Armature and fan

[R4286]

My motor started sparking and losing power. I took it apart. The commuter is clearly bad. So to replace the armature and fan, I see lots of questions and answers on removing the bearings, but it appears I have to order the bearings separately and then put on. How hard is it to put the bearings ON the armature and fan? and how? (for both ends) Thanks!

[R4286]

Having replaced my armature, here are my suggested steps. I developed these through trial and error, so use at your own risk! Order the following parts: armature and fan (38336-00SV); ball bearings (330003-09 and 330003-48); rubber sleeve (13782-01); retaining rings (144803 and 5140096-03); you will probably also need brush and spring (2)145323-06), and fan baffle (383064-00). The armature and fan is the expensive piece, and it is next to impossible to remove the existing bearings intact, so just replace them. The other parts are very cheap, so it is probably better to replace now.
Start by unplugging the saw! (part descriptions are from parts schematic) You will need a thorix screwdriver. Remove the belt cover and drive belt (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TofX-YxKu3w). You may want to remove the pulley drive (on end of armature) to make steps below easier. Remove the dust duct assembly to create a little extra room. Remove the end cap from field case. Remove the brushes and springs. Remove four screws holding field case. Carefully wiggle and pull the case; you may need a large flat-blade screwdriver to pry a little. There will be four wires connected inside the case, so it will turn sideways but not come completely free. Once lose, you should be able to remove the armature and fan – you may need to push (using round end of screwdriver or such) on the other end of armature. If you want to remove the field case, WRITE DOWN WHICH WIRE GOES WHERE. I did but lost it, so had to install and remove several times to get the wires correctly installed! (The Sears website has an electrical schematic).
This is a good time to use canned air to blow out the field case and other parts of the exposed saw.
If you do not have a bearing press, you will need to either buy one (~$100 or so) or take the armature/fan and bearings and rings to a small repair shop to have them install (probably free to install, so buy the guy lunch). Start by putting the rubber sleeve on the assembled armature. Put the fan baffle on the field case – it has a nipple that fits into the field case slot; line up nipple with wires inside slot; make sure the four wires inside field case are held in place by ‘hooks’ on fan baffle and away from armature. Put the armature into the field case. It will need a little push to seat the rubber sleeve. Maneuver the field case/armature to put the pulley drive through the hole and seat the field case assembly. Put back four screws (alternatively tighten each a little at a time). Replace bushes and springs. Replace end cap. Replace fan belt and dust cover. Replace dust duct.
Plug in saw and carefully turn on. If the blade goes the wrong direction, or fails to quickly stop, you probably put one or more of the four wires on wrong.
Best of luck to you!

[R4286]

For belt removal, eReplacement parts has a video on Youtube. the link was deleted when I loaded my note.