OPERATOR'S MANUAL
18 VOLT CORDLESS
RECIPROCATING SAW
MODEL NO. RJC181
SPECIFICATIONS:
Length of Stroke
7/8 in. (22 mm)
0-3,000 SPM
Strokes Per Minute
Motor
18 Volt DC
Switch
Variable Speed With Brake
120 Volts, 60 Hz, AC
1 Hour
Charger Rating
Charger Rate
Net Weight
6.16 lbs. (2.8 kg.)
THANK YOU FOR BUYING A RYOBI CORDLESS RECIPROCATING SAW.
Your new cordless reciprocating saw has been engineered and manufactured to Ryobi’s high standard for dependability, ease
of operation, and operator safety. Properly cared for, it will give you years of rugged, trouble-free performance.
CAUTION: Carefully read through this entire operator’s manual before using your new cordless reciprocating
saw.
Pay close attention to the Rules for Safe Operation, Warnings, and Cautions. If you use your cordless reciprocating saw
properly and only for what it is intended, you will enjoy years of safe, reliable service.
Thank you again for buying Ryobi tools.
SAVE THIS MANUAL FOR FUTURE REFERENCE
GENERAL SAFETY RULES
Tool Use and Care
■
Use clamps or other practical way to secure and sup-
■
■
Maintain tools with care. Keep cutting tools sharp and
clean. Properly maintained tools with sharp cutting edges
are less likely to bind and are easier to control.
port the workpiece to a stable platform. Holding the
work by hand or against your body is unstable and may
lead to loss of control.
Check for misalignment or binding of moving parts,
breakage of parts, and any other condition that may
affect the tool’s operation. If damaged, have the tool
serviced before using. Many accidents are caused by
poorly maintained tools.
■
■
■
Do not force tool. Use the correct tool for your appli-
cation. The correct tool will do the job better and safer
at the rate for which it is designed.
Do not use tool if switch does not turn it on and off.
A tool that cannot be controlled with the switch is dan-
gerous and must be repaired.
■
Use only accessories that are recommended by the
manufacturer for your model. Accessories that may
be suitable for one tool, may create a risk of injury when
used on another tool.
Disconnect battery pack from tool before making any
adjustments, changing accessories, or storing the
tool. Such preventive safety measures reduce the risk
of starting the tool accidentally.
Service
■
Tool service must be performed by a qualified repair
personnel. Service or maintenance performed by un-
qualified personnel could result in a risk of injury.
■
■
Store idle tools out of the reach of children and other
untrained persons. Tools are dangerous in the hands
of untrained users.
■
When servicing a tool, use only identical replace-
ment parts. Follow instructions in the Maintenance
section of this manual. Use of unauthorized parts or
failure to follow Maintenance Instructions may create a
risk of shock or injury.
When battery pack is not in use, keep it away from
other metal objects like: paper clips, coins, keys,
nails, screws, or other small metal objects that can
make a connection from one terminal to another.
Shorting the battery terminals together may cause
sparks, burns, or a fire.
SPECIFIC SAFETY RULES
Hold tool by insulated gripping surfaces when performing an operation where the cutting tool may contact hidden
wiring. Contact with a "live" wire will make exposed metal parts of the tool "live" and shock the operator.
or heat. This will reduce the risk of explosion and pos-
sible injury.
Additional Rules For Safe Operation
■
Know your power tool. Read operator’s manual care-
fully. Learn its applications and limitations, as well
as the specific potential hazards related to this tool.
Following this rule will reduce the risk of electric shock,
fire, or serious injury.
WARNING:
Batteries vent hydrogen gas and can explode in the
presence of a souce of ignition, such as a pilot light. To
reduce the risk of serious personal injury, never use any
cordless product in the presence of open flame. An
exploded battery can propel debris and chemicals. If
exposed, flush with water immediately.
■
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. A wire gage size (A.W.G.) of at least 16 is rec-
ommended for an extension cord 100 feet or less in
length. A cord exceeding 100 feet is not recom-
mended. If in doubt, use the next heavier gage. The
smaller the gage number, the heavier the cord. An
undersized cord will cause a drop in line voltage result-
ing in loss of power and overheating.
■
■
■
Do not charge battery tool in a damp or wet loca-
tion. Following this rule will reduce the risk of electric
shock.
For best results, your battery tool should be charged
in a location where the temperature is more than 50°F
but less than 100°F. Do not store outside or in vehicles.
Important Rules For Battery Tools
■
Battery tools do not have to be plugged into an elec-
trical outlet; therefore, they are always in operating
condition. Be aware of possible hazards when not
using your battery tool or when changing accesso-
ries. Following this rule will reduce the risk of electric
shock, fire, or serious personal injury.
Under extreme usage or temperature conditions,
battery leakage may occur. If liquid comes in con-
tact with your skin, wash immediately with soap and
water, then neutralize with lemon juice or vinegar. If
liquid gets into your eyes, flush them with clean wa-
ter for at least 10 minutes, then seek immediate medi-
cal attention. Following this rule will reduce the risk of
serious personal injury.
■
Do not place battery tools or their batteries near fire
Page 3
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS FOR CHARGER
■
Do not operate charger with a damaged cord or plug.
If damaged, have replaced immediately by a qualified
serviceman. Following this rule will reduce the risk of
electric shock, fire, or serious personal injury.
WARNING:
Never use a battery that has been dropped or received a
sharp blow. A damaged battery is subject to explosion.
Properlydisposeofadroppedbatteryimmediately.Failure
to heed this warning can result in serious personal injury.
■
Do not operate charger if it has received a sharp blow,
been dropped, or otherwise damaged in any way;
take it to a qualified serviceman. Following this rule
will reduce the risk of electric shock, fire, or serious
personal injury.
■
Save these instructions. This manual contains
important safety and operating instructions for battery
charger part number 1423701. Following this rule will
reduce the risk of electric shock, fire, or serious personal
injury.
Before using battery charger, read all instructions
and cautionary markings in this manual, on battery
charger, and product using battery charger. Following
this rule will reduce the risk of electric shock, fire, or
serious personal injury.
■
■
Do not disassemble charger; take it to a qualified
serviceman when service or repair is required.
Incorrect reassembly may result in a risk of electric
shock or fire. Following this rule will reduce the risk of
electric shock, fire, or serious personal injury.
■
To reduce the risk of electric shock, unplug charger
from outlet before attempting any maintenance or
cleaning. Turning off controls will not reduce this
risk. Following this rule will reduce the risk of electric
shock, fire, or serious personal injury.
CAUTION:
■
■
Do not use charger outdoors. Following this rule will
reduce the risk of electric shock, fire, or serious personal
injury.
To reduce the risk of injury, charge only nickel-cadmium
rechargeable batteries. Other types of batteries may
burst causing personal injury and damage. Following
this rule will reduce the risk of electric shock, fire, or serious
personal injury.
Disconnect charger from power supply when not in
use. Following this rule will reduce the risk of electric
shock, fire, or serious personal injury.
■
Do not expose charger to rain or snow. Following this
rule will reduce the risk of electric shock, fire, or serious
personal injury.
DANGER:
■
Use of an attachment not recommended or sold by
the battery charger manufacturer may result in a risk
of fire, electric shock, or injury to persons. Following
this rule will reduce the risk of electric shock, fire, or
serious personal injury.
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK. DO NOT TOUCH
UNINSULATED PORTION OF OUTPUT CONNECTOR
OR UNINSULATED BATTERY TERMINAL.
■
Save these instructions. Refer to them frequently and
use them to instruct others who may use this tool. If
you loan someone this tool, loan them these
instructions also. Following this rule will reduce the risk
of electric shock, fire, or serious personal injury.
■
■
■
To reduce the risk of damage to charger body and
cord, pull by charger plug rather than cord when
disconnecting charger. Following this rule will reduce
the risk of serious personal injury.
Make sure cord is located so that it will not be
stepped on, tripped over, or otherwise subjected to
damage or stress. Following this rule will reduce the
risk of serious personal injury.
WARNING:
Some dust created by power sanding, sawing, grinding,
drilling, and other construction activities contains
chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Some examples of these chemicals
are:
An extension cord should not be used unless
absolutely necessary. Use of improper extension cord
could result in a risk of fire and electric shock. If extension
cord must be used, make sure:
• lead from lead-based paints,
a. That pins on plug of extension cord are the same
number, size and shape as those of plug on charger.
• crystalline silica from bricks and cement and other
masonry products, and
b. That extension cord is properly wired and in good
electrical condition; and
• arsenicandchromiumfromchemically-treatedlumber.
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.
c. That wire size is large enough for AC ampere rating
of charger as specified below:
Cord Length (Feet)
Cord Size (AWG)
25'
16
50'
16
100'
16
Note: AWG = American Wire Gage
Page 4
SYMBOLS
Important: Some of the following symbols may be used on your tool. Please study them and learn their meaning. Proper
interpretation of these symbols will allow you to operate the tool better and safer.
SYMBOL
NAME
DESIGNATION/EXPLANATION
Voltage
V
Volts
A
Amperes
Hertz
Current
Hz
min
Frequency (cycles per second)
Time
Minutes
Alternating Current
Direct Current
Type or a characteristic of current
Type or a characteristic of current
---
n
No Load Speed
Rotational speed, at no load
0
.../min
Revolutions or Reciprocation Per Minute
Revolutions, strokes,
surface speed, orbits etc. per minute
Safety Alert Symbol
Wet Conditions Alert
Indicates danger, warning or caution.
It means attention!!! Your safety is
involved.
Do not expose to rain or use in damp
locations.
The purpose of safety symbols is to attract your attention to possible dangers. The safety symbols, and
the explanations with them, deserve your careful attention and understanding. The safety warnings do
not by themselves eliminate any danger. The instructions or warnings they give are not substitutes for
proper accident prevention measures.
SYMBOL MEANING
DANGER: Failure to obey a safety warning will result in serious injury to yourself or to others.
Always follow the safety precautions to reduce the risk of fire, electric shock and personal injury.
WARNING: Failure to obey a safety warning can result in serious injury to yourself or to others.
Always follow the safety precautions to reduce the risk of fire, electric shock and personal injury.
CAUTION: Failure to obey a safety warning may result in property damage or personal injury to
yourself or to others. Always follow the safety precautions to reduce the risk of fire, electric shock
and personal injury.
NOTE:
Advises you of information or instructions vital to the operation or maintenance of the equipment.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
Page 5
FEATURES
KNOW YOUR RECIPROCATING SAW
See Figure 1.
LOCK-OFF BUTTON
Your saw is equipped with a "lock-off" button which reduces
the possibility of accidental starting. The lock-off button is
located on the handle above the switch trigger. You must
depress the lock-off button in order to pull the switch trigger.
The lock resets each time the trigger is released. Note: You
can depress the lock-off button from either the left or right
side.
Before attempting to use your reciprocating saw, familiarize
yourself with all operating features and safety requirements.
WARNING:
Carefully read through this entire operator's manual before
using your new reciprocating saw. Pay close attention to
all Safety Rules, Warnings and Cautions. If you use your
reciprocating saw properly and only for what it is intended,
you will enjoy years of safe, reliable service.
SWITCH
To turn your saw ON, depress the lock-off button and pull
switch trigger. Release switch trigger to turn your saw OFF.
VARIABLE SPEED
Your reciprocating saw has been shipped completely
assembled except for the blade. Inspect saw carefully to
make sure no breakage or damage has occurred during
shipping. If any parts are damaged or missing, contact your
nearest Authorized Service Center to obtain replacement
parts before attempting to operate saw. A blade and this
operator's manual are also included.
This tool has a variable speed switch that delivers higher
speedwithincreasedtriggerpressure. Speediscontrolledby
the amount of switch trigger depression.
APPLICATIONS
(Use only for the purposes listed below)
■ Cutting all types of wood products (lumber, plywood,
paneling, composition board, and hard wood).
■ Cutting masonite and plastic.
WARNING:
If any parts are missing, do not operate your saw until the
missing parts are replaced. Failure to do so could result in
possible serious personal injury.
■ Cutting drywall.
■ Cutting metals such as sheet steel, pipe, steel rods,
aluminum, brass, and copper.
If any parts are damaged or missing, please call 1-800-
525-2579 for assistance.
WARNING:
Donotallowfamiliaritywithyoursaw tomakeyoucareless.
Remember that a careless fraction of a second is sufficient
to inflict severe injury.
TOOLLESS BLADE CLAMP
Your saw has a blade clamp design that does not require the
use of a tool (blade wrench) when installing or removing the
blade. Simply lift blade clamp lock / release lever, located on
side of saw, insert blade between blade clamp and saw bar
as far as possible, then release lever to lock position.
BLADE SELECTION
To obtain the best performance from your saw it is important to select a specific blade for the particular application and type
of material you wish to cut. By doing this you will get a smoother faster cut and prolong blade life. Replacement blades for this
saw are available from your nearest Ryobi dealer.
WARNING:
The operation of any power tool can result in foreign objects being thrown into your eyes, which can
result in severe eye damage. Before beginning power tool operation, always wear safety goggles or
safety glasses with side shields and a full face shield when needed. We recommend Wide Vision
Safety Mask for use over eyeglasses or standard safety glasses with side shields. Always use eye
protection which is marked to comply with ANSI Z87.1.
Page 6
FEATURES
DEPRESS HERE TO
PULL SWITCH TRIGGER
LOCK-OFF
BUTTON
LOCK-OFF
BUTTON
BASE (SHOE)
ASSEMBLY
SAW BLADE
SWITCH
TRIGGER
BLADE CLAMP
LOCK / RELEASE LEVER
BATTERY
PACK
Fig. 1
Page 7
ASSEMBLY
TO INSTALL SAW BLADE
See Figure 3.
WARNING:
■ Remove battery pack. See Figure 2.
Always remove battery pack from your saw when you
are assembling parts, making adjustments, assembling
or removing blades, cleaning, or when not in use.
Removing battery pack will prevent accidental starting
that could cause serious personal injury.
WARNING:
Failure to remove battery pack from saw could result in
accidental starting causing possible serious personal
injury.
TO REMOVE / ATTACH BATTERY PACK
See Figure 2.
■
Lift blade clamp lock / release lever located on side of
saw.
TO REMOVE:
■
■
■
Insert saw blade between blade clamp and saw bar.
Lock blade clamp lever.
■
Locate latches on side of battery pack and depress both
sides to release battery pack from your saw.
Replace battery pack.
■
Remove battery pack from your saw.
TO ATTACH:
■
Place the battery pack in your saw aligning raised rib on
battery pack with groove in saw's battery port. See
Figure 2.
TO INSTALL /
TO RELEASE
BLADE CLAMP
LOCK / RELEASE LEVER
■
Make sure the latches on each side of the battery pack
snap into place and battery pack is secured to saw
before beginning operation.
BLADE CLAMP
BLADE
BATTERY PORT
DEPRESS LATCH
TO RELEASE
BATTERY PACK
TO LOCK
BATTERY
PACK
BLADE SHOWN
CORRECT IN SAW BAR
Fig. 3
LATCH
Fig. 2
Page 8
OPERATION
LED FUNCTION OF CHARGER
See Figure 4.
GREEN LIGHT "ON"
INDICATES FULLY
CHARGED
BATTERY
CHARGER
LED WILL BE LIGHTED TO INDICATE STATUS OF
CHARGER AND BATTERY PACK:
■ Red LED lighted = Fast Charging Mode
■ Green LED lighted = Fully Charged Battery Pack
■ Yellow and Green LED Lighted = Control Charge or
Possible Faulty Battery.
CHARGING BATTERY PACK
The battery pack for this tool has been shipped in a low
charge condition to prevent possible problems. Therefore,
you should charge it prior to use.
RED LIGHT "ON"
INDICATES FAST
CHARGING MODE
YELLOW AND GREEN LIGHTS "ON"
INDICATES CONTROL CHARGE OR
POSSIBLE FAULTY BATTERY
Note: Batteries will not reach full charge the first time they
are charged. Allow several cycles (cutting followed by re-
charging) for them to fully charge.
Fig. 4
TO CHARGE
■ Charge battery pack only with the charger provided.
BATTERY PACK SHOWN
ATTACHED TO CHARGER
■ Make sure power supply is normal house voltage,
120 volts, 60 Hz, AC only.
BATTERY
CHARGER
■ Connect charger to power supply.
■ Place battery pack in charger. See Figure 5. Align raised
rib on battery pack with groove in charger.
■ Press down on battery pack to be sure contacts on
battery pack engage properly with contacts in charger.
When properly connected, red light will turn on.
■ Normally, the yellow and green lights on the charger will
come on. This indicates charger is in control charge
mode and should switch to fast charge mode within 5
minutes. When charger is in fast charge mode the red
light will come on. If after a period of 15 minutes the
yellow and green lights remain on, remove the battery
pack, wait 1 minute and reinsert battery pack in charger.
If the yellow and green lights continue to remain on an
additional 15 minutes, the battery pack is damaged and
will not accept charge.
BATTERY
PACK
Fig. 5
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR RECHARGING
HOT BATTERIES
When using your reciprocating saw continuously, the
batteries in your battery pack become hot. You should let
a hot battery pack cool down for approximately 30 minutes
before attempting to recharge.
■ When your battery pack becomes fully charged, the red
light will turn off and the green light will turn on.
■ After normal usage, 1 hour of charge time is required to
be fully charged. A minimum charge time of 1 to 1-1/2
hours is required to recharge a completely discharged
tool.
Note: This situation occurs when continuous use of your
saw causes the batteries to become hot. It does not occur
under normal circumstances. Refer to "CHARGING BAT-
TERY PACK" for normal recharging of batteries. If the
charger does not charge your battery pack under normal
circumstances, return both the battery pack and charger
to your nearest Authorized Service Center for electrical
check.
■ The battery pack will become slightly warm to the touch
while charging. This is normal and does not indicate a
problem.
■ Do not place charger in an area of extreme heat or cold.
It will work best at normal room temperature.
■ When the batteries become fully charged, unplug your
charger from power supply and remove the battery pack.
Page 9
OPERATION
GENERAL CUTTING
See Figure 6.
WARNING:
Makesurebladedoesnottouchworkuntilmotorreaches
full speed, since this could cause loss of control resulting
in serious injury.
Withsawbladeatfullcuttingspeed, slowlytiltsawdownward
until tip of blade starts cutting work. After blade penetrates
work, tilt saw until blade is perpendicular to the work.
METAL CUTTING
See Figure 8.
Fig. 6
Hold your saw firmly in front of and clearly away from you.
Make sure saw blade is clear of any foreign material. Be sure
material to be cut is held firmly. Small work pieces should be
securely clamped in a vise or with clamps to the work bench
or table. Mark the line of cut clearly. Depress the lock-off
button, then pull switch trigger to start the cutting action.
Place the base assembly against the work, then move the
bladeintothework. Donotforce. Useonlyenoughpressure
to keep the saw cutting. Let the blade and saw do the work.
Use of excessive pressure that causes bending or twisting of
the blade may result in broken blades.
Fig. 8
Metals such as sheet steel, pipe, steel rods, aluminum,
brass, and copper may be cut with your saw. Be careful not
totwistorbendthesawblade. Donotforce. Werecommend
cuttingoilwhencuttingmostsoftmetalsandsteel. Cuttingoil
will also keep blades cool, increase cutting action, and
prolong blade life.
PLUNGE CUTTING
See Figure 7.
Never use gasoline since normal sparking of motor could
ignite fumes. Clamp the work firmly and cut close to the
clamping point to eliminate any vibration of the work being
cut. When cutting conduit pipe or angle iron, clamp work in
a vise if possible and cut close to the vise. To cut thin sheet
material, "sandwich" the material between hardboard or
plywood and clamp the layers to eliminate vibration and
material tearing.
Fig. 7
Mark the line of cut clearly. Choose a convenient starting
point inside the area to be cut out and place the tip of the
bladeoverthatpoint.Restfrontedgeofbase(shoe)assembly
on work and hold firmly in position. Depress the lock-off
button, then pull switch trigger to start the cutting action.
Page 10
MAINTENANCE
DO NOT ABUSE POWER TOOLS. Abusive practices can
damage tool as well as workpiece.
WARNING:
When servicing use only identical Ryobi replacement
parts. Use of any other parts may create a hazard or
cause product damage.
WARNING:
Do not attempt to modify this tool or create accessories
not recommended for use with this tool. Any such
alteration or modification is misuse and could result in a
hazardousconditionleadingtopossibleseriouspersonal
injury.
Avoid using solvents when cleaning plastic parts. Most
plastics are susceptible to damage from various types of
commercial solvents and may be damaged by their use.
Use clean cloths to remove dirt, carbon dust, etc.
WARNING:
Do not at any time let brake fluids, gasoline, petroleum-
based products, penetrating oils, etc. come in contact
with plastic parts. They contain chemicals that may
damage, weaken, or destroy plastic.
To preserve natural resources, please
recycle or dispose of batteries properly.
BATTERIES
Your saw's battery pack is equipped with nickel-cadmium
rechargeablebatteries.Lengthofservicefromeachcharging
will depend on the type of work you are doing.
This product contains nickel-cadmium
batteries. Local, state or federal laws may
prohibit disposal of nickel-cadmium
batteries in ordinary trash.
The batteries in this tool have been designed to provide
maximum trouble free life. However, like all batteries, they
will eventually wear out. Do not disassemble battery pack
and attempt to replace the batteries. Handling of these
batteries, especially when wearing rings and jewelry, could
result in a serious burn.
Consult your local waste authority for information regarding
available recycling and/or disposal options.
For more information on battery recycling, call 1-800-
8BATTERY.
To obtain the longest possible battery life, we suggest the
following:
BATTERY PACK REMOVAL AND PREPARATION
FOR RECYCLING
■
Store and charge your batteries in a cool area.
Temperaturesaboveorbelownormalroomtemperature
will shorten battery life.
WARNING:
Upon removal, cover the battery pack's terminals with
heavy duty adhesive tape. Do not attempt to destroy or
disassemble battery pack or remove any of its
components.Nickel-cadmiumbatteriesmustberecycled
ordisposedofproperly. Also, nevertouchbothterminals
with metal objects and/or body parts as short circuit may
result. Keep away from children. Failure to comply with
these warnings could result in fire and/or serious injury.
■
■
Neverstorebatteriesinadischargedcondition.Recharge
them immediately after they are discharged.
All batteries gradually lose their charge. The higher the
temperature the quicker they lose their charge. If you
store your tool for long periods of time without using it,
recharge the batteries every month or two. This practice
will prolong battery life.
Page 11
OPERATOR'S MANUAL
18 VOLT CORDLESS
RECIPROCATING SAW
MODEL NO. RJC181
• SERVICE
Now that you have purchased your tool, should a need ever exist for repair parts or service,
simply contact your nearest Ryobi Authorized Service Center. Be sure to provide all
pertinent facts when you call or visit. Please call 1-800-525-2579 for your nearest Ryobi
complete list of Authorized Service Centers.
• MODEL NO. AND SERIAL NO.
The model number of this tool will be found on a plate attached to the motor housing.
Please record the serial number in the space provided below.
• HOW TO ORDER REPAIR PARTS
WHEN ORDERING REPAIR PARTS,
ALWAYS GIVE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
• MODEL NUMBER RJC181
• SERIAL NUMBER
RYOBI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
1428 Pearman Dairy Road, Anderson, SC 29625
Post Office Box 1207, Anderson, SC 29622-1207
Phone 1-800-525-2579
983000-074
7-03
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