Dewalt 12inch 20V Max Chainsaw Doesn't work - FIXED?

I took apart this DeWalt 12 inch 20v Max Battery operated Chainsaw because it doesn't work. Can I fix it? spoiler alert, it's broken.
I was expecting to see a blown capacitor, but I think it's just a poorly made saw and I may just buy the Milwaukee Fuel Cordless chainsaw instead.

[@jthomaserne]

I had the same problem as seen here and in all the other videos. Did the full tear down and didn't get resolution until I pulled off the motor cover near the serial and model number plate. Blew it out with compressed air to see if there was any debris, and I'm back to full power, perfect crank every time

[@stanhilinski7280]

I had the exact same problem, and I hoped you had a fix. Mine was 8 months after purchase. The nearest repair depot is far away, so I decided to send it to them for repair. I set up the repair ticket on line. They gave me a UPS shipping label. I removed the bar and sent body, bar, and chain separated so it would fit in a box. Days later I got an email that said a part they needed was on back order, and it would take at most a week to get it. As I write this, it sits next to me. The whole episode took 1-2 weeks, and it was completely free, shipping free too. I don’t know what they did. Here’s what the packing paper says: “Service performed. Ground wire continuity. High pot 1000. High pot 2500. Leakage current check. Product tested.” When I removed it from the box (a box that a new saw comes it), I saw that it was spotless and looked brand new. I checked the serial number; it’s different. I won’t be able to test it until next week as I’m leaving on a trip immediately. I wish I knew exactly what they did, but that would require more digging, probably with fruitless phone calls. If it fails again? I’ll send it back or repair. It’s free under warranty, so what the hell. I’m not tossing a $250 investment unless I have no choice.

[@nicko978]

Good to know, thanks! I've put so many hours on mine but ran into the same issue all of a sudden.

[@SvenCheddar]

Man I've been messing with mine and barely used it twice same issue it's been more than 3 years. Never buying an electric saw again unless it's reciprocating.

[@kristinlee9485]

How did you manage to even get this thing serviced? Nobody services tools anymore, these are all manufactured as disposable products. What brand was your chainsaw?

[@SvenCheddar]

@kristinlee9485 i still have it after dewalts bs. I'm going to give it to my wife's dad he is handy with stuff like that maybe he will get it going. I bought a battery saw zaw. Way better than a chain driven one for what i needed and with a pruning blade i have no need for an electric chain saw ever again

[@stanhilinski7280]

@@kristinlee9485 DeWalt has a service center in York, Pa. I sent it there, and they sent me a replacement. It works just fine.

[@n2omike]

I have the same 12" Dewalt saw. Similar thing happened to mine. Didn't have that much run time, and suddenly stopped working... Only mine shows ZERO signs of life. I've seen a few videos where people tear them down for repairs, and almost every video has a different culprit! These things are JUNK!!!

[@TheHowtoDad]

absolute garbage. DeWalt should recall every single one and rebrand them as Black and Decker

[@isaacconard9077]

Same problem

[@christal4423]

Same here

[@williamtippins3651]

JUNK

[@A3Kr0n]

Without being there, I'd look at the batteries, or more likely, an overload condition that trips a resettable fuse. It works, something overloads the fuse and the fuse takes a while to cool down and reset itself. Maybe there's bush crap wrapped around the shaft? That little capacitor is probably for noise reduction. The motor looks like a brushed D.C. motor with the two wires.

[@TheHowtoDad]

thanks for all this! batteries are for sure good. there isn't a rest switch anywhere. they had been sitting for hours when I started making this video, one actually sat for a couple of days...so def not heat. the saw says brushless DC motor, I'm not an electronics guy...I appreciate the ideas, keep them coming

[@papasallseasonfun7753]

Same thing happened to me what I did is I took apart the trigger switch, clean the contacts and it worked again. It's the contacts inside the trigger switch

[@TheHowtoDad]

not in this case. I only used it for 20 mins, same problem with both. after sitting for a day they started to work again. the problem is, they are made poorly and they are junk

[@hillside2361]

Same here on then off, I thought is was overload switch , now it is in the trash. Good to know about the adapter for milwaukee tools

[@marcellaobdrzalek8435]

Thanks for this video, and all the comments. I was gonna buy a dewalt 12" brushless chainsaw...but now i am reconsidering my options

[@TheHowtoDad]

don't get one... I've heard very good things about the Husqvarna. that's what I'm getting instead.

[@marcellaobdrzalek8435]

@@TheHowtoDad thanks for the info, Husqvarna is always reliable. I used a small gas one and it was great. Well made. Easy to start. And had sufficient power

[@TheHowtoDad]

@@marcellaobdrzalek8435 ya. I have a buddy who has had a Husqvarna 40v for 3 years and it's stood the test. good bye DeWalt

[@kristinlee9485]

Don't do it! Use your muscle and get a bow saw. That's what I was forced to revert back to after having the same issue with a cordless Worx chainsaw. These compact chainsaws are all garbage from what I've heard

[@SteeleMagnolia]

Had the same issues, with two of them, and now going to return this last one. Was considering getting a third one, but after seeing some of these comments I'm thinking otherwise. Mine has had lots of hours on them, in a short period of about a month each, so I've used it a lot, and was super stoked with it. Pretty much had it with the trips to HD for this product.

[@onurkocak1927]

Exact same thing happened to me just in 1 month after buying the item only difference is I have the 18V version which is sold in Europe. I have cut less than 20 kg of branches in total. I am a big Dewalt fan but It dissapointed me this time.

[@SuperOpinion8ed]

Did you just make a 6 minute video on how NOT to fix something? Can you also show us how to not make scrambled eggs and how not to fix a hole in our boat with tampons? Gimme my six minutes back!

[@TheHowtoDad]

nope, can't have your 6 mins back, or the minute it took you to make the comment either. also, the video doesn't say I fixed it...DA

[@nicko978]

I put hours upon hours on mine and I talked it up so much but just ran into the same issue. Wish there was some kind of fix.

[@TheHowtoDad]

@@nicko978 the fix is at the bottom of a garbage can

[@jma8352]

i have the same problem. the only thing i did was put a flexvolt battery in and noticed a huge difference in power. but after i got my m18' fuel. i just gave up on them

[@TheHowtoDad]

ya, these are basically garbage. I'm going to try the Milwaukee saw

[@guycomtois]

I gor the same prpblem. I did open it till down the motor, swtich and clean it up. Contacts of the swtich was pretty nice. Finally it start running again but today I used it for about an hour and suddenlty, for no reasons, it stoop wotking again. When it is resting for about 5- 10 minutes it start again. I stop it then try to immedialty start it and it wont again. So not genius. I will return to store. I realize the problem is in the motor controller. It is like a torque protection that is bad adjusted. But even therre is no blade, chain, the problem persist.

[@Daryl...]

Got one of these for Christmas... I've a similar issue on a brand new one, I'm hoping it's just because the bstteries are freezing cold.

[@TheHowtoDad]

these are also brand new. I think the problem is that they are junk

[@Daryl...]

Found the issue with mine... The brake was stuck on. I smacked the chain brake and it disengaged, all good now. I wonder if your issue is as simple 🤔 See you did the same as me, and gently pulled the brake, this disengaged it enough for it to switch on, but then promptly shuts back down. Pulling it harder you feel a click, and boom. Works. 🤦‍♂️

[@TheHowtoDad]

@@Daryl... I'll take a look at that. kind of makes sense that could have been it.

[@marcellaobdrzalek8435]

​@@Daryl... how good a saw would you say it is? I am debating getting the 12" version

[@switchellmobb7575]

​@@Daryl... Dude good on you for this comment. I have no idea why I didn't think to pull it that hard. Even when I did for the first time after reading your comment, it sounded and felt like I broke it lol but you're right it works perfectly. When I looked up online why mine wasn't working I was like there's no way this many of these chainsaws don't work. Thanks again.

[@mrcmrf]

I'd look at the trigger switch, see if voltage going through it to the controller. Both have a 3yr warranty.... Let dewalt fix them?

[@TheHowtoDad]

agreed. this is a DeWalt problem

[@deepsleep7822]

If you send it to Dewalt: most companies require you to pay for shipping both ways. I’d just as soon use that money to buy a quality eChainsaw.

[@Robert-tj3qq]

I believe that's the problem.i returned mine and got my money back.

[@hazlox]

There’s a replaceable relay in there it’s like a $.10 part that burns out

[@murdoc4072]

Gave a part number or link? 😊

[@billyblue922]

That's a diode not a cap...

[@allencarlson3627]

mine too an xmas gift and it failed in this same way almost immediately

[@jamescampbell2521]

Discouraging. I've had my Dewalt for a few years now & always worked great. Then it started to " shimmy" or bounce around when cutting & stop. It finally just stopped working altogether.I hate to junk it & buy another but looks like my only option.

[@dirkrichardson1681]

I think you should try a 3rd one and what are you? A doctor, nice donning of the gloves!

[@TheHowtoDad]

they were covered in chain oil

[@deepsleep7822]

I wouldn’t try another Dewalt. Fool me once . . .

[@kstofkos]

Only found this video because I bought the same saw. I was using it, it clunked and you could feel it clunk and it no longer works. Completely broken. I only used mine for maybe a total of a half hour. It never cut anything thicker than 3 inches

[@TheHowtoDad]

piece of absolute garbage!

[@KraftRacingandMore]

Mine quit oiling after about 2 hours of work. Under Warranty. Dewalt sent me a brand new one. if I fix the oiler I'll have 2 saws.

[@TheHowtoDad]

@@KraftRacingandMore 1 good saw (Husqvarna) is better than 2 crappy saws

[@KraftRacingandMore]

@TheHowtoDad yes, I will not buy any more Dewalt saws. But if it's under warranty and they send me a brand new one free of charge. I'm all for that. I also have a Dewalt angle grinder, but it's AC. Powered, and i've had zero problems with it even after owning it for 5 years

[@lambfactory2537]

I have one. Same thing happened the switched would let go on its own. Eventually stopped altogether. It was very handy when it worked. Why would Dewalt manufacture such a poor design. Thousands of people got ripped off.

[@kristinlee9485]

Please don't say you "broke it", you didn't. That chainsaw is a piece of shit, just like a lot of tools. They're all made with cheap parts! The same thing just happened to me with a Worx 16 inch saw, brushless motor as well. I cut three small piles of wood and it quit working. And it happened to fail on me when I ran out of firewood. Great timing. This is UNACCEPTABLE!! Not only do these plastic tools end up in the landfill because they have such a short lifespan, but they are horrifically overpriced if it's normal for these things to break after such a short period of time. They should be like $10. As you can probably tell, I'm pretty pissed off. I was thinking of maybe trying a Makita? But frankly I think all these MF things are meant to be disposable trash!! 🤬🤬🤬🤬

[@teacherguy5084]

Mine worked whenever I needed it (about 2-3 hours per year) for about 4 years. Then last week it quit after 2 minutes of working fine. Press the trigger, it moves forward a link and stops. Does that a couple times, then backs up 1/4 inch a couple of times, then nothing. Battery is fine. Pretty disgusting excuse for a tool.

[@TheHowtoDad]

ya, piece of garbage

[@MrCasket]

You’re trying to use a chainsaw with a 2ah battery lol

[@TheHowtoDad]

@@MrCasket for this video...yes. you're a DH

[@DaleyChopperDMAX1]

No wonder he can’t fix it 😂He doesn’t even know the difference between a diode and a capacitor 🤣

[@timothyboone5003]

I have the same issue and after watching your video I still have the same issue and 6 min of my life gone, wasted, that I’ll never get back.

[@jamesohara9152]

I have the same saw brand new worked for about 30 minutes and stopped did not even empty its first battery. Piece of Junk. Major headache to send back to dewalt.

[@11mroscar]

mate u have no idea what ur on about. that is not a capacitor it is a diode!

[@TheHowtoDad]

ya...I'm not an electrician. but it's busted

[@evelitalian]

I'm done with dewalt also, its junk

[@disillusioned070]

Check the safety switch. This video here shows how to test it. I tore my 20v chainsaw down because it was doing the same thing. It turned out to be the safety switch. kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZnVc5Zpfb2dZpY&ab_channel=ApacheRanch

[@TheHowtoDad]

I tried that. wasn't the issue

[@disillusioned070]

@@TheHowtoDad Did you ever figure it out?

[@TheHowtoDad]

@@disillusioned070 not really. I let it sit for a while, then it started working again. may have been a seized brake?

[@disillusioned070]

@@TheHowtoDad Copy. Well at least its working again. Mine would start running and stall but I could immediately release the trigger and pull it again and it would start working and stay working as long as I applied good pressure to the trigger so when I went into the repair I already figured I was looking at a safety device or faulty trigger.

[@tony8354586]

It’s the safety switch, sells on Amazon 12 for 5 bucks

[@TheHowtoDad]

it's not the switch. tested it

[@chlewis123]

Junk. Bought from Amazon 3 months ago. Used less than 1 hour total time in the last 3 months. Very annoying. I was part of a volunteer team clearing trails after the recent hurricane damage in remote areas. We use our heavy duty Stihl gas powered saw for the big stuff and depend on the DeWalt for minor clearing cuts. But after about 3 brief sessions with it, it stopped working. Completely dead. Battery still in fully charged mode. I no longer will trust Dewalt stuff for non trivial or mission critical tasks.

[@TheHowtoDad]

@@chlewis123 I have been using DeWalt for 20 years, this is the biggest failure I've seen. they should recall every single one

[@normdickson2438]

That looks like a one-way diode not a capacitor

[@TheHowtoDad]

@@normdickson2438 ok. that wasn't the issue anyway...the problem is it's a piece of junk

[@onurkocak1927]

Exact same thing happened to me just in 1 month after buying the item only difference is I have the 18V version which is sold in Europe. I have cut less than 20 kg of branches in total. I am a big Dewalt fan but It dissapointed me this time.