another one that they have on hand. Thanks again for all your suggestions! What a great and helpful community! :)
 
#12 ·
Old thread, reviving as unfortunately this just happened to me. I've had the saw for years though. Has anyone attempted this repair? How hard is it to get in there and inspect/replace the arbor pulley if that is what it is?

Warranty? No thank you. I've experienced the local service center via a previous Ryobi saw that had to e sent back for them to repair what they did to it when fixing it.
 
#13 ·
Well, I removed the belt and arbor pully but the sound was still present. Seems like it is in the motor. The only thing still attached is the motor pulley and bushing which I've not been able to get off. Here's a vid:


If anyone has any suggestions I'd love to hear them.
 
#14 ·
If it's brand new, then it isn't even worth spending more than a little bit of time trying to fix yourself. I would also try and get some knocked off your purchase price when you go back to HD to get the replacement parts. Especially considering the degree of labor involved in set-up and tear-down and then set-up again.
 
#16 ·
Motor bearings are relatively easy to replace. Check youtube for videos of that procedure. The hard part is pulling the old bearing. Not hard if you have the right tool, but without it.

I replaced the bearings on my old 1961 Craftsman RAS. I used a wheel puller bought at HF, but an actual bearing puller would be easier to use.

Good luck.

-Paul
 
#18 ·
It was the fan! It somehow has developed space between a stop and the bushing on the end of the shaft, thus it rattles intermittently. I'm struggling to get the bushing off or push it on further. Could there be locative on the shaft under it? I'm sure I shouldn't whack it with a mallet. Any ideas for nudging that or something to introduce in the gap to stop the rattle?

I also suppose I now need to start a thread on rebuilding a r4512. How much cleaning should I do while I'm in there, what kind of grease to use, etc, etc.
 
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