changing guard on DeWalt sidewinder
I’m replacing the blade guard on my DeWalt circular saw and am stymied by the thin metal retaining clip that holds the guard in place where it rotates around the spindle. It’s a circular thing with two small holes at the ends–I tried just spreading it apart far enough so I could pop it off, but the tension’s just too great.
Is there a special tool needed for this or a special technique?
Thanks.
Replies
LOL. Been there. What a royal PIA, huh? If I recall correctly, I spread a pair of needlenose pliars and poked them into the little holes. Then spread them some more to spread the clamp and try to just get one side up and over the lip to get it started. Then put a little screw drive under the part you've got over the lip and use another little screwdriver to work the rest of the clip around and off. Like you would do to take a bike chain off a sprocket.
Putting it back on is no fun either. Good luck.
Thanks for the tips. I finally did get it, after staying up until pretty near midnight wrestling the with the #@$%&!* thing. Worked a flathead screwdriver in between the ends to spread them enough to work the thing out. Of course it wa'n't exactly flat anymore, and when I reinstalled it over the new guard the action on the guard was a little sticky. So I had to take it off again and get her flat...guard snaps right back into place now. Probably spent a good 2 hours all told. Worth the price of that special tool right there!
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Sounds like a retaining ring to me. Pick up a retaining ring pliers at a hardware store and there will be less chance of bending the ring out of tension. They do make two different types, iternal and external, but you can pick up a pliers that would take care of both kinds for future use to.
Well there's a bit of information I could have used a couple years ago.
I seriously never knew they made 'retaining ring pliars'. That certainly could have helped making things go a bit smoother.
bought mine a coupla years ago ...
forget for what.
never used them once ... got the fancy pair ... both inside and outside.
(plus straight pins)
if I ever run across them again ... U want me to name a price?
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I appreciate it Jeff, but I'll probably pass. I think I've only needed a pair once or twice before and just made do with what I had to work with. Will probably just do the same in the future. If I go buying a nice tool like that to make my life easier, I'd just lose it before I ever needed it anyway. ;)
Maybe the OP will take you up on the offer?
I have had my Milwaukee apart 3 or for times cuz the guard sticks something awful, seems the spring was stretched out..any way, I gots them pliers too...but since messing with "retaining rings" I began calling them "Jesus Clips"
As soon as ya get it off what ever it was on ....BOIIINNNGG!!!
The next words outta yer mouth are
"Jesus, where'd that go?" I stock up on a box of assorted sizes...internal,external, and "E" clips...saves searching the front yard or a pile of sawdust with a magnet...LOL Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"silence, is the only reward"
and it's even deeper..
Perfect works are rare, because they must be produced at the happy moment when taste and genius unite; and this rare conjuncture, like that of certain planets, appears to occur only after the revolution of several cycles, and only lasts for an instant.Say that three times..
guard sticks something awful
Now you know one of the reasons why I remove the guard before the first cut!
Those pesky snap rings and guards come off instantly with one swift swipe with the hammer. I don't know where all the parts land, but I really don't care either.
blue
Scares me!
I think that the pair of snap ring pliers I have are Channel Lock #907. They cost around $20 now. The nice thing about this set is that they will work with both types or snap ring, ie. they will compress or spread a snap ring depending on the setting.
They have been in my tool box for around 10 years now and I am a pretty handy guy but I have only needed them a couple of times. Still they were indespensible when I needed them.