TS 55 EQ Plunge plunge lock not engaging

[blahblab]

Hi folks I have a 2009 saw and the plunge lock no longer engages. It looks like the saw doesn't fully retract enough so that the little steel lever to the right of the fast fix doesn't engage over the plastic stub. If (with the power disconnected) i really pull the handle up then the safety lock lever does get past the little plastic stub and the blade locks, it's then very tough to get it to unlock.

This problem means the saw can be plunged freely even whilst the blade is decelerating after use .  Any ideas of what that could be?

regards

Nik

 

[Frank-Jan]

I would check for buildup of sawdust/debris inside the machine (remove the sidecover and the sawblade). I had the same problem with an older saw (atf 55) when the dustcollection wasn't used, or wasn't adequate when cutting plastics.

 

[blahblab]

Ok so that was it. There was garbage in the body behind the side plate next to the exit chute. I guess the vacuum didn't start one day. I think that's a design fault as there is no indication that there is a blockage, there is no clear indication that the safety lock has not engaged, the blade still descends and runs as normal, the vacuum still extracts garbage (the track of the particles to the vacuum was not blocked at all) . 
The danger is two-fold.
1. The blade can now descend without first disengaging the safety lock
2. An errant spark could ignite the jammed wood materials and pose a fire hazard.