CT 33 vacuum stops after several seconds

[antss]

Interesting that our gut feelings are polar opposites.

My experience with solid state electronics is that they work or don't.  There's rarely intermittent failure. 

I'm not dismissing the electronic being bad, it just feels to me like something else.

Another thing [member=16804]mbs[/member] should check is the receptacle the vac is plugged into.  I had this happen to us on a jobsite last year and it turned out to be a 95% cracked wire loop on the receptacle lug. It would run till the vibrations /heat opened the circuit .  The odds are against it, but it is another possibility.

Pair of brushes = $40
CT33 electronic = $125
Receptacle troubleshoot = 5-20 minutes. Your cost will vary.

 

[Holmz]

Time to see what fest says it costs to get the diagnosis.
Then either have them bin it or fit it.

You other option is to have some local replace the brushes, which does not sound like your cup o tea.

 

[mbs]

Interesting that our gut feelings are polar opposites.

My experience with solid state electronics is that they work or don't.  There's rarely intermittent failure. 

I'm not dismissing the electronic being bad, it just feels to me like something else.

Another thing [member=16804]mbs[/member] should check is the receptacle the vac is plugged into.  I had this happen to us on a jobsite last year and it turned out to be a 95% cracked wire loop on the receptacle lug. It would run till the vibrations /heat opened the circuit .  The odds are against it, but it is another possibility.

Pair of brushes = $40
CT33 electronic = $125
Receptacle troubleshoot = 5-20 minutes. Your cost will vary.

I've plugged the vac into several receptacles but it doesnt change the behavior. 

I haven't taken the housing off yet but I will check the brushes when I do.

I have a couple of vacs.  One of my thoughts it to attach this bad vac to the Kapex wich doesnt get turned on for long periods of time.  The vac will probably cool down between cuts.  Just a thought that could avoid some cost.

Thanks to all for the advice.

 

[mbs]

First time poster of photo here, let us hope it works.  This (I hope) is a photo of a CT 22/33 motor taken circa 2010.  The green circles on the motor indicate the brush locations.  The brushes are very large compared to the brushes in other Festools, but they do wear out.  As other brushes toward the end of their life they may lose some of their effectiveness because of age, dirt, or both.  The may fail to advance to the armature as necessary.  Shake it around a bit and see if the brushes advance, starting the motor.

I'll give it a try.  thanks!

 

[antss]

It 's going to cost $50 - $100 just to ship it to Festool.

Not a great wager when the repair cost could be $50 - $200 + more $$$ return shipping.

Only way this makes economic sense is to DIY the repair - even if it means guessing the solution by throwing parts at it.  [member=16804]mbs[/member] - you're gonna have to break out the screw drivers and multi meter and do some testing if you wanna save some dosh.

 

[mbs]

I areee. Shipping a big vacuum is cost prohibitive.

 

[Bohdan]

Have you considered a faulty thermal sensor.

 

[Rip Van Winkle]

Fo you have a local independant tool repair shop that's been around a while and repairs multiple brands? If so, they might be able to figure out the problem with the vac, and the savings on shipping costs could then go to their fee or the cost of parts. I'm not sure how much difference there would be between the Festool vacs and other similar euro style vacuums that have been sold by Bosch and Makita etc.

Also you might check Youtube. There is at least one video of someone tearing down and repairing an older Festool vac, although in that instance the problem was the motor.

 

[mbs]

Have you considered a faulty thermal sensor.

It sounds like a thermal overload protector.  The questions is, is the protector doing its job of protecting something that is bad or is the protector bad. 

 

[mbs]

Fo you have a local independant tool repair shop that's been around a while and repairs multiple brands? If so, they might be able to figure out the problem with the vac, and the savings on shipping costs could then go to their fee or the cost of parts. I'm not sure how much difference there would be between the Festool vacs and other similar euro style vacuums that have been sold by Bosch and Makita etc.

Also you might check Youtube. There is at least one video of someone tearing down and repairing an older Festool vac, although in that instance the problem was the motor.

I watched the videos and agree that if I can't figure it out I'll take it to someone local to save on the shipping cost.  thanks

 

[Bohdan]

Have you considered a faulty thermal sensor.

It sounds like a thermal overload protector.  The questions is, is the protector doing its job of protecting something that is bad or is the protector bad.

The easiest way to find out is to replace it but first you have to locate it.

 

[Stone Message]

I haven't taken the housing off yet but I will check the brushes when I do.

If you have not taken the housing off then there is still a chance that you will find a physical obstruction to one of the moving parts - this might be what is triggering the possible thermal cut-out.

[member=42462]Rip Van Winkle[/member] saying that a local repair guy with experience across many brands gives good advice. He will certainly be able to replace the brushes which you should get in advance of seeing him as it would be an ideal time to get him to change them anyway.

Peter

 

[mbs]

Interesting that our gut feelings are polar opposites.

My experience with solid state electronics is that they work or don't.  There's rarely intermittent failure. 

I'm not dismissing the electronic being bad, it just feels to me like something else.

Another thing [member=16804]mbs[/member] should check is the receptacle the vac is plugged into.  I had this happen to us on a jobsite last year and it turned out to be a 95% cracked wire loop on the receptacle lug. It would run till the vibrations /heat opened the circuit .  The odds are against it, but it is another possibility.

Pair of brushes = $40
CT33 electronic = $125
Receptacle troubleshoot = 5-20 minutes. Your cost will vary.

Problem solved.  I'll try to make this short.  I disassembled the vac and couldn't find anything wrong.  It looked brand new inside and didn't have anything unusual going on.  It ran fine at the bench.  I moved it back to the original receptacle and it acted up! 

It turns out the 110V receptical wasn't wired properly and I believed it caused the vac's thermal switch to open.  When diagnosing the problem I tested it in a good receptacle but the switch was probably still hot and overheated quickly so I disregarded the receptacle as a problem. 

Thanks for all your help!

 

[antss]

Receptacle issue ?

Do I get a cookie ?

 

[Holmz]

Receptacle issue ?

Do I get a cookie ?

I would give you a whole box of TimTams if it was my vacuum.
I like the mint ones.http://www.target.com/c/cookies-chips-snacks-grocery-essentials/tim-tam/-/N-54v3eZ4yi8s

 

[mbs]

[laughing]

Receptacle issue ?

Do I get a cookie ?

 

[antss]

Glad you got it running without mailing it in.

I like mint cookies too.