Radial arm saw stopped working

46603 Views 49 Replies 30 Participants Last post by cabranch47, 2 mo ago

mel_kissmygrits

Discussion Starter · May 28, 2011 (Edited)

Hi all, I have a Craftsman radial arm saw (10" blade). Last week I was cutting wood and the blade caught on knot and stopped. Before I could reach up and stop the motor, the saw turned off by itself.

I checked the outlet, breaker box and neither tripped.

Do these things have a fuse built in somewhere? I saw a red "RESET BUTTON" on top of the motor and pressed, but this doesn't do anything.

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PaliBob

· #2 · May 29, 2011

Lost,
Thanks for including the pic. I have the 1985 version of that Sears Radial Arm Saw but since I have not used it that much the only thing I can say is for you to do is to recheck the AC Power connections and the reset button. (I never had to use the reset button)

Here is an interesting review on that Saw.
.

BigJim

· #3 · May 29, 2011

The best I can remember that saw has a reset button on the back of it, give that a try.

iamrfixit

· #4 · May 29, 2011

If you tried the reset right after the motor stalled, you may want to try it again. Many times it will not reset right away and has to allow things to cool off. I don't know about your particular saw but sometimes those resets have to be pressed fairly hard and sometimes repeatedly to get it reset and it will usually reset with a click, but I have seen some reset with no click.

Since you stalled the motor it most likely did trip the reset, or possibly even the breaker to the outlet.

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mel_kissmygrits

Discussion Starter · #5 · May 30, 2011

I waited a few days, the switch was fully pressed in and would not go in further. The circuit itself is not tripped, as I am able to run other devices on the same receptacle.

At this point I am at a loss. It's such a good saw, in like-new condition.

Tom Struble

· #6 · May 30, 2011

does the trigger click when you depress it?

mel_kissmygrits

Discussion Starter · #7 · May 30, 2011

No clicks, no humming, nothing.

Tom Struble

· #8 · May 30, 2011

bad trigger maybe,raise up the blade so it's not contacting anything and lock it, carefullytap around the trigger assembly while you work it

NWFixer

· #9 · May 30, 2011

if you can get it working I would suggest you get the free upgrade/recall kit for it. it might save some fingers

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rdf123

· #10 · Aug 6, 2011 (Edited)

2

Hello All...

Did the original poster of this thread ever get this issue resolved. I had the same thing happened to me today. I took the cover off the motor and blew it all out...waited about 45 minutes for it to cool and still no start. I did have one question about the motor though...The wire runs from the breaker to a small piece of flat copper (1) which in turn extends down behind (2). The disk(2) seems spring loaded and moves in the direction of the arrow. It is still warm from after the stall, maybe it will work if it cools some more. Could anyone explain how this works and what it does?

Thanks in advance for the help

Robert

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mel_kissmygrits

Discussion Starter · #11 · Aug 6, 2011

Hi -- to answer your question, no I did not fix the saw yet. I was in a rush, so I bought a second used RAS on craigslist. I hope to tear into the broken on at some point.

rdf123

· #12 · Aug 9, 2011

Update....The breaker button was not pushed down all the way!!! It seems to have 2 different steps in the button. It was clicking everytime I pushed it...therefore making me think I was resetting it. Thank goodness for my temper....I got so frustrated I squeezed the button really hard and heard a second louder click. I tried the saw and it worked. The only problem is I will have to take the cover off every time this happens because it took ALOT of pressure on the button to pop that breaker back. But I will worry about that when it happens....I have some wood to cut....

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mel_kissmygrits

Discussion Starter · #13 · Aug 9, 2011

What's involved in taking the cover off? I think I pressed mine too hard and it went back inside the cover.

rdf123

· #14 · Aug 9, 2011

3 slotted screws underneath...1 on the blade side and 2 on the accessory side they are recessed into the cover in holes...they are not visible unless you look into the holes. (there are a few other screws on there). Then you will see the breaker surrounded by foam...the whole button assembly will come off its mount and you can squeeze it till you hear the second click. I was surprised how hard I had to do it, so really give it a good one.

Best of luck

mel_kissmygrits

Discussion Starter · #15 · Oct 29, 2011 (Edited)

3

Does anyone know where to get a replacement reset switch? The number on the back of the red button is: CSJ63CA. Sears shows it as unavailable. They still have the big round capacitor, and the switch rdf123 wrote about earlier.

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mel_kissmygrits

Discussion Starter · #16 · Oct 29, 2011

Failing that, can I bypass the switch or relocate it somehow? The second Sears Radial arm saw I bought did not have a reset switch on it (it is older).

Scotsman88

· #17 · Jul 19, 2013

Stopped radial arm saw

I'm glad they kept this thread open since I just encountered the same problem in July 2013. I let the motor cool down then pressed the reset button with no results. After doing this a number of times I finally went to this chat room and found the answer right there. I went back out, pressed and held the reset button quite hard until I heard a second click and the saw came right back on. Thanks (you think as a Sears retired Craftsman power tool buyer I would have figured that out).
Bob

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BigJim

· #18 · Jul 19, 2013

Scotsman88 said:
I'm glad they kept this thread open since I just encountered the same problem in July 2013. I let the motor cool down then pressed the reset button with no results. After doing this a number of times I finally went to this chat room and found the answer right there. I went back out, pressed and held the reset button quite hard until I heard a second click and the saw came right back on. Thanks (you think as a Sears retired Craftsman power tool buyer I would have figured that out).
Bob

Glad you found the answer here on one of our older threads.

MikeyA

· #19 · Aug 27, 2015

This thread has proven to be useful yet again. Two months ago I bogged my saw down doing something I shouldn't have. I haven't needed it since because all of my projects have been small. I have a bigger project coming up where I'm building my little girl practically a complete play kitchen with sink, stove, fridge, and pantry. I will be needing this saw. Read the thread - pressed hard until the second click - saw is up and running again!! Thanks guys!

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oh'mike

· #20 · Aug 27, 2015

I enjoy seeing older threads helping folks---glad this worked for you--

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