MAKITA 5740NB (02) PDF Document

Note: Manufacturer reserves the right to change specifications without notice. Specifications may differ from country to country.

Work Area Safety

1. Keep your work area clean and well lit. Cluttered benches and dark areas invite accidents.

2. Do not operate power tools in explosive atmospheres, such as in the presence of flammable liquids, gases, or dust. Power tools create sparks which may ignite the dust or fumes.

3. Keep bystanders, children, and visitors away while operating a power tool. Distractions can cause you to lose control.

Personal Safety

1. Stay alert, watch what you are doing and use common sense when operating a power tool. Do not use the tool while tired or under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or medication.

2. Dress properly. Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry. Contain long hair. Keep your hair, clothing, and gloves away from moving parts.

3. Avoid accidental starting. Be sure the switch is off before plugging in.

4. Remove adjusting keys or wrenches before turning the tool on.

5. Do not overreach. Keep proper footing and balance at all times.

6. Use safety equipment. Always wear eye protection. Dust mask, non-skid safety shoes, hard hat, or hearing protection must be used for appropriate conditions. Ordinary eye or sun glasses are NOT eye protection.

1. The double insulated MAKITA 5740NB is equipped with a polarized plug (one blade is wider than the other). This plug will fit in a polarized outlet only one way. If the plug does not fit fully, reverse the plug. If it still does not fit, contact a qualified electrician to install a polarized outlet. Do not change the plug in any way.

2. Avoid body contact with grounded surfaces such as pipes, radiators, ranges and refrigerators. There is an increased risk of electric shock if your body is grounded.

3. Do not expose power tools to rain or wet conditions.

4. Do not abuse the cord. Never use the cord to carry the tools or pull the plug from an outlet. Keep the cord away from heat, oil, sharp edges or moving parts. Replace damaged cords immediately.

5. When operating the power tool outside, use an outdoor extension cord marked “W-A” or “W”. These cords are rated for outdoor use and reduce the risk of electric shock.

6. Hold the tool by insulated gripping surfaces when performing an operation where the cutting tool may contact hidden wiring or its own cord. Contact with a “live” wire will also make exposed metal parts of the tool “live” and shock the operator.

Make sure your extension cord is in good condition and heavy enough to carry the current your product will draw. An undersized cord will cause a drop in line voltage resulting in loss of power and overheating. Use the following table to determine the correct size to use depending on cord length and nameplate ampere rating. If in doubt, use the next heavier gage. The smaller the gage number, the heavier the cord.

Table 1: Minimum gage for cord (120V)

1. DANGER! Keep hands away from cutting area and blade. Keep your second hand on the auxiliary handle, or motor housing. If both hands are holding the saw, they cannot be cut by the blade.

2. Keep your body positioned to either side of the saw blade, but not in line with the saw blade. Kickback could cause the saw to jump backwards.

3. Do not reach underneath the work. The guard can not protect you from the blade below the work.

4. Check the lower guard for proper closing before each use. Do not operate the saw if the lower guard does not move freely and close instantly. Never clamp or tie the lower guard into the open position.

5. Always observe that the lower guard is covering the blade before placing the saw down on a bench or floor. An unprotected, coasting blade will cause the saw to walk backwards.

6. NEVER hold the piece being cut in your hands or across your leg. Support the work properly to minimize body exposure, blade binding, or loss of control.

7. When ripping, always use a rip fence or straight edge guide.

8. Always use blades with the correct size and shape (diamond vs. round) arbor holes.

9. Never use damaged or incorrect blade washers or bolts.

10. NEVER place your hand or fingers behind the saw. If kickback occurs, the saw could easily jump backwards over your hand.

11. Never force the saw. Push the saw forward at a speed so that the blade cuts without slowing.

12. Avoid Cutting Nails. Inspect for and remove all nails from lumber before cutting.

13. Never attempt to saw with the circular saw held upside down in a vise. This is extremely dangerous.

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. It is the result of tool misuse and/or incorrect operating procedures or conditions and can be avoided by taking proper precautions:

• Maintain a firm grip with both hands on the saw and position your body and arm to allow you to resist kickback forces.

• When the blade is binding, or when interrupting a 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 remove the saw from the work or pull the saw backward while the blade is in motion or kickback may occur.

• When restarting a saw in the workpiece, center the saw blade in the kerf and check that saw teeth are not engaged into the material. If the saw blade is binding, it may walk up or kickback from the workpiece as the saw is restarted.

• Support large panels to minimize the risk of blade pinching and kickback. Large panels tend to sag under their own weight. Supports must be placed under the panel on both sides, near the line of cut and near the edge of the panel.

• Do not use dull or damaged blades. Unsharpened or improperly set blades produce a narrow kerf causing excessive friction, blade binding and kickback.

• Blade depth and bevel adjusting locking levers must be tight and secure before making a cut.

• Use extra caution when making a “Pocket Cut” into existing walls or other blind areas. The protruding blade may cut objects that can cause kickback.

Proper support is critical to prevent loss of control and personal injury.

1. Hand Support: The tool has a front grip and rear handle for two-hand operation. ALWAYS hold the tool firmly with both hands.

2. Workpiece Support: It is important to support the workpiece properly. Use clamps or another practical way to secure and support the workpiece to a stable platform. Holding the work by hand or against your body is unstable and may lead to loss of control. NEVER hold short pieces by hand.

3. Saw Placement: Place the wider portion of the saw base on that part of the workpiece which is solidly supported, not on the section that will fall off when the cut is made. For example, when cutting off the end of a board, ensure the main body of the saw rests on the stable part of the board.

4. Large Panels: To minimize the risk of blade pinching and kickback, support large panels on both sides, near the line of cut and near the edge of the panel. When the cutting operation requires resting the saw on the workpiece, the saw should be rested on the larger portion and the smaller piece cut off.

5. Cord Routing: Keep the cord away from the cutting area and position it so that it will not be caught on the workpiece during the cutting operation.

CAUTION: Always be sure that the tool is switched off and unplugged before adjusting. After adjusting the depth of cut, always tighten the clamping screw securely.

1. Loosen the clamping screw on the depth guide.

2. Move the base up or down to the desired depth of cut.

3. Secure the base by tightening the clamping screw.

For cleaner, safer cuts, set the cut depth so that no more than one blade tooth projects below the workpiece. Using proper cut depth helps to reduce the potential for dangerous kickbacks which can cause personal injury.

CAUTION: Always be sure that the tool is switched off and unplugged before adjusting.

1. Loosen the clamping screw on the bevel scale plate on the front of the base.

2. Set for the desired angle (0° – 45°) by tilting the base accordingly.

3. Tighten the clamping screw securely.

The front of the base has a sighting guide to help you follow your cutting line.

• For straight cuts (90°), align the ‘A’ position on the front of the base with your cutting line.

• For 45° bevel cuts, align the ‘B’ position on the front of the base with your cutting line.

CAUTION: Always be sure that the tool is switched off and unplugged before carrying out any work on the tool. Be sure the blade is installed with teeth pointing up at the front of the tool. Use only the Makita wrench to install or remove the blade.

To Remove the Blade:

1. Press the shaft lock so that the blade cannot revolve.

2. Use the provided hex wrench to loosen the hex bolt by turning it counterclockwise.

3. Remove the hex bolt, outer flange, and the saw blade.

To Install the Blade:

1. Follow the removal procedure in reverse.

2. BE SURE TO TIGHTEN THE HEX BOLT CLOCKWISE SECURELY.

When changing the blade, make sure to also clean the upper and lower blade guards of accumulated sawdust. This does not replace the need to check lower guard operation before each use.

CAUTION: Be sure to move the tool forward in a straight line gently. Forcing or twisting the tool will result in overheating the motor and dangerous kickback, possibly causing severe injury.

1. Hold the tool firmly. Use both the front grip and rear handle to best grasp the tool.

2. Set the base on the workpiece to be cut without the blade making any contact.

3. To prevent the switch trigger from being accidentally pulled, a lock-off button is provided. Push in the lock-off button and then pull the switch trigger to start the tool.

4. Wait until the blade attains full speed.

5. Simply move the tool forward over the workpiece surface, keeping it flat and advancing smoothly until the sawing is completed.

6. To get clean cuts, keep your sawing line straight and your speed of advance uniform.

7. If the cut fails to properly follow your intended cut line, do not attempt to turn or force the tool back to the cut line. Doing so may bind the blade and lead to dangerous kickback. Instead, release the switch, wait for the blade to stop, and then withdraw the tool. Realign the tool on a new cut line, and start the cut again.

8. After the cut is complete, release the switch trigger to stop the tool. Wait for the blade to coast to a complete stop before setting the tool down.

The handy rip fence allows you to make extra-accurate straight cuts and repeated cuts of uniform width.

1. Simply slide the rip fence up snugly against the side of the workpiece.

2. Secure it in position with the screw on the front of the base.

CAUTION: Always be sure that the tool is switched off and unplugged before attempting to perform inspection or maintenance.

Adjusting for Accuracy of 90° Cut (Vertical Cut):

This adjustment has been made at the factory. But if it is off, adjust the adjusting screw with a screwdriver while squaring the blade with the base using a triangular rule, try square, etc.

Replacing Carbon Brushes:

1. Remove and check the carbon brushes regularly. Replace when they wear down to the limit mark.

2. Keep the carbon brushes clean and free to slip in the holders.

3. Both carbon brushes should be replaced at the same time. Use only identical carbon brushes.

4. Use a screwdriver to remove the brush holder caps.

5. Take out the worn carbon brushes, insert the new ones and secure the brush holder caps.

CAUTION: These accessories or attachments are recommended for use with your Makita tool specified in this manual. The use of any other accessories or attachments might present a risk of injury to persons. Only use accessory or attachment for its stated purpose.

• Carbide-tipped saw blades

– Combination: General purpose blade for fast and smooth rip, crosscuts and miters.

– Pressure treated/Wet lumber: Designed for fast cutting of pressure treated and wet lumber.

• Rip fence (Guide rule)

• Hex wrench 5

The following symbols are used for the tool:

• V ……………. volts

• A ……………. amperes

• Hz …………… hertz

• ~ ……………. alternating current

• nₒ …………… no load speed

• ⬜ …………… Class II Construction (Double Insulated)

• …/min ……… revolutions or reciprocation per minute

WARNING: Some dust created by power sanding, sawing, grinding, drilling, and other construction activities contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. Some examples of these chemicals are:

• lead from lead-based paints,

• crystalline silica from bricks and cement and other masonry products, and

• arsenic and chromium from chemically-treated lumber.

Your risk from these exposures varies, depending on how often you do this type of work. To reduce your exposure to these chemicals: work in a well ventilated area, and work with approved safety equipment, such as those dust masks that are specially designed to filter out microscopic particles.