If you’re a carpenter, woodworker, or just own a DeWalt reciprocating saw, then you know that it’s one of the best tools out there. But like any tool, sometimes it needs to be taken apart for cleaning or repair.
In short, to disassemble a Dewalt reciprocating saw, remove the blade from the saw. Then, unscrew the handle from the saw. Next, remove the battery pack from the saw. Finally, unscrew the nose piece from the saw.
However, if you need to take your DeWalt reciprocating saw apart for any reason, it can be a little tricky. In this post, we’ll walk you through the process step-by-step on how to disassemble a Dewalt Reciprocating Saw. Let’s get started!
How To Disassemble A DeWalt Reciprocating Saw
Here are some steps to disassemble the saw:
1) Remove The Blade Guard Using The Wrench Attached To The Saw
This step is arguably the easiest of all three steps required to disassemble your DeWalt reciprocating saw. All you have to do is insert the provided wrench into the hex bolt underneath the blade guard shroud using your hand or pliers if necessary.
Then, loosen this bolt by turning it counterclockwise until it slides out of its hole and remove the blade guard shroud completely from the blade housing.
2) Disconnect The Saw From Its Power Source
To disconnect the saw from its power source, you’ll need to find the release trigger on your DeWalt reciprocating saw either underneath or on top of the handle. Depress this release trigger using your thumb and slide it all the way back towards the rear end of your saw until it can’t travel any farther.
Then, you’ll want to hold down the release trigger while simultaneously pulling your DeWalt reciprocating saw in the opposite direction away from its power cord. Disconnecting it in this order will help prevent injury by reducing tension on both wires at once.
3) Loosen And Remove The Four Hex Bolts On The Back Side Of Your Saw
This step may also be a little tricky, but it’s definitely doable. You’ll first want to remove the battery from your saw if you haven’t already done so by removing its black release latch and sliding it out of its holder.
Once you remove the battery, take note of where the hex bolt heads are located on either side of your DeWalt reciprocating saw. The hex bolts should be located under each arm towards the rear end of your saw and just above one another in what is commonly referred to as a T-pattern.
Then, using both hands, hold onto one of these arms firmly and try to turn or loosen every other head until they’re all loose enough that you can slide them within their respective holes. If you’re having trouble loosening these hex bolts, try using a wrench or pliers to hold onto one while you loosen the other with your bare hand.
Once all four hex bolts are removed, your DeWalt reciprocating saw should be disassembled completely and ready for cleaning or repair work.
How To Properly Reassemble The Saw
Follow the steps backward to put your DeWalt reciprocating saw back together.
Insert The Four Hex Bolts In Their Respective Holes And Tighten Them
In this step, you’re going to want to insert each of your four hex bolts into their respective holes from the outside of the blade housing towards the center and tighten them by hand until they create a snug fit.
Please note that if any of these hex bolts are too loose, this could cause damage to both your saw and the material being cut so it’s very important that these bolts are snug. It’s also important to note that you should keep all four hex bolts dry during reassembly or else they may rust and become more to remove next time around.
Attach The Blade Guard Using The Wrench
Once you’ve tightened the four hex bolts surrounding the blade housing, you should then attach and tighten down the provided wrench into the original user-removable hex bolt underneath the blade guard shroud.
This step will help ensure that your blade guard stays securely attached to your saw while it’s in use so you don’t get injured by accidentally cutting yourself or anyone else around you by accident.
Reconnect Your Saw To Its Power Source
In this final step, all you’ll have to do is reconnect your DeWalt reciprocating saw from its power source using the reverse order of what we did before.
Conclusion
You now have an idea of what Disassembly entails and what Disassembly may be required for. Disassembling your DeWalt reciprocating saw isn’t always necessary but it can help with repairs or cleaning purposes. Disconnecting your product during the disassembly process is normal so don’t worry about that.
Just make sure to follow proper Disassembly procedures in order to reassemble your tool successfully when you’re finished doing whatever maintenance work is needed. Now get out there and start taking some things apart.
FAQs
Q: How Do You Disassemble A DeWalt Reciprocating Saw Without A Hex Wrench?
A: If you don’t have access to a hex wrench but really need to get into your DeWalt reciprocating saw, fear not. Many people have found that using pliers is just as effective in situations. You’ll just need to work a little harder and more carefully to avoid slipping and cutting yourself.
Q: What If You Disconnect Your DeWalt Saw During The Disassembly Process?
A: If you happen to disconnect your product during the disassembly process, fear not! As long as you’ve removed all of the four hex bolts from the backside of your saw as described above, continuing with the rest of the disassembly process should be simple enough.
At this point, you can safely move on to step three which is removing and loosening all other head screws until they’re completely removed from their respective places.
Q: How Do You Reassemble A DeWalt Saw After Disassembly?
A: Once you have successfully disassembled your saw, the reassembly process should be pretty simple. Just place your components back into their respective places and tighten using whatever tools or methods that are required (i.e. hex wrench).
Once all of your head screw heads are tightened enough for them to stay in place without moving, you’re done. Now you can use your DeWalt reciprocating saw like normal again until it needs cleaning again at least.
Q: How To Safely Remove The Dewalt Reciprocating Saw Blade
A: Disconnect your DeWalt reciprocating saw from the power supply before you begin trying to remove its blade. Disconnecting your product allows you to completely remove its blade without worrying about accidentally cutting yourself with it while maneuvering around the reciprocating saw’s body. Disconnecting your tool also allows you to move it around and angle it in different directions as needed, making blade removal much easier overall.
Once you’ve disconnected your product, you’ll next need to unlock your DeWalt reciprocating saw’s blade clamp mechanism. To unlock it, you’ll need to press down on your tool’s blade clamp release lever located near the top of your product. To access it, you’ll need to rotate your DeWalt reciprocating saw upside-down so that its blade is pointing down towards the floor as though it were about to cut something directly below it.
Once you’ve pressed down on the blade clamp release lever, you’ll be able to pull your DeWalt reciprocating saw’s blade upwards while the blade is unlocked. To remove your DeWalt reciprocating saw’s blade from its old position, you’ll need to rotate its reciprocating arm downwards until the blade pops out of place. Dispose of used blades properly and insert a new one in their place.
Q: How To Remove The Dewalt Reciprocating Saw Motor
A: Disconnect your DeWalt reciprocating saw from the power supply before attempting to remove its motor unit. Disconnecting your product not only prevents you from accidentally cutting yourself with it but also allows you to move the saw around freely and even lay it down on a flat surface while loosening or tightening a few of its screws in particular.
Before you begin, you should also remember to remove your DeWalt reciprocating saw’s blade so that you don’t accidentally cut yourself with it while removing the motor unit. Disconnecting the power of the saw gives you complete control of its movement and allows for easy access to its screws without worrying about getting cut or slicing through any wires.
Your next step after disconnecting your DeWalt reciprocating saw’s blade is to unlock the clamp mechanism holding it in place. You’ll need to press down on your tool’s blade release lever and pull the blade upwards until it pops out of its locked position and then set it aside for safekeeping.
Once you’ve unlocked and removed your saw’s blade, you’ll be able to remove its motor unit casing. To do so, you’ll need to remove a total of six screws from around your DeWalt reciprocating saw’s motor unit casing. Disassemble the top half by removing four small screws and then remove two larger ones located near the bottom edge before separating the two halves.
Q: How To Disassemble The Dewalt Reciprocating Saw Handle?
A: Disassemble your DeWalt reciprocating saw’s handle by removing its two main screws at the top and bottom of the handle. Disconnect any wires attached to it before separating each half. Disassembly is necessary if you’re looking to replace a broken or worn-out part in the body of the tool such as its trigger mechanism, motor housing, power cord connection port, or even a damaged gearbox.
Q: Are Dewalt Reciprocating Saws Suitable For DIY?
A: Yes! These types of tools are designed for heavy-duty use in both household and commercial projects alike. The best part about using DeWalt reciprocating saws is that they make DIY work both faster and easier since they can cut through pretty much anything.
Disassembly is easier than most, they offer impressive durability and cutting power, they come with a variety of helpful attachments, and each product features an ergonomic design that makes it easy to control even when you’re working for extended periods throughout the day.
