C12 Drill - Question about free play on shaft

[Forrest Anderson]

I've just bought a second-hand C12 drill (plus all the extras  ;D), and I'm extremely happy with the package - except for one thing I'm not sure about...

The spindle has some radial free play in it, and I'm wondering how much play is normal.

For those of you who own a C12, I'd be grateful if you could take the drill, remove any chucks so that the spindle/shaft is exposed, and gently turn the shaft clockwise and anti-clockwise with your fingers to see how much free play there is.

I'm getting 13 degs of rotational free play (about 1/27th of a full rotation), and this is causing "shunting" of the chuck when the drill is cycled on and off quickly. Although this doesn't affect the way the drill does it's job, I'd like to know whether this is normal or not. The spindle has no play in the other two dimensions - there is no "in and out" axial play, nor is there any bearing wobble.

If this amount of play is an effect of wear and tear over the years, has anyone handed their drill in to Festool for adjustment?

Thanks!

Forrest

 

[danrush]

Forest,

Just took a look at my C12.  My drill is about 2 years old, and WELL used, everyday on the job.  I too have (and believe always had) some play on the shaft.  Looks like a bit less than yours.  On a clock face, the play goes from 12 to about 12:30, if that makes sense.  I love the tool.

Dan  (and thanks for all of your other helpfull posts, you have been a great source of info)

 

[Forrest Anderson]

Just took a look at my C12.  My drill is about 2 years old, and WELL used, everyday on the job.  I too have (and believe always had) some play on the shaft.  Looks like a bit less than yours.  On a clock face, the play goes from 12 to about 12:30, if that makes sense. 

Yes, that makes perfect sense, and thank you for replying. Actually, 12:00 to 12:30 is 15 degrees, which is slightly more than the play in mine, but we've certainly got very similar amounts. If you've had it from new, then it sounds as though it's designed that way, which is a relief.

I love the tool.

As do I! I currently have an Elu drill/driver and a 15.6V Panasonic combi drill (plus a Panasonic impact), but the C12 will be be my go-to machine for most tasks.

and thanks for all of your other helpfull posts, you have been a great source of info)

Thank you for your kind words!

Forrest

 

[Peterm]

Forrest

FWIW, I have the older version (CDD12) and it's always had a bit of free play in the spindle - about as much as yours, by the sound of it. Approx. 5 years old, the most used piece of gear I have, and still working fine (rebuilt batteries though!)...

Actually, 12:00 to 12:30 is 15 degrees, which is slightly more than the play in mine...

Ummm - perhaps I'm being a bit dense here, but surely 12:00 to 12:30 is 180 degrees??

Best, Pete.

 

[Frans]

Actually, 12:00 to 12:30 is 15 degrees, which is slightly more than the play in mine...

Ummm - perhaps I'm being a bit dense here, but surely 12:00 to 12:30 is 180 degrees??

Best, Pete.

Of course not, Pete. 12:00 to 12:30 is 30 minutes, which is 0,5 degrees.  ;D

Frans

 

[Forrest Anderson]

Forrest

FWIW, I have the older version (CDD12) and it's always had a bit of free play in the spindle - about as much as yours, by the sound of it. Approx. 5 years old, the most used piece of gear I have, and still working fine (rebuilt batteries though!)...

Thanks very much for the input! It seems that my drill is normal, but I wonder why there is so much slack? Maybe there's a good reason for it to be designed that way?

Ummm - perhaps I'm being a bit dense here, but surely 12:00 to 12:30 is 180 degrees??

  Which, along with Frans' comment, just goes to show that often there is more than one way of looking at things! Of course, I was thinking of the movement of the hour hand, whilst you were thinking of the movement of the minute hand, but I suspect you already knew that!!

Thanks again.

Forrest