Ryobi ONE+ 18v Reciprocating Saw (P516) Troubleshooting

When I push the trigger on the saw, the saw will not operate.

When you go to operate the saw, and the saw does not operate, you might want to check out a few things:

1) Make sure the battery is fully charged.

2) Be sure that the battery is put into the saw correctly, and secured.

3) There might be debris on the battery, or inside the saw, where the battery connects. If that’s the case this will restrict the correct voltage, in order for the saw to operate.

Trigger cannot be pulled all the way or saw has no movement when the trigger is pulled. 

It is best to check a few simple things before replacing the part or taking apart the saw:

1) The trigger could just be stuck if it has not been moved in a while. If this is the case it could just require a bit more force than usual to get the trigger back in motion. Try pressing down as hard as you can to get it back into place.

2) Another way to fix this might be to wiggle the trigger back and forth as much as you can, as it could just be caught on a piece of debris or something else that should not be in contact with the mechanism.

If this is your case, it is most likely due to a bad connection internally with the trigger mechanism that most likely needs to be replaced.

1) Again, this problem could be due to something inside the saw causing the connection to be disabled. If everything looks clean inside the saw and you have found that the issue is not from the battery, you can see the guide on how to replace the trigger mechanism here.

While cutting an object, the saw stops operating.

When I was cutting an object, the saw stopped cutting through it. Here are some general recommendations to overcome this barrier.

1) Keep in mind of what kind of object that you are cutting, different material has different strengths. Make sure you research on what is the best cutting device is best for that material.

2) Make sure you check the saw blade, it may be dull. If this is the case make sure you replace the blade.

After using the saw, or between jobs, the blade will not release from the saw or has become damaged and needs to be replaced. Most of the time, stuck blades just require a little more effort to remove safely.

1) If the blade is not bent or damaged, check the release mechanism on the left side of the saw near the front for debris. The lever needs to be flipped up about 90 degrees like a latch, and if there is anything under it, it may not open all the way.

2) If a blade has been bent or was installed incorrectly in the first place, it may take more effort to release the blade. Attached to the base of the saw, should be a small Allen key wrench, use the wrench to loosen the blade holding mechanism through the hole on the right side of saw, opposite from the releasing latch.

3) After loosing the screw, try releasing the latch again. If you are still unable to flip the latch, remove the screw completely and you should be able to remove the front cutting guard, this will give you enough room to straighten a bent blade or allow you to free up the release mechanism at the base of the blade.

4) If these steps still do not solve the issue then the blade holding mechanism needs to be replaced. See the blade holding mechanism replacement guide here.

While using the saw, you notice it begins to overheat.

1) Make sure to not operate power tool in extreme atmospheres. For best results, your battery tool should be charged in a location where the temperature is more than 50° F and less than 100° F.

2) The power tool plugs must match the outlet. Never modify the plug in any way to prevent overheating and/or electrocution.

3) Do not place battery tools or their batteries near fire or heat. This will reduce the risk of explosion and possible injury.

4) Recharge only with the charger specified by the manufacturer. A charger that is suitable for one type of battery pack may create a risk of fire when used in another battery pack.

1) Make sure to turn off and completely disconnect your power tool from any outlet.

2) Leave the power tool in an air-conditioned room to cool down.

3) Once cool, make sure there’s no liquid secretion, exposure to moisture, or misalignment of moving parts, breakage of parts, and any other condition that may affect the power tool’s operation.

4) Make sure all vents are clear of sawdust.

If none of these procedures work, reference to the repair guide: here

Sometimes you may have a rare symptom that is not mentioned above.

To try and diagnose the problem you are having yourself, you can take a look at the internals of your saw using this guide.