Al English, and others who are interested...Success! I went to the local industrial electrical parts house and of course, they didn't have a switch to match the one from my Wards saw - not unexpected. I asked for other suggestions and they suggested the power tool place across the river who also does repairs. I mentioned that one of you said that you found a Black & Decker part fit their Wards tool, and they said this outfit also repaired B&D. So I tried it. Well, it turns out that a Porter Cable part number 849317 ($6.95 plus tax) is an exact match for the switch, except that its housing, trigger and mounting parts are plastic rather than bakelite (I think) housing and metal mounting parts like the original. So Al English...when yours gives out again, try a Porter Cable repair shop. The plastic Porter Cable probably won't last 25 years like the original, but then I probably won't last that long either! Thanks y'all for your replies and encouragement. $6.95 plus 56 cents for the governor beats $700 plus $56 dollars in anybody's book - except maybe the governor's book! :)
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