Ryobi Miter Saw Laser Not Working? (Possible Causes & Fixes)
A miter saw is a highly effective tool that can be found in most home workshops. Ryobi in particular makes a miter saw that is one of the best in its class. It delivers quality and versatility with a price tag that is affordable to the average DIYer.
There is even a laser guide on some of the Ryobi miter saws out there. From time to time, however, the laser may not be working. There are a few explanations, from simple to not so. The simplest explanation is that there is a buildup of dirt or debris over the laser. You may also be dealing with a damaged less or simply a malfunctioning laser.
Why is the Ryobi Miter Saw Laser Not Working?
The laser guide on the Ryobi miter saw is a handy little feature. Even better, it does not run off of battery power. Instead, it uses the same electrical power that the rest of the saw does to provide that guiding line.
That said, there are a few explanations for why the laser may not be working. Here are some of the most common explanations.
Dirt and Dust Resulting in a Blockage
Over time and frequent use, a miter saw can become quite dirty. If you do not clean your tools after regular use, you may start running into an issue where various components stop working the way that they were meant to.
The most common explanation for this is that the dirt and dust build up over the laser. The good news is that the fix is relatively simple.
- Remove the cover. There are a series of screws holding the casing over top of the miter saw and the laser. You will need to remove them to gain access. When you get the cover and plastic guard out of the way, you should see a set of screws as well as a hex screw beneath.
- Remove the screws. To access the laser itself, take the screws out here. It will give you better access to the laser itself.
- Wipe. Using a cotton alcohol wipe or a soft cloth, give the laser a good wipe. If there is a buildup of dirt and debris over top of the laser, this should remove it.
- Replace and try again. When you are confident that the laser has been properly cleaned, return everything back to its original condition. Make sure that the cover is secure and then try to use the laser again. If it still doesn’t work, keep reading.
Defective or a Loose Connection
The easy conclusion to jump to is that the laser is battery-powered. But as we covered above, that is not the case. The power for the laser comes from the same electrical power that allows the miter saw to operate.
If the laser is not working and you have tried cleaning off the lens, then the next likely reason is a loose connection. This part can be tricky when implementing a fix. If you don’t know what you are doing, wiggling the wires around won’t be quite enough.
In the event of a loose connection, you are better off replacing the laser entirely. Depending on the terms of your Ryobi warranty (or the warranty at the place where you bought it), the laser may be covered.
There is also the chance that the laser is simply faulty. It is rare that the laser on your Ryobi miter saw will come broken, but crazier things have happened. Faulty components should be replaced entirely.
Using a Ryobi Miter Saw
For the most part, your Ryobi miter saw laser should work fine. But there are other user questions pertaining to the laser that bears addressing. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions by users about the Ryobi miter saw.
How Do You Adjust the Laser Alignment?
When the laser itself is actually working, you might notice from time to time that the alignment isn’t quite where you would like. The good news is that you can adjust it fairly easily. Here are the steps to make the necessary adjustments.
- The lock. There is a locking mechanism on the handle that prevents the saw from turning on without warning. Make sure the lock is engaged before you move forward. If you want to be truly secure, you can lodge a screwdriver in the handle to ensure that the trigger is not compressed.
- Removing the cover. Next, go to the cover of the saw. There are screws that hold the cover onto the laser itself. You will need to move the blade guard up and out of the way to access it. Remove those screws, setting them aside for later. Then, move the cover out of the way.
- More screws. When you get beneath the cover, you will find more screws waiting beneath. There are the two screws that hold the laser into place and a third screw, a hex screw. The hex screw is the one that you need to pay attention to.
- Adjust the hex screw. To make adjustments to the alignment of the laser, simply turn the hex screw. Make slight turns as the adjustments can happen quickly. Move the laser to the proper adjustment and then go to the final step.
- Replace the cover. When you are happy with the placement of the laser, return the covering. Make sure that you tighten the screws accordingly so that the vibrations of the saw don’t loosen the screws. You should be then ready to make your cut.
Why Won’t My Miter Saw Turn On?
One of the most frustrating things when it comes to power tools is when they don’t work. The issue at hand also depends on the type of power source you are dealing with. Battery-powered tools tend to have different issues than those with cords.
For this purpose, let’s assume that the miter saw is corded. The first step, though obvious, is to make sure the saw is plugged in. Depending on how far away from the plug you are, there is a chance that you could have pulled the plug just far enough from the wall to stop it from working.
If the saw is plugged in, you may also be dealing with a tripped breaker. When the outlet experiences an electrical surge, the breaker will trip. This is a safety mechanism to prevent short-circuiting or electrical damage from happening. Ensure that the breaker is flipped into the on position or reset if it has been tripped.
How Do You Unlock a Ryobi Miter Saw?
With the Ryobi compound miter saw, you can cut in a multitude of ways. You can either angle the workpiece or the saw blade itself. But to do so, you will have to unlock the tool so that you can adjust it and then lock it back into the closing position.
- Find the lock pin. To start, find the lock pin. It is the small, cylindrical button that you should see on the right saw of the saw’s arm. Look just above the main pivot point if you are still having a hard time finding it. Get a good grasp on the lock pin.
- Press on the saw arm. Using gentle pressure, press down slightly on the top of the saw arm. You want the pivot joint to float freely between the lower and upper limits of the locking position. This will give us the most optimal positioning possible.
- Pull the lock pin. When you have your positioning set appropriately, pull the lock pin. You need to pull it out and to the right, away from the rest of the saw. When you have done so successfully, you will feel the knob slightly dislodge itself.
- Release the arm. Now that you have the pin pulled back, you can release the saw arm. Releasing the saw arm allows it to rise up. When it has released itself to the right height (or the maximum height), you can release the pin. The pin will settle back into place, locking into position and securing the angle once again.
Ryan Womeldorf has more than a decade of experience writing. He loves to blog about construction, plumbing, and other home topics. Ryan also loves hockey and a lifelong Buffalo sports fan.
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