Porter Cable Internal Switch Repair Guide

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My Porter Cable DA was having intermittent switch problems, and eventually got bad enough that I was going to have to replace the unit or fix the problem.

I took the unit apart and was sure I would find a loose connection, but found nothing.

What I found was the the main switch on the outside of the unit is actually a dummy switch, which by an internal arm triggers a real, internal switch which controls the unit. It is the small black box with switch on top, at the end of the yellow wire. Pictured here:
2013-06-01_11-53-27_186_zps5f71f500.jpg

Here it is, removed and disassembled.
2013-06-01_11-36-17_124_zpsd7b8197e.jpg

Eventually what I found, was that the connecting plates inside the switch were covered in a carbon/residue deposit as you can see here:
2013-06-01_11-33-19_841_zps98ecb090.jpg

Here it is after I cleaned it with a brass wire brush:
2013-06-01_11-34-47_253_zps9be3bbb6.jpg

Note that there are two connectors/plates, left and right:
2013-06-01_11-33-49_339_zpsbf3ba217.jpg

Replace the wires, and snap switch back on to the box. Reassemble unit. You are ready to polish some paint!
2013-06-01_11-33-05_206_zps40b6f6e4.jpg
 
OUTSTANDING!

That will help a LOT of people.

Maybe the mods could make a 'sticky' for this...hint hint.

Bill
 
This is great. My problem is that my switch really is bad. Does anyone know how to remove the electrical connector for the switch? I have a new switch to replace the bad one but cannot for the life of me figure out how to get that goofy electrical connector off.

To be clear I am talking about the orange connector that you can see in pictures 3 and 4.
 
It looks like there are snaps or grooves or something on the sides of that connector. Try to squeeze those or push something in there, like a punch or screwdriver, while you pull the two pieces apart. Might be tricky.
 
Yes it is quite tricky. I will be taking another look at it tonight.
 
Even more tricky is getting that switch back together. I've been trying for two hours to get the spring to stay in place. Any secrets to this?
 
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