With the switch in the shred position, it will not shred paper, but will run in reverse when the switch is put in reverse. I'm sure it's just a faulty switch, but I've taken all five screws out of the top unit, and it seems like something in the center of the unit is not releasing to allow me to seperate the two halves. Any help would be appreciated.

Paul Kavanagh, July 2005

Have now seen the response to other questions, and tried those tactics. I now think the problem was the safety microswitch, a piece of metal which protrudes from a slot in the top. If this gets bent it does not operate the switch when the door is closed and so nothing works.

Jon Merrills, November 2005

I have the same problem - but had no difficulty in removing 5 screws and then separating the two halves. But I still dont know what the problem is. It runs for a second or two in "shred" then stops. It runs fine in reverse. Could it be a faulty capacitor?
Jon

Jon Merrills, November 2005