Chronic problem with my CT33...starts, runs for a while and then stops completel

[SteveCro72]

I bought my CT33 new probably 6 years ago (with my TS55) and since day 1 it's had one big problem. I'm a homeowner not a pro so 50% of the time the problem doesn't manifest itself but If I am cutting high volume in a short period of time, the vacuum would shut off and wont come back on in auto mode. In Manual mode if I use it as a shop vac it will shut off after 15 minutes of use.

I never bothered (although I regret this now) engaging Festool during the warranty period and have been working around the problem since I got it. If I know I'm not doing a lot of cuts I'll use the auto mode for as long as I can or just to save time I pretty much default to using my rigid shop vac (which at 1/5 the price and not as well engineered amd feature rich) is still going strong. For general shop vac use, I use the Rigid as the CT 33 is useless as it can't run (sustained) again for more than 15 minutes. The CT33 at this point functions more as a very expensive tool cart than what it was primarily designed for.

I couldn't identify this problem anywhere online but I read in the manual that the motor has overheating protection and will shut off to protect itself. I couldn't understand why it could be overheating so fast (and I hadn't used it in 18 months) but I thought I had a breakthrough yesterday when after a house project I spent some time troubleshooting the problem. I noticed (unfortunately) for the first time that the exhaust gate during operation doesn't automatically swing open. I do remember thinking in the past why there isn't more exhaust from this vacuum (as compared to any other vacuum) when this has been running in the past. I flapped open that exhaust gate and (finally) the expected volume of air came rushing out but no matter what it wouldn't open on its own (although it would stay open once I pushed it open).

I used a small piece from my Rigid vac pushed into the exhaust port that keeps the gate open enough to allow it to automatically open during operation. I can't imagine what damage has been done to the motor (although it shuts off so hopefully little to none) HOWEVER although it lasted for my entire cutting session yesterday (medium to low volume) when I used it as a shop vac it shut off after about 15 minutes. Very discouraging and disappointed to say the least as I thought I solved the problem.

Any thoughts? A likely shipment to Festool for service is likely but not looking forward to the couple of hundred to ship.

 

[peter halle]

Sorry to hear about your situation.  I would recommend that you call Festool and talk to the service department.  The guys there are trained and have given advice to lots of Festool owners including those here.  It might be that you situation fits perfectly with a situation that could result in a part being shipped to you versus you shipping to them.

If you had to ship it would most likely be just the top portion so shipping might not be as bad as you expect.

Let us know how this turns out.

Peter

 

[mwildt]

Sounds like you're propping open the 'air blast port (item 2.7 in the manual)' on the vac. That port is only for blowing air not the exhaust of the vac from what I know.

You could do the following checks without having the hose connected to a tool, aka not sucking up debris
Check if same occurs without a bag
Check if the vac experience same issues with the filters removed. If you had a blown bag at some point the filters could have been blocked.

 

[tbellemare]

The "exhaust port" on the side and at the bottom of the CT 22 and CT 33 is only supposed to open when a hose is connected. Otherwise, it should remain closed. It is a feature that allows for exhausting the air outside or to another area via a hose and preferably, a 50 mm hose. It is perfectly normal that no air comes out of there.

Opening that port should not change the normal flow of air for that machine. It sounds like you have some other obstruction like was suggested. It's possible the bag is full or caked. It's also possible the filter is plugged. Maybe there's a miraculous mouse just beyond the filter?

Tom

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Steve,

I wish you would have given us the opportunity to help you with this problem a long time ago, especially while it was under warranty.

Definitively give the service department a call. I checked UPS.com and shipping from your zip code at 32lbs is about $30, not hundreds. You can send back just the top of the CT and not have to ship the bucket/wheel section.

Shane

 

[ccarrolladams]

[welcome] to The FOG, Steve,

Like Shane and everyone at Festool USA and here on The FOG, you have all my sympathy about your CT33.

Actually in January 2006 I bought a CT22 along with a TS55 when I began to start my new custom cabinet business. I had seen both the CT33 and the CT22 in action at my dealer. Their demo CT33 had a nearly full bag and yet it provided all the dust extraction any of the tools required. I was going to buy one when I asked to try emptying it. At the time I was 72 and no longer handling 4x10' 19mm plywood sheets by myself. The not totally full bag was hardly wedged into the CT33, but then and there I decided I wanted to pay slightly more per liter of dust by buying the CT22. I went on to buy 6 more new ones and several slightly used CT22 after the CT26 and CT36 came out. One of my pals bought a new CT33 from the same dealer the week after I bought my first one.

My original CT22 is still in use 6-7 days a week. Not one of my CT22 have ever failed me. They get common sense preventive maintenance, and none has needed factory service. My pal only takes on a few well-paid woodworking jobs a month, so sometimes his 2006 CT33 is idle 3-4 days at a time. He also does preventive maintenance.

Frankly I stick with all my CT22s because I love the ability of using some 50mm hoses connected together to exhaust outside should the fumes of what I am cutting or sanding smell bad. In my large shop in the places where we commonly use roving CT22, my plant DC system has drops for capped 50mm hoses so that when a CT22 is in that position it is just a mater of uncapping the 50mm hose and plugging it into the CT22. The system on the CT22 opens the damper. Outside my building the DC systems filter clean the exhaust again.

I do now own 2 CT36 which we take on client sites for installs. They do not have the external exhaust feature and so far on installs that has not been a problem. If it should be needed, I have one sparkling CT22 ready to handle that site!