Ryobi CSB125 Troubleshooting

The saw does not activate when pressing the trigger in.

If the saw is plugged into a working outlet and the saw does not operate the motor could have gone bad. Typically, the sign of a bad motor is either a humming noise when pressing the trigger, or smoke coming from the saw while in use. You can find a guide to replace the motor here (motor guide).

In order to activate the saw, not only does the trigger have to be pressed in, but there is also a safety switch that needs to be pressed in too. The safety switch is located to the right of the secondary hand grip on top of the saw. Ensure that the switch is pushed in while trying to operate the saw.

The saw will not activate if it is not plugged into an outlet! Make sure that the plug is fully pushed into a working outlet. If the cord is plugged in and the saw is still not operating, the cord could be bad. You can find a guide to replace the power cord here (power cord guide).

If the saw is plugged in but there is still no power going to it the problem could be that the outlet isn’t working. In order to see if power is going to the outlet, you can use a multi-meter to test the voltage going to the outlet, or you can plug something else into the outlet to see if it has power. If there is no power going to the outlet, check the breaker panel to see if the breaker has tripped. 

The protective shell that covers the blade will not move when trying to use the saw.

If the shell will not move, there is a possibility that there is some form of debris stuck in between the shell and the blade preventing the shell from moving. In the event that there is something stuck in between, make sure you unplug the saw before attempting to remove the debris to prevent injuries. A technique that can solve this problem is to exercise the shell back and forth rapidly until all debris has been removed.

If you have recently replaced the shell and experience problems with movement of the shell then there is a possibility that you failed to properly replace the shell. You can find a guide that shows how to properly replace the shell here (shell guide).

The blade does not spin when pressing the trigger in.

If the saw is plugged into a working outlet and the saw does not operate the motor could have gone bad. Typically, the sign of a bad motor is either a humming noise when pressing the trigger, or smoke coming from the saw while in use. You can find a guide to replace the motor here (motor guide).

In order to activate the saw not only does the trigger have to be pressed in, but there is also a safety switch that needs to be pressed in too. The safety switch is located to the right of the secondary hand grip on top of the saw. Ensure that the switch is pushed in while trying to operate the saw.

The blade will not spin if it is not connected to a power source! Make sure that the cord is plugged into a working power source. After ensuring there is power being applied to the saw, reference to the other troubleshooting guides as to why the blade isn’t spinning.

When applying force to the trigger it will not push in.

In order to activate the saw the trigger must be pushed in. In the event that the trigger is broken it will no longer be able to be pushed in to activate the saw. In this case, view this guide to help show how to properly replace the trigger (trigger guide).

There is a possibility that the trigger may become jammed. If the trigger becomes jammed while operating the saw disconnect the power to avoid injury. You may want to consider replacing the trigger to prevent it from becoming jammed again. You can find a guide to replace the trigger here (trigger guide).

If immediately after attempting to replace the trigger you experience problems with the saw you may have improperly replaced the trigger. In order to ensure proper technique is used to replace the trigger, view this guide (trigger guide).

When using the saw there is a burning smell and/or smoke coming from the saw.

When performing cuts with a dirty/dull blade there is a possibility of not only a burning smell, but also smoke coming from the saw. In order to prevent this, simply swap out a dull blade with a new one. You can find a guide to replace the blade here (blade guide).

In the event that it begins to smell like something is burning after an extended period of time while using the saw, chances are that it is overheating. To prevent the saw from overheating, make sure that you are not excessively using the saw. It is important that you are using the saw in a well ventilated area. If it begins to start smelling like something is burning, stop using the saw immediately. Wait an extended period of time before using the saw again.