Makita LS1013 Sliding Compound Mitre saw will not lock at chosen positions/angles on the turnplate other than the standard stop points. Turning the handle will not lock the turnplate anymore, it used to, it just moves freely now until it hits the nearest stop point. Does anyone know how to fix this ? Machine is 3 years old.

I have attached a link with the parts breakdown and the owners manual both in PDF format.
The parts breakdown should help you, if not let me know and I'll try to talk you through it.
Makita Products Tool Support

The LS1011 doesn't have a table angle release lever like the newer models so it's harder too swing the table from angle to angle, this also causes the plastic swing body to crack. Have you loosened the locking screw for the table? The table may have to be removed and the pivet shaft greased. I had this problem with an old Makita Table Saw 10" 2600.

I would unplug tool and check the condition of the brushes. If they are worn excessively or burnt the tool won't work. Let me know what you find and I will try and help more.

Try eReplacementParts.com : Power Tool Parts and Tool Repairand look for parts diagrams.

my saw had this exact same problem, here's how i fixed mine.

okay so here's a schematic of the saw
http://www.toolpartspro.com/image/LS...-Makita-PB.pdf

whether you have the exact same issue as my saw, in order to further investigate you need to get to the mechanism that locks the saw. To do this you need to take the turn base (140) off the foot base (156) . its really not too hard, just a little awkward setting the saw in different positions to remove the various parts.

Specifically on mine I had issues with the threaded rod (118) not screwing into the stopper holder (135). You'll see this part when you flip the saw upside down.

So to remove the turn base(140) from the foot base (156)....

Remove the kerf board (108) and under you will see a big bolt, go ahead and remove this. Then there are 4 more bolts which take off the guide rule (117), this what your piece of wood is put against when making the cut. Once these 5 bolts are out, the turn base can now be separated from the feet. Now you'll have a better view of the mechanics and see what is or isn't happening when you screw the handle to lock the miter position.

Part 136 (turn stopper) is what actually wedges to a pocket in the foot base which makes the saw lock. when you screw in the handle it actuates this part. make sure that is happening. I had to take out the threaded rod (118) and tighten it on a vice and work the stopper holder (135) deeper onto the threaded rod. use WD 40 to help it a long. You'll need to take off some other various parts to to get the rod out. this will be obvious once you have everything turned over.

Now that everything is apart you can blast it with some WD40 or what you think is best here. I used lithium grease. You'll see its especially important to lube up the pivot post that the 2 bases center on, (where the big bolt under the kerf board goes). also the slide plates (153) may be rusty, they'll fall out when you separate the 2 base plates. clean those up and spray them and anything else which will help with smooth movement.

the only important item to check once everything is put back together is the guide rule. this can be adjusted slightly in or out of square. Get a nice framing square and make sure your locked in at 90 (or actually 0 degrees on the saw) Sliding the saw the full distance of the cut on the square is ideal and maybe this was a good time to recalibrate that movement anyway.

hope this works.
Ben.

if you removed the handle from the rod you would need to put a pair of pliers on it gently and remove it. or if you turn it upside down and remove the tube from sliding mechanism you can grip the rod from there and unscrew

you need to remove the guide fence with the screws on the back. then you remove the throat plate and there is the bolt is that keeps it all together.

Just took one apart last week, not really difficult

If you look on the back of the saw where the pivot is, there should be a bolt on either side that should adjust how much bevel there is . As for a 90 degree angle, there should be a locking pin or stop to keep it from leaning out of square. Be sure that it is accepting the pin properly and that it is clean. Not sure if there is an adjustment on the sliding saw, but i know there wasn't on my dual compound mitre saw

Yes go to Makitausa.com and type in your model number and you can download an owners manual for the tool. Let me know if you need any more help

you have to turn the handle, it works like a bolt, you cant see it but it is tied in, you have to unscrew it before trying to move it