135.17240
135.17241
CAUTION: Read, understand and follow
all Safety Rules and Operating Instructions
in this manual before using thinproduct.
oSAFETY
* OPERATION
"MAINTENANCE
ESPAI_OL
Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoflman Estates, IL 60179 U.S.A.
5-7-02
Safety Instructions ..................................... Pages 3_7
Description ................................................. Page 8
Assembly. ................................................... Page 9
Operation ................................................... Pages 10-15
Maintenance .............................................. Page t6
Accessories ................................................ Page 17
Service Numbers ....................................... Page 18
FULL ONE YEAR WARRANTY ON CRAFTSMAN SABRE SAW
If this CRAFTSMAN Sabre Saw fails togive complete satisfaction
within one year h'c_ the date of purchase, RETURN IT TOTHE
NEAREST SEARS STORE INTHE UNITED STATES, and Sears
will replace it,free of charge,
If this CRAFTSMAN Sabre Saw is used for commercial or rental
purposes, thiswarranty applies for only 90 days from the date of
purchase.
This warrantygives you specific legal rights,and you may also have
other rightswhich vary from state to state.
Sears, Roebuck and Co., Dept. 817 WA, Hoffman Estates, IL 60179
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS!
2
WARNING: BESUREto readandunderstandall instructions. I
Failureto follow Bitinstructionslisted belowmayresultinelectric
shock,fireand/orseriouspersonal injury i
SAVETHESE INSTRUCTIONS!
WORKAREA SAFETY
Keepyour workareadean andwell lit. Clutteredbenchesand
darkareasinvite accidents_
DO NOT operatepowertoolsin explosiveatmospheres,such as in
thepresence of flammableliquids,gases, ordust.Powertoolscreate
sparkswhichmayignitethedustorfumes,.
Keepbystanders,children,and visitorsawaywhile
operatinga powertool. DistraclJonscancauseyoutolosecontrol.
ELECTRICALSAFETY
Doubleinsulatedtoolsare equippedwith apolarized plug (oneblade
iswider than theother.)This plugwill fit ina polarizedoutletonlyone
way.if the plugdoesnot fitfullyin the outlet,reversethe plug.If it still
doesnot fit, contact a qualifiedelectricianto installa poladzedoutlet.
Donotchangethe plugin anyway.Doubleinsulation[] eliminatestheneed
forthe threewiregroundedpowercordandgroundedpowersupplysystem,
Applicableonlyto ClassIt(doubleir_ulated)tools°Beforeplugginginthetool,
becertainthattheoutletvoltagesuppliediswithinthe voltagemarked onthe
tool'sdata plate.DO HOTuse "AConly" ratedtoolswitha DC powersupply.
Avoidbodycontactwith groundedsurfaces,such aspipes,radiators,
rangesand refrigerators. Thereisanincreasedriskofelectricshockifyour
bodyis grounded.
Ifoperating thepowertoolindamp locationsis unavoidable,ALWAYSuse
aGroundFaultCircuitInterrupterto supplypowerto your tool.ALWAYS
wearelectrician'srubberglovesand footwearin dampconditions.
Don'texposepowertools torainor wet conditions.Waterenteringa
powertoolwiltincreasethe riskof electric shock
Don'tabusethecowd.NEVERusethe cordto carrythetools or pull
the plug Irornthe outteLKeepcordawayfrom heat,oil, sharp edges
or moving parts.Replacedamagedcordsimmediately.Damagedcords
increase the riskofelectric shock,
3
El FCTRICAL SAFETY cont.
When operating a power tool outside, ALWAYS use an outdoor
extension cord marked "W-A" or'q_/". These cordsare rated foroutdoor
use and reduce the risk of electric shock. See Accessoriessection of this
manuaJ [or recommended extension cords,
PERSONALSAFETY
Stayalert,watchwhatyouaredoingand usecommonsense . ..
enoperatinga powertool. DONOTusetool whiletir_ or unoerme
influence of drugs,alcohol,or medication.A momentofinattentionwhile
operatingpowertools mayresultin serious pemonalinjury.
Dressproperly.DO NOTwear looseclothingoL!ewelr]/. P-_ll.backlong
,_if'. K,_p yo_",'zaii',do_i,'zg, andglov_ aw'.-_;,ore,,-,ovh,g._,,_.
Looseclothes,jewelry,orlonghaircanbe caught,nmovingparts.
Avoidaccidentalstarting. BESURE switchis "Off" beforeplugging In.
Carryingtoolswithyourfingerontheswitchor pluggingin tootsRat havethe
switchinthe=On"positionin"viresaccidents.
Removeadjustingkeysor wrenchesbefore turningthe tool "On".
Awrenchora keythatisleftat*_chedtoa rotatingpart ofthetool
mayresultin persona]injury.
DONOT overreach.ALWAYSkeepproper footingandbalance at all
times. Proper footingandbalanceenablesbettercontrolofthetoolin
unexpectedsituations°
Usesafety equipmenL Alwaysweareye protection.Dust mask,
non-s_dsafetyshoes,hardhat,orheanngprotectionmustbe usedfor
appropriateconditions°
4
TOOL USE AND CARE SAFETY
Use clamps or other practica! ways to secure and support the workpiece
to a stable platform. Holdingthe workby hand or against your body is
unstable and may lead to toss of control,,
DO NOT force tool. Use the correct tool and blade for your application.
The correct too! and blade willdo the job better and safer at the rate for
which it is designed,
DO NOT use tool if switch does not turn it =On" or "Off". Any tool that
cannotbe controlled withthe switch is dangerous and mustbe repaired_
Disconnect the pluq from the power source before making any
adjustments, changing accessories,or stodng the tool. Such preventive
safety measures reducethe risk of starting the tool accidentally,
Store idle =oolu _= u, ,_;h
A .... ,_ _JI ..... _ _lL..=lJ .... J --_L--..*--A. =_J
u=t,-_muru, i_lI iFd _lltl_dl
u..a,:_ _130fi$.
Toolsare dangerous inthe hands of untmJ,ed users,
Maintain tools with care. Keep cutting tools sharp and clean.
Properly maintained toolswith sharp cuing edges are less likelyto bind
and are easier to control,
Check for misalignment or binding of moving parts, breakage of parts,
and any other condition that may affect the tool's operation. Ifdamaged,
have the tool serviced before using, Many accidentsare
caused by poorly maintained tools,
Use only accessories that are sold by Sears for your model. Accessories
that may I_. suitable for one tool may become hazardous when usedon
another tool,
SERVICE SAFETY
Tool service must be performed only by qualified repair personnel.
Service or maintenance performed by unqualifiedpersonnel
could result in a risk of injury,
When servicing a toot, use only identical replacement parts. Follow
instructions in the Maintenance section of this manual. Use of
unauthorized parts or failure to followMaintenance Instructions maycreate
a riskof electric shock or injury.Certain cleaning agents, such as gasoline,
carbon tetrachloride, ammonia, etc may damage plastic parts
ADDITIONAL SPECIFIC SAFETY RULES FOR SABRE SAWS
Hold tool by insulated gripping surfaces when.Performing an operation
where the cutting tool may contact hidden winng or its own core.
Contact with a 'live" wire wiltmake the exposed metal partsof the toot
"live" and shock the operator.
NEVER leave the trigger switch in the Locked "On" position. BEFORE
turning "On" the tool, ALWAYS check the trigger switch to be sure that
it Is"Off". Acc{dantal start-ups could cause injury°
ALWAYS be aware of the location and setting of the Lock On button.
If itis locked =On"duringuse, ALWAYS be readyto switchit=Off"in an
emergencysituation, by firstpushingthe triggerswitchand thenimmediately
releasingit without preying the Lo_-On button.
Y_,=J_,_,,,"h....,_'-e.-w..a,,_ c-_ing _,,=,,nn _t-q'.r_,_--h_.,-,-.do,th"
material being cut because the nearn_s of the blade to your hand Is hidden
from your sight,
Keep your hands from between the gear housing and the saw blade
holder. The reciprocatingblade holder can pinchyourfingers,
DO NOT use dull or damaged blades. Bent blade_ can break
easily, or cause kickback.
BEFORE starting to cut, ALWAYS turn the saw "On" and allow the
bladeto come to full speed. The saw can chatter or vibrate ifthe blade
speed is too slow at the beginning of the cut and possibly cause kickback
ALWAYSwear safety glasses or eye shieldswhen usingthis saw,ALWAYS
wear a dust mask or respirator for applications which generate dust.
ALWAYS secure the workplace before cutting. NEVER hold the saw in
your hands or across your legs. Small or thin material may flex orvibrate
with the blade and cause a toss of control.
ALWAYS BE SURE that all adjusting screws and the blade holder are
fastened tightly BEFORE making a col LooseadjuslJng screws and
holders can cause the tool or blade to slip and lossof controlmay result.
When removing the blade from the tool, ALWAYS avoid contact with
skin and ALWAYS wear pmtscUve gloves when grasping the blade or
accessory. Accessories may be hot after prolonged use.
6
ADDITIONAL SPECIFIC SAFETY RULES FOR SABRE SAWS cont.
WARNING: Some dust particles created by power sanding,
sawing, grinding, drilling and other construction jobs contain
chemicals known to cause cancer, bitth defects orother reproductive
harm. Some examples of these chemicals are:
, Lead from lead-based paints.
• Crystalline silica from brid_e and cement and other maBonry products
• Arsenic and chromium from chemicalty-trealed lumber.
Your risk from these exposuresvaries, depending upon how often you do
this type of work_Toreduceyour exposure to these chemicaJs: Work in a
weB.ventilated area and work with approved safety_uipment, such as those
d,,_t m_ _t _e s_r_'i.'_ly designed to filter outmlcro,_:_pic p,_tides.
The label on your tool mm/include the following symbols.
V...................................................... Volts
A....................................................Amperes
Hz .......................................................Hertz
W ...................................................Wa_
rain .................................................Mir_tee
•%,..................................................Alternatingcurrent
__-===_.............................................Directcurrent
no ...................................................No-loadspeed
[] .........................................................Class IIconetru_on
..Jmin................................................Revolutionsor
Strokesperminute
(_1.........................................................Earthingterminal
L_ ................................................Alertsueeriowarningmessage
0 ..................................................OFF position
1,2,3, ................................................ Selector Settings for ,epeed,
! II m torque or pRsitJonse_ngs.
",'-'" Higher number means greater speed
.........................................................Infinitely Variable Selector Switch
.._ ................................................Action inthedirectionofarrow
withOff(apeedincreasesfrom0 setting)
IMPORTANT! READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS
7
The_e sabre saws are designed to provide maximum cutting efficiency, plus
increased user comfort and convemence in a wide variety of job applications,
Fig.1 (Model No. 17240)
Lock.Oni
Gear Housir
Openings
Plunger
ChangeCover
...................................... '...........'..................... --i iii:: :_L-
Fig.2 (Model Nor17241)
'variable
Plunger
Toot-Less
ChangeCover
........... ...... I ii ii] ii II[I'I'IU'III
,/ ....
ModelNo, Blade
l'hicknesses
17240 Minimum ,Srren
Maximum i 5ram
17241 Minirrejm ,Srnm
Maximum 15ram
orSwitch
OrbitConlrol Lever
Blade Slroks Maximum Capacities
Actlc_n Length
Standard 5rd-in. Wood Aluminum Steel
2 in, 1/2-in, ll,Fin.
Orbilal 98-in, Wood Aluminum_Steel
2 in, 1r2-in. 1/4-in.
8
ATTACHING TH E BLADE
These saw_ are designed for use with both T or U-shank sabre saw blades.
..... I I I IIIII ,I i1,,11,,11,, ,i,1! ! '1'1 ::::::: :
Z_ WARNING: Toprevent personal injury,ALWAYSdisconnectthe
plug from power source BEFORE assembling parts, makJng adjustments
or changing blades. .....
Tool-Less Blade
Change Cover (Figure 3)
1. Lift too{-less blade change
cover up usi_ yourindex
and middle fingers°
2. Insert blade to full depth w_ the
teethfacing in thedirection
ofthe cut (See Fig_3).
3. Release the tooHess blade change
cover to secure the blade in place,,
Blade Storage
Compartment (Figure 4)
Your sabre saw comesequipped with
a blade storage compartment
(on the backside of the saw
See Fig, 4).
1. To open the door,pullthe tab on
the door downward towards the
foot of the saw.
2. To close the door, lift door upward
towards the tool_Be sure _at
the door is dosed to prevent
blades from falling out.
g
USINGTHELOCK-ONBUTTON
(Figure5)
The Lock-On button (see Fig, 5), located
in the handle ofyour saw,allows you
tun your saw at maximum Stokes per Minute
without squeezing the trigger switch_
1. To lock the triggerswitch ON, squeeze
the triggerswitch,push the button in
and then release the trigger switch.
2. To unlock the trigger switch, squeeze
triggerand than release withoutpushing in button.
NOTE: If the lock-on buttonis continuallybeing pushed,
the trigger switchcannot be released_
USING THE TRIGGER SWITCH TO
CONTROL VARIABLE SPEED (Model 17240 Only')
Thissaw is equipped witha variable speed trigger switch. The saw can be
turned ON or OFF by squeezing or releasing the trigger switch_
The speed of the bladecan be adjusted by the pressure you
apply to the trigger _Nitch.
1. To increase the speed, apply more pressure to the trigger switch.
2. To decrease the speed, apply less pressure_
Fig.6 Lock-OnButton
USING THE VARIABLE SPEED DIAL TO
CONTROL VARIABLE SPEED (Model 17241 Only, Figure 6)
This saw is equipped witha variable speed dial. The blade speed
(SPM) can be adjusted dunng the cuttingoperation
by posi_oning the dial on or between any one of the six numbers:
1. Setting 1-2 for low speed
2. Setting 3-4 for medium speed
2. Setting 5-6 for high speed
10
PLUNGER SPEED
The blade stroke rate can be adjusted by squeezing the trigger switch
(model !7240)or setting the speed control dial (m_et 17241).
Your experience witl determine the best results for a particular application_
However, as a general rule, use slower speed for harder, denser materials
and faster speed for soft mateda{s,
GENERAL CUTTING TIPS
l. Place the best side of the material face downand secure itin a
bench vies or clamp it down.
2. Draw your curing _nes or de,aigns on the side facing you.
3. Place front edge of saw foot on the material to be cutand line up the
bladewith your cuttingline,,
4. Hold saw firmly and turn it on.
5. Pressdown (to keep saw foot flat against the workpiece)
as you slowly pushthe saw in the directionof the cut.
6. Graduallybuildup the blade speed, cuttingas close tothe lineas possible
(unlessyou wantto leave enough room for finished sanding).
7. As you cut, you may need to repos!tionthe vise or
clamps to keep the workpieoe stable+
8. DO NO]" force the saw because the blade teeth may rub and wear
without cutting which may result in breaking the blade.
g. ALWAYS let the saw do most of ',he work.
!0. ALWAYScut slowlywhen following curves, so the blade can cut
through cross grain. This will provide an accurate cut and will
prevent the blade from wandering.
ORBITAL ACTION
(Model17241only)
ORBITAL CONTROL LEVER (FIG.7)
This saw _ anorbi_ con_'olfever
(see Rgo7) that regulates the orbital action.
To activate, turn the lever to fast cut. To
deactivate, rum the orbital control lever
to smoothcut.When minimal splintering
is desired, we recommend using the
smooth cut position.
1. Choose the smooth cuffing posit}on for normal upand down motion
(see Fig.8).
11