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Bosch tablesaw running backwards?!?

jesse | Posted in Tools for Home Building on December 30, 2005 09:18am

I am building a stair handrail for some friends. I have all my tools set up in their living room, and the other day, while I was gone, they were ripping a piece of plywood on my tablesaw and said it started binding and he quickly shut off the saw.

Well, when you turn it on, it now spins backwards very very slowly (I only turned it on for a split second).

What’s the diagnosis? We are in small town Montana and there are no tool repair places nearby. I am guessing fried motor = new saw? It’s the portable 10″ Bosch…man I loved that thing.

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  1. User avater
    maddog3 | Dec 30, 2005 10:03pm | #1

    don't know exactly what type of motor you have, but, ....the start winding is damaged,

    the motor will now run in either direction ......;.just don't try it with the blade on......if you spin the shaft by hand and the power is on



    Edited 12/30/2005 2:23 pm by maddog3

    1. JohnSprung | Jan 05, 2006 01:58am | #4

      I had a motor like that on a jointer many years ago.  Run windings OK, start fried.  Having no money at the time, I came up with a sash cord pull start using the other shaft of the motor.  Pull to get it spinning and the cord free, then hit the switch.  Kinda like starting a gas engine. 

       

      -- J.S.

       

      1. User avater
        maddog3 | Jan 05, 2006 02:10am | #5

        oh man the memories...LOL

      2. steve | Jan 08, 2006 08:48pm | #7

        had a table saw like that too at least on a long extension cord

        it wouldnt start on a long cord or would run backwards

        i would spin the blade the right direction by hand and hit the switch!!!!!

        oh god some of the stupid things we used to do

        1. JohnSprung | Jan 09, 2006 11:47pm | #8

          Better done with the same hand....  

           

          -- J.S.

           

  2. User avater
    JasonD | Dec 30, 2005 10:07pm | #2

    I'm optimistically thinking that if it's a 220 volt saw that you popped one of the phases - hopefully you can reset the 220 breaker at the panel and all will be working. It would be unusual, but I've seen it happen where that tandem didn't quite kill both phases.

    If it's a 110 saw, then I'm not sure...

    Let us know what else you find.

  3. roger g | Dec 30, 2005 10:11pm | #3

    I agree with maddog. Your start windings are toast. If it has a capacitor start (a big lump stuck to the side of the motor) it might be bad.

     

    roger

  4. User avater
    skyecore | Jan 08, 2006 10:01am | #6

    Never hurts to ask.. Did the blade nut come loose?

    ______________________________________________

    --> measure once / scribble several lines / spend some time figuring out wich scribble / cut the wrong line / get mad

  5. doc contracting | Nov 30, 2017 11:34pm | #9

    bosch table saw running backwards

    I had the same thing happen to mine. i replaced the soft start switch and the field windings for less than 100 bucks onling. it runs perfectly now.

    1. junkhound | Dec 01, 2017 02:19am | #10

      I jes' gotta know how you replaced the field winding onling! 

      Bought copper wire online? 

      Is the $100 a typo, should be < ten dollars for switch and wire

  6. woodworking5085 | Dec 05, 2017 02:54pm | #11

    I have been a professional carpenter and GC for over 20 years, and the same thing happened to me when trying to rip a green 2 x 12.  The saw stopped and then only ran backwards slowly.  I call the rep at Bosch and he literally laughed at me, and told me the saw motor was fried.

    I took it to my local repair shop and it wouldhave cost more to fix it than just buy a new one.  So, I bough a Makita 2703 that I still use to this day.  It is a much better saw.

  7. DanH | Dec 05, 2017 06:49pm | #12

    Keep in mind that many motors of this class have a start switch -- a centrifugal swith attached on one end of the shaft.  The malfunction may be there, or in the start capacitor, or in the start winding.  (I would think the winding would be the least likely part to fail.)

  8. lucyajones | Dec 06, 2017 12:04am | #13

     Great saw a small garage workshop. Take the time to get the angles calibrated at the beginning. I work on small projects, furniture, and decorative boxes. The stand will take a little time to put together. It took me about an hour and a half to get everything put together and calibrated like I wanted. This saw has been well worth the money. I love the stand for quick takedown and storage. Pull a lever and park it in the corner out of the way.

  9. User avater
    Mike_Mahan | Jan 04, 2018 12:02pm | #14

    Easy fix

    Put the blade on backwards and turn the saw around.

  10. user-7211165 | Apr 19, 2022 03:01pm | #15

    Replace speed controller/governor p/n: 2610997306

  11. babycarrot | Jul 23, 2022 04:22pm | #16

    Switches wear out on their own. A nice place to test would be there. Do you have continuity from the pin ends to the switch when a cord is damaged?

    And last but not least, is the outlet you are attempting to use powered? Have you plugged in anything and tested it with a lamp, radio, drill, or other device?

    Does the arbor, the component the blade is mounted on, spin freely while the saw is unplugged?

    Do you notice any humming sounds, as if the motor is attempting to start but failing?

    An article that might help: https://bit.ly/3RSvQhg

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