Table saw loss of power and an odor

[ken Martin]

Hi,

I have a Rigid R4518 jobsite sawthat is about 2 years old. Recently, if cutting several boards in succession, I can notice a reduction in RPMs and can smell an odor that a can lonely describe as smelling like the burned out ballast of a fluorescent light.
 

What is happening with my saw?

[Eric - TIA]

Could be a bad motor, bad brushes, something rubbing against the blade or dust inside the motor that is burning.  I would first make sure there is no wood or anything in the bottom of the saw there the bottom of the blade would be rubbing against it.  I would also try and blow out the vents on the motor as there might be dust or something inside.

[ken Martin]

Brushes would explain the loss of RPMs, but the odor is definitely not wood. It is more like a fluorescent light ballast. Does this saw have a clutch?

[Eric - TIA]

Not sure about the clutch but I wouldn't think this model does.  That is a weird smell.  If the brushes are bad, something is up as I wouldn't think they brushes would go that quickly, but I have heard of brushes going quickly on other tools so it might be.