Craftsman 315.114233 Operator's Manual page 4

SERVmCE
[] Tool service must be performed only by qualified
repair personnel. Service or maintenance performed
by unqualified personne! may result in a risk of injury.
[] When servicing a tool, use only identical replace-
ment parts. Follow instructions in the Maintenance
section of this manual. Use of unauthorized parts or
failure to follow Maintenance hstructions may create a
risk of shock or injury.
[] DANGER! Keep hands away from cutting area and
blade. Keep your second hand on auxiliary handle
or motor housing. Hfboth hands are holding the saw,
they cannot be cut by the bJade.
[] Keep your body positioned to either side of the
saw blade, but not in line with the saw blade. KHCK-
BACK could cause the saw to jump backwards.
[] Do not reach underneath the work. The guard can=
not protect you from the blade be!ow the work.
[] Check the lower guard for proper closing before
each use. Do not operate saw if lower guard does
not move freely and close instantly. Never clamp or
tie the lower guard into the open position. Hf s aw is
accidentally dropped, lower guard may be bent. Raise
the lower guard with the retracting handle and make
sure it moves freely and does not touch the blade or
any other part, in all angles and depths of cut.
[] Check the operation and condition of the lower
guard spring. If the guard and the spring are not
operating properly, they must be serviced before
use. Lower guard may operate sluggishly due to dam=
aged parts, gummy deposits, or a buildup of debris.
[] Lower guard should be retracted manually only
for special cuts such as "Pocket Cuts" and "Com-
pound Cuts". Raise lower guard by Retracting
Handle. As soon as blade enters the material,
lower guard must be released. For aUother sawing,
the lower guard should operate automatically.
[] Always observe that the mower guard is cover-
ing the blade before placing saw down on bench
or floor. An unprotected, coasting blade wit! cause
the saw to watk backwards, cutting whatever is in its
path. Be aware of the time it takes for the blade to
stop after switch is released.
[] NEVER hold piece being cut in your hands or
across your leg. It is important to support the work
properly to minimize body exposure, blade binding, or
loss of control.
[] Hold tool by insulating gripping surfaces when
performing an operation where the cutting tool
may contact hidden wiring. Contact with a "live"
wire wil! also make exposed metal parts of the tool
"live" and shock the operator.
[] When ripping always use a rip fence or an edge
guide. This improves the accuracy of cut and reduces
the chance of blade binding.
[] Always use blades with correct size and shape
(diamond vs. round) arbor holes. Blades that do not
match the mounting hardware of the saw wil! run ec=
centdcaliy, causing loss of control.
[] Never use damaged or incorrect blade washers
or bolts. The blade washers and bolt were specially
designed for the saw, for optimum performance and
safety of operation.
[] Causes and Operator Prevention of Kickback:
Kickback is a sudden reaction to a pinched, bound, or
misaligned saw blade, causing an uncontrolled saw to
lift up and out of the workpiece toward the operator.
When the blade is pinched or bound tightly by the kerf
closing down, the bJade stalls and the motor reaction
drives the unit rapidly back toward the operator.
If the blade becomes twisted or misaligned in the
cut, the teeth at the back edge of the blade can dig
into the top surface of the wood causing the blade
to climb out of the kerf and jump back toward the
operator.
Kickback is a result of tool misuse and!or incor-
rect operating procedures or conditions and can be
avoided by taking proper precautions as given below:
[] Maintain a firm grip on the saw and position your
body and arm ina way that allows you to resist
KICKBACK forces. KICKBACK forces can be con-
trolled by the operator, if proper precautions are taken.
[] When blade is binding, or when interrupting s
cut for any reason, release the trigger and hold
the saw motionless in the material until the blade
comes to a complete stop. Never attempt to re-
move the saw from the work or pull the saw back-
ward while the blade is in motion or KICKBACK
may occur. Investigate and take corrective actions to
eliminate the cause of blade binding.
[] When restarting a saw inthe workpiece, center the
saw blade in the kerf and check that teeth are not
engaged into the material. If saw blade is binding, it
may walk up or KICKBACK from the workpiece as the
saw is restarted.