14 ENGLISHMAINTENANCECAUTION: Always be sure that the tool isswitched off and the battery cartridge is removedbefore attempting to perform inspection ormaintenance.CAUTION: Wear safety gloves when handlingthe blade. Otherwise it may result in personal injury.NOTICE: Never use gasoline, benzine, thinner,alcohol or the like. Discoloration, deformation orcracks may result.Blade maintenanceNOTICE: Failure to perform blade maintenance maycause excessive blade friction and shorten the oper-ating time per battery charge.Before and after operation, check the shear bladescarefully.After operation, clean off the blades with a stiff brush.Then wipe the blades with a cloth. And apply Makitagenuine machine oil onto the blade edge and movablepart.► Fig.22Sharpening bladesUpper shear blade1. Apply the flat surface of the diamond file to theblade edge.Push the diamond file towards the tip of the blade tosharpen along the entire blade edge.Maintain the same flat contact with the file consistentlyalong the entire blade edge.► Fig.23: 1. Diamond file2. Apply the flat surface of the diamond file lightly tothe opposite side of the blade.Move the diamond file towards the tip of the bladelightly to remove burrs.► Fig.24NOTICE: Do not sharpen this side too much. Filelightly only for removing burrs. Otherwise the bladeclearance may become too much or the blade lifemay be shortened.Lower shear blade1. Apply the round surface of the diamond file to theblade edge.Push the diamond file towards the tip of the blade tosharpen along the entire blade edge.► Fig.252. Apply the flat surface of the diamond file lightly tothe opposite side of the blade.Move the diamond file towards the tip of the bladelightly to remove burrs.► Fig.26NOTICE: Do not sharpen this side too much. Filelightly only for removing burrs. Otherwise the bladeclearance may become too much or the blade lifemay be shortened.Adjustment for blade clearance► Fig.27: 1. Plate fixing bolt 2. Lock plate 3. Bladestightening nutFrom time to time, adjust the clearance of the shearblades as follows:1. Switch on the tool, and pull the switch trigger toopen the shear blades.2. With shear blades open, switch off the tool. Anddisconnect the connection cord from the tool.3. Loosen the plate fixing bolt. And then remove thelock plate.4. Adjust the tightness of the blades tightening nutby hand (fastening torque for the blade tightening nut:approximately 0.5 N•m).5. Install the lock plate and plate fixing bolt again.6. Check the tightness of the blade whether theblades never rattle but upper blade can be opened orclosed about 3mm by hand. If the blades are too tight orloose, adjust the clearance again.NOTICE: Pay attention to the clearance of theblades. Too loose clearance may result in dull cut,and too tight blade clearance may result in overloadfor the motor and short running time of the tool.Removing or installing shear bladesTo remove the shear blades, perform following steps:1. Tilt the opening angle selector lever to the left sidefirst to open the blades fully.2. Switch on the tool, and pull the switch trigger toopen the shear blades.3. With shear blades open, switch off the tool. Anddisconnect the connection cord from the tool.► Fig.284. Remove two bolts near the switch trigger with thehex wrench.Remove the trigger guard by separating the tongue onthe trigger guard from the groove of the housing.► Fig.29: 1. Bolts 2. Trigger guard5. Remove the E-ring on the link arm with a slottedscrewdriver or alike.► Fig.30: 1. E-ring 2. Link armNOTICE: The E-ring is expendable part. Do notre-use the E-ring when reassembling.6. Carefully remove the pin.► Fig.31: 1. Pin7. Remove two bolts from the side of the housing.► Fig.32: 1. Bolts8. Carefully remove the upper and lower shears fromthe housing.► Fig.33