Gotta love a good bargain, now I need help!

[ryan.s]

Don't you just love it when a plan comes together? I was on the fence about getting a RAS and ended up deciding I could do without one until I came across this deal. http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/tls/365128778.html
Couldn't pass on the price of $0.00 so I jumped all over it. An hour and a half later the saw is now sitting in the shop waiting to be cleaned. My first legitimate gloat! The listing shows that it's a craftsman but after bringing it home and and checking it in the light it's actually a Black and Decker.

Now here's the part where I need help, does anyone know anything about this RAS? I've checked the web including OWWM and the only thing I found was a single post from 2004 on a different forum from a guy looking for the manual for the saw. He was having trouble getting any information from the web and B&D. I took a long shot and emailed him but I doubt I'll get a response.

So far what I know.
-B & D 10" radial arm saw (Read that B&D RAS were made by Dewalt back then)
-Catalog number 1714 Type 1
-The blade travels approximately 19"
-It's made in Japan

I'd like to find a manual as well as information as to when it was made. I gladly welcome any information regarding the saw. Here are some pics, excuse the mess in the background, still in the process of setting up the shop.

Thanks!

[Pappy]

That's the kind of price tag I like!

Can't offer any more than.....

YOU SUCK!

[Knottscott]

I'm with Pappy...

[Uncle Cracker]

I scrounged a much older B&D RAS for my FIL about 4 years ago. Tried the web thing for a manual with no success, but made a few calls to the folks at B&D, and finally found somebody there who had a hardcopy manual they mailed me, at a cost of I think $5, plus a couple for postage. I felt fortunate, as I don't think this is the norm for B&D. I just got lucky. As for parts availability, fahgeddabahdit.

[p8ntblr]

Good find Ryan. I actually emailed the guy over the weekend (he had it in a different ad that I remember) but talked myself out of it because I didn't have anymore room and didn't feel like driving all the way to the valley. No clue about the model but let us know how she looks after you completely restore her. Congrats!!!!

"B & D 10" radial arm saw (Read that B&D RAS were made by Dewalt back then)"

If I'm not mistaken Black and Decker owns Dewalt. As well as some other brands.

[Stytooner]

I did locate a model 1712 RAS on Service Net. It looks pretty close to me. I looked under discontinued = 2 years. If you want to order parts, you will have to log into Service Net.
Here are the three PDF's.

http://leestyron.com/pdf/1712arm.pdf

http://leestyron.com/pdf/1712mount.pdf

http://leestyron.com/pdf/1712table.pdf

[LinuxRandal]

DeWalt was seperate from B&D until around 1960, when they went from AMF to B&D for production.

Yours is a Dewalt, that I am guessing is from the Early to mid 80's by the numbering scheme.
I would suggest you join the DeWalt radial arm saw forum, and go online and buy the Mr. Sawdust book for it, here are some links:

http://www.mrsawdust.com/
THE DeWalt radial arm saw forum (there is also one on Yahoo, but this is the big one, and several of the members post on both)
http://people.delphiforums.com/snotzalot/sawdust/

Rebuilding pdf : http://www.woodcentral.com/bparticles/dewaltrebuild.pdf

And OWWM.com, if your manual is available, this is your easiest shot, as B&D/DeWalt doesn't deal in parts anymore. If it's not on them, check the above newsgroup, then try Wolf machinery in IA, or Original saw company (who B&D sold the business to).

[Uncle Cracker]

The resourcefulness of some of the guys on this forum continues to amaze me, and I thought I was pretty good. Good work, info-scroungers!

[tropicaffair]

Physically that looks identical to my Ryobi RA-2500 RAS. I think I still have the Owner's Manual somewhere in the shop. I'll try to take some pictures of mine to compare.

[ryan.s]

Physically that looks identical to my Ryobi RA-2500 RAS. I think I still have the Owner's Manual somewhere in the shop. I'll try to take some pictures of mine to compare.

Thanks, I looked up the 2500 but could only find the parts diagram. In looking over the diagram it's a dead ringer for the B&D in the above pics. Where is the Ryobi made? How in the world do you lock the arbor to change blades? I pretty much think I got everything figured out but that's the one thing that still puzzles me is what is the correct way to change the blade. I would love to get a copy of the Owner's Manual if you still have it. Thanks!

[Hoover]

This website may help you on your radial arm saw:
http://www.mrsawdust.com/comments.php

[LinuxRandal]

Thanks, I looked up the 2500 but could only find the parts diagram. In looking over the diagram it's a dead ringer for the B&D in the above pics. Where is the Ryobi made? How in the world do you lock the arbor to change blades? I pretty much think I got everything figured out but that's the one thing that still puzzles me is what is the correct way to change the blade. I would love to get a copy of the Owner's Manual if you still have it. Thanks!

Typically the DeWalts (at least from mid sixty's and earlier) used an allen wrench to hold the shaft in place, while you unscrews the blade nut with a wrench. Take the blade guard off and see if it has the allen wrench opening.

[ryan.s]

Typically the DeWalts (at least from mid sixty's and earlier) used an allen wrench to hold the shaft in place, while you unscrews the blade nut with a wrench. Take the blade guard off and see if it has the allen wrench opening.

Thanks for the tip Linuxrandal. I'm convinced it's not a dewalt but a ryobi based on the parts diagram. I was looking for slot on the end of the arbor shaft for the allen wrench but there isn't one there. I've taken the arbor assembly apart to clean the bearings and am convinced there is no way to lock the arbor for easy blade changes. I hope someone proves me wrong. I can't image that a block of wood against the blade is the only way to keep the blade spinning while trying to loosen the arbor nut.

[Uncle Cracker]

How in the world do you lock the arbor to change blades?

If it's like an old Craftsman I used to have, there may be two flats behind the blade that you have to have a very skinny wrench to reach, and then it's still a 2-wrench job. Instead, i used to brace the blade teeth-first on a piece of scrap, and just use one wrench on the arbor nut.

[ryan.s]

If it's like an old Craftsman I used to have, there may be two flats behind the blade that you have to have a very skinny wrench to reach, and then it's still a 2-wrench job. Instead, i used to brace the blade teeth-first on a piece of scrap, and just use one wrench on the arbor nut.

Thanks uncle cracker but I also checked for a place behind the blade but it was round. Although there is a tiny hole there but it looks like the hole is for a pin that keeps the inside washer in place.