Rigid Shop Vac...Dead

Hollyfeld · Post by **Hollyfeld** » Wed. Jan. 06, 2010 8:20 pm

My shop vac, a 12 gallon Rigid, just up and quit on me. It's only about 2 years old - if that! First I thought the breaker tripped, but a light plugged into the same outlet was still on. WTF!? No smoke, no strange noise, no flashes of electricity shooting from the vents, its just stopped. Anyone ever have this happen? Should I just scrap the damn thing and go get a new one?

jpete · Post by **jpete** » Wed. Jan. 06, 2010 8:48 pm

How is the filter? Maybe an auto shut off if it gets clogged? My regular house vacuum does that. Also, my Craftsman has a float that shuts it off when you are picking up liquid so it doesn't get into the motor. Maybe that is an issue?

I'm guessing it's something stupid. I find it hard to believe it just croaked like that.

009to090 · Post by **009to090** » Wed. Jan. 06, 2010 8:51 pm

Yeah, there could be an over-heat switch on it.

SMITTY · Post by **SMITTY** » Wed. Jan. 06, 2010 9:13 pm

Probably the on/off switch. They tend to buy them from China. If it still doesn't work after it's cooled down, take it apart & test that cheap-ass switch. If it's not that, check everything else in there while you have it apart. I rarely throw something away. 99% of the time, I can repair it & continue using it for years.

Hollyfeld · Post by **Hollyfeld** » Wed. Jan. 06, 2010 9:16 pm

Filter was very dirty so I took it outside and banged it against the fence sending a huge plume of dust into the woods. Put it all back together and still nothing.

I think I have off this weekend, so I'll mess around with it then and see if I can figure it out.

CoalHeat · Post by **CoalHeat** » Wed. Jan. 06, 2010 9:27 pm

My huge Craftsman shop vac, which dates from the early 1970's, recently quit. Remember the green Permatex Sears trash cans? That's what this one is made of. I suspect it finally wore out the brushes in the motor, there was a lot of sparking and a burning odor. Haven't had time to check it over yet. I know I will be able to save it. They don't build them like they used to.
I would contact Ridgid and make a big stink about it. The worst that can happen is they won't do anything for you, the best thing-maybe a replacement.

http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/RIDGID-WD-Warranty/index.htm

Poconoeagle · Post by **Poconoeagle** » Wed. Jan. 06, 2010 11:39 pm

my ridgid did the same but smelled buning elec first. years of drywall dust clogged motor

then when using it for totally clogged oil burner boiler heat exchanger cleaning it fried. I did a google on it and found many posts about motor issues. the replacement motor for it was more than a whole new vac!!

Uglysquirrel · Post by **Uglysquirrel** » Sat. Jan. 09, 2010 9:11 am

Keep an extra on hand, buy the Ridgids for 28 bucks on deep sale in the summer.

BillMarti · Post by **BillMarti** » Sat. Jan. 09, 2010 8:52 pm

I would start with the switch if you have a meter if not jump the switch out and plug it in. Check the armature for corrosion and brushes are contacting armature.