Chicago Electric 61969 Assembly instructions

Note: Blade sold separately.
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Owner’s Manual & Safety Instructions
Save This Manual Keep this manual for the safety warnings and precautions, assembly,
operating, inspection, maintenance and cleaning procedures. Write the product’s serial number in the
back of the manual near the assembly diagram (or month and year of purchase if product has no number).
Keep this manual and the receipt in a safe and dry place for future reference. 17j
When unpacking, make sure that the product is intact
and undamaged. If any parts are missing or broken,
please call 1-888-866-5797 as soon as possible.
Copyright© 2013 by Harbor Freight Tools®. All rights reserved.
No portion of this manual or any artwork contained herein may be reproduced in
any shape or form without the express written consent of Harbor Freight Tools.
Diagrams within this manual may not be drawn proportionally. Due to continuing
improvements, actual product may differ slightly from the product described herein.
Tools required for assembly an d se rv ic e may n ot b e in cl uded.
Read this material before using this product.
Failure to do so can result in serious injury.
SAVE THIS MANUAL.

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Table of Contents
Safety ......................................................... 3
Specifications ............................................. 6
Setup .......................................................... 7
Operation ................................................... 10
Maintenance .............................................. 14
Parts List and Diagram .............................. 17
Warranty .................................................... 20
WARNING SYMBOLS AND DEFINITIONS
This is the safety alert symbol. It is used to alert you to potential personal injury hazards.
Obey all safety messages that follow this symbol to avoid possible injury or death.
Indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided,
will result in death or serious injury.
Indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided,
could result in death or serious injury.
Indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided,
could result in minor or moderate injury.
Addresses practices not related to personal injury.
SAFETY OPERATION MAINTENANCESETUP

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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
General Tool Safety Warnings
Read all safety warnings and instructions. Failure to follow the warnings and
instructions may result in electric shock, fire and/or serious injury.
Save all warnings and instructions for future reference.
1. KEEP GUARDS IN PLACE and in working order.
2. REMOVE ADJUSTING KEYS AND
WRENCHES. Form habit of checking to
see that keys and adjusting wrenches are
removed from tool before turning it on.
3. KEEP WORK AREA CLEAN.
Cluttered areas and benches invite accidents.
4. DON’T USE IN DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENT.
Don’t use power tools in damp or wet locations,
or expose them to rain. Keep work area well lighted.
5. KEEP CHILDREN AWAY. All visitors should
be kept safe distance from work area.
6. MAKE WORKSHOP KID PROOF with padlocks,
master switches, or by removing starter keys.
7. DON’T FORCE TOOL. It will do the job better
and safer at the rate for which it was designed.
8. USE RIGHT TOOL. Don’t force tool or attachment
to do a job for which it was not designed.
Table A: RECOMMENDED MINIMUM WIRE GAUGE
FOR EXTENSION CORDS
(120 VOLT)
NAMEPLATE
AMPERES
(at full load)
EXTENSION CORD
LENGTH
25′ 50′ 100′ 150′
0 – 6 18 16 16 14
6.1 – 10 18 16 14 12
10.1 – 12 16 16 14 12
12.1 – 16 14 12 Do not use.
9. USE PROPER EXTENSION CORD. Make sure your
extension cord is in good condition. When using
an extension cord, be sure to use one 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.
Table A shows the correct size to use depending
on cord length and nameplate ampere rating.
If in doubt, use the next heavier gauge.
The smaller the gauge number, the heavier the cord.
10. WEAR PROPER APPAREL. Do not wear
loose clothing, gloves, neckties, rings, bracelets,
or other jewelry which may get caught in moving
parts. Nonslip footwear is recommended.
Wear protective hair covering to contain long hair.
11. ALWAYS USE SAFETY GLASSES. Also use
face or dust mask if cutting operation is dusty.
Everyday eyeglasses only have impact resistant
lenses, they are NOT safety glasses.
12. SECURE WORK. Use clamps or a vise to hold
work when practical. It’s safer than using your
hand and it frees both hands to operate tool.
13. DON’T OVERREACH. Keep proper
footing and balance at all times.
14. MAINTAIN TOOLS WITH CARE. Keep
tools sharp and clean for best and safest
performance. Follow instructions for
lubricating and changing accessories.
15. DISCONNECT TOOLS before servicing;
when changing accessories, such as
blades, bits, cutters, and the like.
16. REDUCE THE RISK OF UNINTENTIONAL
STARTING. Make sure switch is in
off position before plugging in.
17. USE RECOMMENDED ACCESSORIES.
Consult the owner’s manual for recommended
accessories. The use of improper accessories
may cause risk of injury to persons.
18. NEVER STAND ON TOOL. Serious injury
could occur if the tool is tipped or if the
cutting tool is unintentionally contacted.
19. CHECK DAMAGED PARTS. Before further use
of the tool, a guard or other part that is damaged
should be carefully checked to determine that
it will operate properly and perform its intended
function – check for alignment of moving parts,
binding of moving parts, breakage of parts,
mounting, and any other conditions that may
affect its operation. A guard or other part that is
damaged should be properly repaired or replaced.
20. DIRECTION OF FEED. Feed work into
a blade or cutter against the direction of
rotation of the blade or cutter only.
21. NEVER LEAVE TOOL RUNNING
UNATTENDED. TURN POWER OFF. Don’t
leave tool until it comes to a complete stop.
SAFETYOPERATIONMAINTENANCE SETUP

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Grounding Instructions
TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK AND DEATH FROM INCORRECT GROUNDING WIRE
CONNECTION
READ AND FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS:
110-120 VAC Double Insulated Tools: Tools with Two Prong Plugs
Outlets for 2-Prong Plug
1. To reduce the risk of electric shock, double
insulated equipment has 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 in the outlet, reverse the plug. If it still
does not fit, contact a qualified electrician to install
the proper outlet. Do not change the plug in any way.
2. Double insulated tools may be used in either of the
120 volt outlets shown in the preceding illustration.
(See Outlets for 2-Prong Plug.)
Miter Saw Safety Warnings
For Your Own Safety Read Instruction
Manual Before Operating Miter Saw
1. Wear eye protection.
2. Keep hands out of path of saw blade.
3. Do not operate saw without guards in place.
4. Do not perform any operation freehand.
5. Never reach around saw blade.
6. Turn off tool and wait for saw blade to stop
before moving workpiece or changing settings.
7. Disconnect power before changing
blade or servicing.
8. To reduce risk of injury, return carriage to the full
rear position after each crosscut operation.
9. Return all guards to original position if any are
moved during blade replacement. Check all
guards for proper operation after service.
10. The lock down pin is to be used only to lock
the head in place for carrying and storage.
It is not to be used for any cutting operation.
11. DANGER! Coasting Cutting Tool Can Be
Dangerous – Apply brake immediately to stop
cutting tool when the switch is turned off.
12. The torque developed during braking may
loosen the blade-retaining nut/bolt. The blade
retaining nut/bolt should be checked periodically
and tightened if necessary, especially after braking.
13. Always use blades with correct size and shape
(diamond versus round) of arbor holes. Blades that
do not match the mounting hardware of the saw
will run eccentrically, causing loss of control.
14. Never use damaged or incorrect blade washers
or bolt. The blade washers and bolt were
specially designed for your saw, for optimum
performance and safety of operation.
15. Do not use to cut logs, tree limbs, or uneven lumber.
16. Wet lumber, green (unseasoned) lumber, and
pressure treated lumber all have an increased
potential for kickback and should only be cut with a
blade for cutting that lumber type. Wear a NIOSH-
approved respirator and have appropriate ventilation
whenever cutting pressure treated lumber.
17. Do not use blades made from high-speed
steel, abrasive blades, metal-cutting blades
or masonry-cutting blades. The guards
of this saw are not designed to protect
against the failure of such blades.
18. Blades must be rated to at least the
maximum speed marked on the tool.
19. DO NOT OPERATE WITH ANY GUARD
DISABLED, DAMAGED, OR REMOVED. Moving
guards must move freely and close instantly.
20. The use of accessories or attachments not
recommended by the manufacturer may
result in a risk of injury to persons.
21. When servicing use only identical replacement parts.
SAFETY OPERATION MAINTENANCESETUP

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22. Do not depress the spindle lock when
starting or during operation.
23. Only use safety equipment that has been approved
by an appropriate standards agency. Unapproved
safety equipment may not provide adequate
protection. Eye protection must be ANSI-approved
and breathing protection must be NIOSH-approved
for the specific hazards in the work area.
24. Stay alert, watch what you are doing and use
common sense when operating a power tool.
Do not use a power tool while you are tired or
under the influence of drugs, alcohol or medication.
A moment of inattention while operating power
tools may result in serious personal injury.
25. Industrial applications must follow OSHA guidelines.
26. Maintain labels and nameplates on the tool.
These carry important safety information.
If unreadable or missing, contact
Harbor Freight Tools for a replacement.
27. Avoid unintentional starting.
Prepare to begin work before turning on the tool.
28. People with pacemakers should consult their
physician(s) before use. Electromagnetic fields in
close proximity to heart pacemaker could cause
pacemaker interference or pacemaker failure.
29. The warnings, precautions, and instructions
discussed in this instruction manual cannot
cover all possible conditions and situations
that may occur. It must be understood by the
operator that common sense and caution are
factors which cannot be built into this product,
but must be supplied by the operator.
Vibration Safety
This tool vibrates during use. Repeated or
long-term exposure to vibration may cause
temporary or permanent physical injury,
particularly to the hands, arms and shoulders. To
reduce the risk of vibration-related injury:
1. Anyone using vibrating tools regularly or for an
extended period should first be examined by a
doctor and then have regular medical check-ups
to ensure medical problems are not being caused
or worsened from use. Pregnant women or
people who have impaired blood circulation to
the hand, past hand injuries, nervous system
disorders, diabetes, or Raynaud’s Disease should
not use this tool. If you feel any medical or
physical symptoms related to vibration (such as
tingling, numbness, and white or blue fingers),
seek medical advice as soon as possible.
2. Do not smoke during use. Nicotine reduces
the blood supply to the hands and fingers,
increasing the risk of vibration-related injury.
3. Use tools with the lowest vibration when there
is a choice between different processes.
4. Include vibration-free periods each day of work.
5. Grip tool as lightly as possible (while still keeping
safe control of it). Let the tool do the work.
6. To reduce vibration, maintain the tool as
explained in this manual. If any abnormal
vibration occurs, stop use immediately.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
Miter Saw Safety Warnings (continued)
SAFETYOPERATIONMAINTENANCE SETUP

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Specifications
Electrical Rating 120VAC / 60Hz / 15A
Motor No Load Speed 3,800 RPM
Max. Accessory Diameter Blade Diameter - 12″
Arbor 5/8″ Round with 1″ Adapter
Cutting
Capacities
90° Straight 3-1/2″ x 13-3/8″
45° Miter 3-1/2″ x 9-1/2″
45° Straight Bevel 2-1/8″ x 13-3/8″
45° Compound (L/R) 2-1/8″ x 9-1/2″
216045
CAUTION! Use of controls or adjustments or
performance of procedures other than those specified
herein may result in hazardous radiation exposure.
CAUTION! The use of optical instruments
with this product will increase eye hazard.
LASER LIGHT
DO NOT STARE INTO BEAM
Max. Output: 1 mW,
Wavelength: 650 nm
CLASS IIa LASER PRODUCT
This product complies with
21 CFR 1040.10 and 1040.11
Distributed by Harbor Freight Tools
3491 Mission Oaks Blvd.
Camarillo, CA 93011 61969
Manufacture Date: ___________, ______
AVOID EXPOSURE
Laser light is emitted
from this opening.
SAFETY OPERATION MAINTENANCESETUP

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Setup - Before Use:
Read the ENTIRE IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION section at the beginning of this
manual including all text under subheadings therein before set up or use of this product.
TO PREVENT SERIOUS INJURY FROM ACCIDENTAL OPERATION:
Turn the Power Switch of the tool off and unplug the tool from its electrical
outlet before performing any procedure in this section.
Note: For additional information regarding the parts listed in the following pages,
refer to the Assembly Diagram near the end of this manual.
Assembly
1. Insert the ends of the Table Extensions into
the holes in the sides of the Base. Tighten the
Wing Screws to hold the Extensions in place.
The upper edge of the Extensions will be level
with the surface of the saw. This provides a
wider base for the work material to rest on.
2. Thread the Miter Knob into the end of the table
above the Miter Lock until securely in place.
3. Slip the Dust Collection Bag over the
Dust Outlet behind the saw.
Mounting
Use the four bolt holes provided in the Base to mount the Miter Saw to a
stable support before use. Mounting hardware not included.
SAFETYOPERATIONMAINTENANCE SETUP

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Functions
Bevel
Angle
Indicator
Dust
Collection
Bag
Slide
Lock Knob
Fence
Trigger
Lock
Trigger
Lock
Trigger
Blade
Lower
Guard
Clamp
Miter Lock
Miter
KnobMiter Scale
Turntable
Table
Extension Kerf Board
Bevel
Lock Knob
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Description of Selected Functions
Head Lock-down:
2
31
Align pin with
deep groove
to lock cutting head.
2
13
Align pin with
shallow groove
to unlock cutting head.
Guard operation:
When the Handle is lowered, the Lower Guard
raises automatically. When the Handle is raised the
Lower Guard returns to its safety position. Keep hands
clear of the Blade when the Handle is lowered. Do not
interfere with the proper movement of the Lower Guard.
Slide Lock Knob:
Tighten this to prevent the cutting head from
sliding back and forth for chopping cuts.
Loosen this to allow the cutting head to slide.
Note: Additional functions are explained
elsewhere in the manual.
Spindle
Lock
Head
Lock-down
SAFETYOPERATIONMAINTENANCE SETUP

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Operating Instructions
Read the ENTIRE IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION section at the beginning of this
manual including all text under subheadings therein before set up or use of this product.
TOOL SET UP
TO PREVENT SERIOUS INJURY FROM ACCIDENTAL OPERATION:
Turn the Power Switch of the tool off and unplug the tool from its electrical
outlet before performing any procedure in this section.
TO PREVENT SERIOUS INJURY: DO NOT OPERATE WITH ANY GUARD DISABLED,
DAMAGED, OR REMOVED. Moving guards must move freely and close instantly.
Replacing the Blade
Note: Blade sold separately.
1. Unplug the tool from its power source.
2. Raise the Lower Guard (133) out
of the way and hold it up.
3. Loosen the Guard Pivot Bolt (193) until it
disengages the Guard Pivot Plate (132).
4. Swing the Guard Pivot Plate up and out of the way.
5. Press in the Spindle Lock (150) on the
back of the saw′s head and hold it in.
Spindle
Lock
Figure A
6. Remove the Spindle Bolt* (77) and
Outer Flange (78), see Figure B.
*IMPORTANT: The Spindle Bolt has a left-handed
thread and removes by turning CLOCKWISE.
Note: Make sure the Inner Flange (81)
stays in place on the Spindle.
Figure B
7. Remove the Blade (80) and Arbor Insert (79).
Place the Arbor Insert into a new Blade and
install the new Blade. Make sure that the Blade's
rotation arrow points in the same direction as
the rotation arrow on the Upper Guard (98).
8. Replace the Outer Flange and Spindle Bolt.
Position the cupped side of the Flange against the
blade.
Hold in the Spindle Lock (150) and
wrench tighten the Spindle Bolt by
turning it COUNTERCLOCKWISE.
Release the Spindle Lock.
9. Rotate the Guard Pivot Plate (132) back into place,
and secure it with the Guard Pivot Bolt (193).
10. WARNING! Make sure the Lower Guard (133)
operates smoothly and properly protects
from the Blade before using the saw.
SAFETY OPERATION MAINTENANCESETUP