Adding a second adjustable foot to MFT

[semenza]

Sometimes I find that I don't have enough adjustment range with the adjustable foot on the MFT. I turn it all the way out then end up shimming anyway. So I added a second. Only takes two parts that cost about $10 USD.  Part # 448 178 Insert, and #465 883 foot.  

You need to cut 2" off the leg tube before installing to get the correct height for the MFT/Kapex, and 2 1/4" for the MFT/3.

Then the insert gets driven in, then just put the foot piece on.

 When driving the insert  (it is a very tight fit)  use a little lubricant ( I used Tri-Flow Teflon) or you wind up breaking the end off like I did  [embarassed]  I also used a little heat on the leg not sure if that helped or not  ???  Also place a piece of tubing  (I used a PVC coupler)  over the insert to drive it, that way you will not be striking the small end of the insert.

The MFT ajustable feet have a ton of grease inside them, seems like way too much to me but.....   Festool says to use white lithium grease.  In any case the one I installed seems to be working just fine from a little of the teflon getting on the outside of the insert, time will tell.
 
Seth

 

[Frank-Jan]

Seth, thanks for sharing.
I have a question, which is slightly offtopic, but it has to do with the adjustable feet.

I'm sure I read the answer once, but cannot find it anymore. Last year I replaced my stolen cs70 with a new one, and the saw uses the same adjustable foot.
The adjustable foot of the new saw won't "stay adjusted", by which I mean that with light pressure it sinks back down again, making the table wobbly.

Could this be easily fixed by diss- and re-assembling the foot, and how do I go about this, and what should I pay attention to?

 

[semenza]

Seth, thanks for sharing.
I have a question, which is slightly offtopic, but it has to do with the adjustable feet.

I'm sure I read the answer once, but cannot find it anymore. Last year I replaced my stolen cs70 with a new one, and the saw uses the same adjustable foot.
The adjustable foot of the new saw won't "stay adjusted", by which I mean that with light pressure it sinks back down again, making the table wobbly.

Could this be easily fixed by diss- and re-assembling the foot, and how do I go about this, and what should I pay attention to?

Hmmmm, I don't know. Maybe that is the purpose of all the grease , to make it stick?  Or maybe it has too much grease and turns too easily?  In any case the rubber foot portion will just twist/pull off if it is the same as the MFT. The insert on the other hand could be tough to get out. I used  16" long slip joint pliers  to grip and remove the insert that I broke.

I would say just pull the foot off and have a look for starters.

Seth

 

[Frank-Jan]

Ok, thanks I'll try that tomorrow.

 

[Alan m]

great mod seth

 

[Stone Message]

Seth, thanks for sharing.
I have a question, which is slightly offtopic, but it has to do with the adjustable feet.

I'm sure I read the answer once, but cannot find it anymore. Last year I replaced my stolen cs70 with a new one, and the saw uses the same adjustable foot.
The adjustable foot of the new saw won't "stay adjusted", by which I mean that with light pressure it sinks back down again, making the table wobbly.

Could this be easily fixed by diss- and re-assembling the foot, and how do I go about this, and what should I pay attention to?

Jan

I have had the same issue with my CMS unit - I am too busy at the moment to take it apart but I would appreciate any information that you discover.

Peter

 

[jmbfestool]

Seth, thanks for sharing.
I have a question, which is slightly offtopic, but it has to do with the adjustable feet.

I'm sure I read the answer once, but cannot find it anymore. Last year I replaced my stolen cs70 with a new one, and the saw uses the same adjustable foot.
The adjustable foot of the new saw won't "stay adjusted", by which I mean that with light pressure it sinks back down again, making the table wobbly.

Could this be easily fixed by diss- and re-assembling the foot, and how do I go about this, and what should I pay attention to?

My MFT  table AND CMS table both do the same thing.  Not long after I had it the adjustable foot just doesn't stay in place just small amount of pressure down on the table and it just sinks down. 

I just took it as a crap design by festool and just live with it but the be honest I hardly ever use my MFT table and my CMS I just move the table around a bit kick the legs until its found its happy stable spot so I never try and adjust the adjustable foot as its just useless.

Maybe if I used my MFT and CMS more regularly it would annoy me more! And if you know me it would be posted all over Fog what I think of it!  But seen as you have brought it up! I thought I would chip in! and here we go!  ITS CRAP!  Its a complete crap design!

 

[Frank-Jan]

On this cs70 it was the first time the foot didn't work properly.
On my previous cs70, the mft800 that came with my kapex set and my mft3 the feet sometimes bend a bit while adjusting them, which looks awkward, but once adjusted, they stayed adjusted.
Anyway, it has been lousy weather here lately, and when I got home I didn't really care to get the saw out of my van (I cared more for a shower and dry clothes).
But I just did, and when I pulled the foot off the leg, the insert was stuck inside the foot, instead of attached to the legg. I took some pictures, but I didn't have time to try to pry them apart, maybe tomorrow.

 

[semenza]

On this cs70 it was the first time the foot didn't work properly.
On my previous cs70, the mft800 that came with my kapex set and my mft3 the feet sometimes bend a bit while adjusting them, which looks awkward, but once adjusted, they stayed adjusted.
Anyway, it has been lousy weather here lately, and when I got home I didn't really care to get the saw out of my van (I cared more for a shower and dry clothes).
But I just did, and when I pulled the foot off the leg, the insert was stuck inside the foot, instead of attached to the legg. I took some pictures, but I didn't have time to try to pry them apart, maybe tomorrow.

Bet that's it !  Make the insert stay in and not turn and I bet you will be good to go.

Seth

 

[semenza]

I started  adding a second adj. foot to my MFT/3 today and found that the insert on the original one had pulled out of the leg just like Jan's.

I am really thinking that the culprit here , is too much grease. The whole deal is just completely loaded insude and out. The insert can be pushed in and pulled out with very little effort. So I cleaned most of it off and replaced it. It seems tighter now.

Another  note  .....  for the MFT/Kapex remove 2" of the leg tube to add another adjustable foot. For the MFT/3 remove 2 1/4".

Seth

 

[Frank-Jan]

Seth, thanks for sharing.
I have a question, which is slightly offtopic, but it has to do with the adjustable feet.

I'm sure I read the answer once, but cannot find it anymore. Last year I replaced my stolen cs70 with a new one, and the saw uses the same adjustable foot.
The adjustable foot of the new saw won't "stay adjusted", by which I mean that with light pressure it sinks back down again, making the table wobbly.

Could this be easily fixed by diss- and re-assembling the foot, and how do I go about this, and what should I pay attention to?

Jan

I have had the same issue with my CMS unit - I am too busy at the moment to take it apart but I would appreciate any information that you discover.

Peter

When I reassembled the foot by first inserting the plastic part onto the leg and I couldn't get it out again I thought it was fixed, but last week when using the saw it sank down again; so I decided to fix it properly.

So I pryed the foot apart, and used papertowels and degreaser (spraycan)  to clean out the inner part of the leg-tube and the part of the plastic insert.
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I then used a 3 in 1 drillbit, that drills, threads and countersinks and put a m3 bolt with a countersunk head through the leg into the insert, used the saw on a slightly uneven driveway on Wednesday and my cs70 is wobbly no more  [big grin]

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[Stone Message]

Thanks Frank - I will take a look next week.

Peter