Is my Rigid Oscillating Spindle Sander a goner?

I’m not sure how to fix your problem but most refurbs come with a full warranty.

I own several refurbished Ridgid tools and have had no problem whatsoever. That being said, one downside is that you usually get a shorter warranty on a refurb. Do you know the specifics of your warranty? Sometimes the refurbs have 90 days.. sometimes a full year. If warranty service is out of the question, Mary Anne, I hope one of our crack mechanical/electrical types can give you some good advice.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

I think it is caused by the motor being over heated, not sure. Maybe someone will have a real answer for you.
But I’m beginning to think my drill press with the sanding drum looks better after reading your thread.

-- Bob Kenosha Wi.

The only guarantee that I am sure of is that I did not send in the warranty card! LOL I confess, I never send those things in. I can probably dig up the “receipt” since I purchased it online… might be enough if it is a warranty issue. I was hoping it was something I could fix on my own.

Bob, don’t be discouraged. Like I said, I bought it as a refurbished “deal”. That is probably the first and worst issue with this unit. I bought it because I saw so many good reviews. And when it worked, it was far superior to sanding drums on my drill press.

Hopefully you can get it swapped over under warranty. I really like mine. But mine wasn’t a refurb…

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You are not required to send in the warranty card to activate your warranty.I think companies use those “warranty” cards for marketing purposes.

All I know is that you’re not alone having problems with that sander. I have the Wilton OSS, which is identical in almost every way to the Ryobi. It was a gift to me from a buddy who loved (and still loves) his Ryobi OSS. Mine recently started oscillating in a jerky motion and not smoothly, although the motor runs fine. I’m trying to fix it…
But it was new and has since fallen out of warranty.

I generally trust refurbished tools more than new tools, because their initial problems/bugs (if there even were any) have been fixed by the manufacturer and it’s been double-triple-checked. So what if the casing has a scratch or scuff on it?? The warranty is usually the same as a new tool, and I’ve never had to turn that warranty in. I’ve got 2 refurb ryobi routers and a Bosch refurb 14.4 drill, and they all still work wonderfully after some years.

-- Alex...builder of wooden wings for vintage sport biplanes...I'm your wingman :)

It could be the start capacitor for the motor, easy & cheap to replace. Might be worth looking into.

Adam

I have had good luck with Rigid warranties so I would try that rout. The repair dealer I have dealt with did not ask for the paperwork. They just fixed it.

Domer

I think if you have your receipt they will replace or repair it for you. Mary Anne.

-- https://www.artisticwoodstudio.com/videos

“You are not required to send in the warranty card to activate your warranty.I think companies use those “warranty” cards for marketing purposes.”
May be so but the difference with Ridgid is that if you register your tools then you get a life time warranty.
In my opinion this is a huge difference well worth 5 minutes of my time and of work.

-- Bert

b2rtch your right.I forgot about Ridgids lifetime warranty.But I’m sure if you dont send in the card you still have the standard warranty.

Adam,
The start capacitor idea sounds like a real possibility… sounds like something similar to a starter solenoid in a car? Maybe I’ll look around for a picture of one and see if I can find it on mine. Beats packing it up and paying for shipping to a service center and waiting.

Re: Lifetime Warranty
According to the CPO Ridgid site, reconditioned tools come with a 1-year warranty (I’m covered) and only proof of purchase is required. They state a 3-year warranty for new purchases. Again, only proof of purchase is required.

Looking at the manual for this unit, it looks like it could be as simple as a problem with the roll pin in the motor shaft, that drives the fan/spindle?

-- There is nothing in the world more dangerous, than a woodworker who knows how to read a micrometer...

Hi Mary Anne. If you have it humming and give the spindle a turn, will it take off then? Usually a bad starting capacitor will cause it to hum like that and the way to check it is to turn over the motor manually( in place of the job the capacitor is doing) and it should take off. My lathe had to have the start capacitor changed every year until I found that if I bought one with double the voltage rating, it would not crap out that soon or at all.

If your motor has a starting capacitor, it is usually a long round tube located on the outside of the motor. You have to take the bracket off of it and the capacitor is inside a tube. AC capacitors usually are not polarized so you can hook the wires to either contacts- it should have 2.

By the sounds of it that it will staart sometime, it does sound like that capacitor is weakening.

Getting it fixed under warranty is the best.

-- Jim Jakosh.....Practical Wood Products...........Learn something new every day!! Variety is the Spice of Life!!