Festool DRC 18/4 - Forward / Reverse Button Pressure

[neth27]

Has anyone had problems with the forward and reverse button on there DRC drill? Mine is a absolute pain, the pressure needed to go from forward to reverse is so light it keeps flicking from one to the other. There is no clicking type action it nearly slides across by itself

John..

 

[Ado]

I've had the Protool version of this drill for the last 7 years and it has the same problem. There's no lock off either so you can't put the drill in a bag with other stuff because the slightest bit of pressure from other objects will easily activate the trigger. I was surprised when the drill was changed over to the Festool stable that they didn't address this issue. A battery gauge and LED light seem to be the only upgrades to a drill that has been out for many years.

 

[rljatl]

Does the PDC version have the same problems?

On some drills you can put the forward/reverse button in the middle position to lock the trigger.

 

[neth27]

I'm guessing the PDC is the same. No lock on it, it's a absolute pain as you only need to push the button a couple of mm and it flicks in to reverse.. Makes it 10 times worse if you are using it inside a cupboard etc.

John..

 

[joiner1970]

Not noticed it on mine yet

 

[jonny round boy]

My PDC was like that - very little resistance, and the slightest knock to the switch & it went into reverse (usually at the most inappropriate time!).

Then, one day, I got it out & suddenly there was no resistance whatsoever. If you tipped the drill to the right, it literally 'fell' into reverse; tip it to the left & it fell back into forward. Would have made quite a nice 'hands free' feature, if it wasn't totally impractical & unusable!

I sent it back to Festool for repair, and it came back with more resistance than it ever had even when it was brand new.

I bought mine when they first came out in Festool guise. Newer ones that I've handled are stiffer, like when mine came back for repair. This leads me to think that maybe Festool have fixed the issue, and maybe the newer ones are OK?

 

[neth27]

I think mine is near to the stage if you tip it up it will slide by itself  [mad]  I will have to send it in for repair..

Cheers John....

 

[AlexThePalex]

My T15 is also a very easy slider. Pretty irritating. You're constantly fiddling with that darn switch.

 

[Davej]

My pdc switch is not too bad , but the speed selection switch is finger breaking stiff . thought it would have eased by now but its ridiculous, I'm gonna have to send it in .
Dave

 

[ifit]

mine is bad and made worse with being left handed as my thumb naturally rests on it.

Ive killed several centrotec bits with it accidentally going in reverse

 

[rljatl]

Do you all have Festool versions or are some ProTool versions?

 

[neeleman]

Protool PDC no problem at all since 2012.

 

[neth27]

Do you all have Festool versions or are some ProTool versions?

Mines Festool

john...

 

[Doug S]

My PDC forward/reverse button works fine, I never noticed it had no lock in the middle like other drills till I read these posts.

Changing speed is a little stiff, I find on mine if it won't go in to a gear a little blip of the trigger helps it mesh in.

Doug

 

[DJW]

My DRC was the same, would slip into reverse if you looked at it funny. Sent it in for repair now the resistance on the switch is really solid, better than new.