Black spring clip will not engage and hold the blade for an oster a5 clipper

make sure the blade is clicked into place fully, secondly check to see if the blade is sitting further away from the clipper than usual, it could also be a stripped gear inside the clipper does the lever move when the blade is engaged?

it could be metal fatigue from the blade. Try a different blade and see if it does the same. If it is still rattling it could be your blade drive needs to be replaced. Sometimes the screws that hold the blade drive in place come lose or striped so you may need to check them.

see if the blade and hinge have moved away from the body of the clipper, the two screws either side of the hinge assembly may need tightening, or the main body may need replacing,
If its just one blade then there must be a problem with that blade.

John! No Problem!
First put the bigger of the two blades witht the size/number facing down, put the cutter on top. (with the side with the flat side of the teeth facing down) Then put the tongue guide inside the tension spring, make sure the tension spring rail is on the tension rail and place them on top of the cutter. To see which bits these are go to: http://www.sheareaseltd.com/clipper-blade-sharpening/clipper-blades-the-parts
This picture whows the front and back, it differs slightly from your blade, but its same meat different gravy!

Hold all this together with your finger and thumb, flip it over and scre the whole lot together!
www.sheareaseltd.com

The A5 clipper should have a locking hinge the hinge should be open and slide the clipper blade onto the hinge, now push on the clipper blade bachward and it will snap on. if you don't hear a snap sound the hinge on the clipper maybe worn out and don't have no spring tension.

If the clippers are new, it is not likely that the problem is internal. Sometimes, when the blade is put on the clipper, it needs an extra little push to clip firmly behind the blade catch (you can hear a little click). Try that.

Are you sure you have Andis A5 or did you mean Oster A5 Clipper, if this clipper is A5 Clipper, You need to check the Lever for wear, The front of the Lever show wear on both side, Like white color and is not squad this Lever is worn. Need to replace. This Lever moves the blade side to side fully. if the Lever is worn the blade will not move fully side to side and the cutter blade the smaller blade will stay in the middle with hardly no travel to side to side and will not cut the hair even if you purchase new blades. Also I would like to mention if the Oster Locking Hinge is worn out and don't have the require tension to hold the blade in place the blade will not cut. How do you test the Oster Hinge on a Oster A5 Clipper,
(1) first close the hinge, in close potion with your finger nail try to open the Hinge, if the hinge slightly open or opens loose the Hinge is worn. if the Hinge is good it will not open or move and your nail may just brake your nail.
Many of my customers run into this type of problem, and the problem can be solve easily by checking these parts first.
One more item I would mention here if replace the A5 Hinge make sure you get the A5 Hinge not the Oster 76 Hinge they are driferrent, The A5 Hinge has on the back two wire's sticking out that fit on the Oster Latch for the A5 Hinge, the Oster 76 Hinge would not have these wire's on the back. I recommend replacing the Latch when you replace the Hinge. I hope this helps any body that have a A5 Oster clipper or A Oster 76 Clipper.
I have over 20 years in the repair business of Sharpening & Clipper repair. Mannys Sharpening 323 263-4697

Oster Hinge

A5 Latch

If the blade mover is going when you turn the clipper on than all you need to do is take the blades apart and clean them well with a Oster spray and then oil them. I would recommend cool lube.

This is from the Oster book:
Changing Blades
To Remove: IMPORTANT- stop motor; push latch with thumb while lifting blade away from clipper and slide off tongue.
To Replace: turn motor on; insert blade on tongue fully and then snap blade into place.

Note: if the hinge is flush against clipper, lift it up with a screwdriver.




From me - Never take your blades apart to clean them. You can slide them one side to the other to get the hair out. (One little hair, can stop them from cutting.) You need to buy a can of clipper blade cool from oster or andis both are good, and it really helps to lubricate the blade and keep them cool while clipping. If you live near a dog groomer, petsmart or something of the like. Ask them to show you how to remove the blade and I know they will be happy to show you. I tried to submit an image from the book, but I don't know if it will get here or not.

Ok turn your clipper on and hold it still in one hand whilst with the other hold the cable near the end of the clipper and bend it, rotate and twist if your clipper cuts in and out you have a break in the cable which is tricky to fit but our web site Help section can help.