7 1/4 B&D saw - blade stalls but motor continues to run

Capacitor is only for the start up. It sounds like you saw is running with a heavy load. Is your blade sharp. Do you have good voltage to your saw .

does the motor stop? If not the gears are worn between armature and spindle. If it does stop you could be applying too much pressure trying to cut with a blunt blade or there is an armature fault.

mmm.. motor problem,armature or field coil burned or bearing burn motor housing

I would suspect a combination of the two! You blade probably isn't sharp and your saws brushes are probably getting worn. The brushes are made of carbon and are pushed up against the rotor by a spring. As the brush wears down the spring doesn't put as much pressure on the brushes which means it will stop working when placed under heavy load.

I would not think so, the reset is for thermal protection and I think that you have a problem with the motor stalling or under a heavy load. I would check to see how free the motor spins with being on. UNPLUG TOOL FIRST and turn blade by hand. Then to eliminate the dust bag remove it and just run the saw without cutting. Look into the throat plate area for a build up of debris that might be limiting movement.

Most circular 7-1/4 saws have a bolt and a compression washer that acts as a brake shoe that holds the blade secure but under dire circumstances will allow the blade to slip some rather than hold the motor shaft and allow burn out. The compression washer under your bolt has become worn and doesn't grip the blade securely. You can find a split washer that will fit under the blade and give you some more friction, or go to sears and order another compression washer for your saw.In the Sears Parts List found at: http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/part-model/Craftsman-Parts/Saw-Parts/Model-32018780/0247/0744410/50035950/00001?blt=06&prst=&shdMod=

see part no. 44

a temp fix,put a thin rubber mat under your tile.my bridge saw does plunge cuts & has a knob on side of cutting head, your blade must have been changed somewhere even if changed with the same size blade some vary in overall size,good luck

Sounds like it but does it have a capacitor (start/run)--what model/type motor is it? and go from there.

This could have many causes...depending on the model of saw, the wood being cut, the blade you're using, etc. etc.
Check that the blade is correctly installed, up to tension, and sharp. Make sure the wheels run smoothly on their on, and under power. Check the horsepower of the motor, and make sure to keep the feed rate down within the motor's capacity. Finally, don't twist the work being cut to a smaller radius than the size blade will handle, or you will bind the blade in the cut.
If you are cutting wood with pitch or grain that is likely to be under tension, perhaps you need to insert a wedge into the cut to prevent the work from pinching the blade as it continues the cut.
I hope that leads to a solution. Sometimes all you can do is feed slowly and be patient...

Depending on how much use the saw has gotten over the years the problem could be a very dull blade, worn out motor brushes, or a nearly worn out motor. The danger is that a power tool that is not working as it should is much more hazardous than a newer saw that is working properly.