Festool TPC problem, I think this is disappointing

[Gerald Yang]

So, I got the new tools and used them. but the TPC seems like having some problem, I believe this is a design flaw, the gear switch is always not lined up, it is rubbing the gears. the sounds make me really worry about the gearbox may wear very fast.

it is hard to describe, or maybe just my English is too bad to do it, but I made a video and you can watch it.

this is my video

and, you can see the same problem happening during their live event.

the live video:

festool live

see the 4:20 from Sedge......I am having the same problem.

if anyone know anything about this , plz let me know

 

[serge0n]

I have exactly the same problem with my PDC, which uses a completely different gear switch. But yes, it also gets stuck in between the gears and I have to press the trigger briefly to get it unstuck.

What's curious is that I believe Festool has licensed TPC's gear switch from Fein and Fein's ASCM18QX drill with a 4-way gear switch works perfectly fine, never gets stuck.

I would try another TPC in store if I were you and find one that isn't plagued with this issue. Then get that one and return the one you got. It's a new tool, not worth it to pursue a warranty claim imo.

 

[Gerald Yang]

I have exactly the same problem with my PDC, which uses a completely different gear switch. But yes, it also gets stuck in between the gears and I have to press the trigger briefly to get it unstuck.

What's curious is that I believe Festool has licensed TPC's gear switch from Fein and Fein's ASCM18QX drill with a 4-way gear switch works perfectly fine, never gets stuck.

I would try another TPC in store if I were you and find one that isn't plagued with this issue. Then get that one and return the one you got. It's a new tool, not worth it to pursue a warranty claim imo.

I did go to the store today, and tested two other TPCs, one of them is slightly better, another one is worse. I may message FT to see what they say about this maybe

 

[mino]

Same is with 2-speed gearboxes. Just there is is easier to include rounded geard that fall into themselves.

Kinda normal for a gear-stick use on a non-synchronized gearbox. You just need to juggle it a bit which is easy here - you can easily see when the gear is set and should not start the tool before it is set.

With the PDC/DRC the issue is you have no positive stops on the 2nd and 3rd gear, so you actually do not see - reliably - whether the geare is selected properly.

This is helped on the "stick-style" TPC as you did these mid-gear runs intentionally - you were aware the gear was not set.

Still, it would be interesting to compare a couple Fein ones to a couple Festool ones if there is any difference. From what I am aware it is not a license but the gearboxes aew made by the same factory for both Fein and Festool. Though it is likely there are some tunings in the internal design.

Until then, just do as we always do with non-synchro gearboxes: move the car, err, drill, a bit for the gear to get in.

 

[tomktest]

I had a similar problem with my old gen 3 Milwaukee drill 2804-20. It eventually got bad enough for me to send it in for repair.

 

[Gerald Yang]

Same is with 2-speed gearboxes. Just there is is easier to include rounded geard that fall into themselves.

Kinda normal for a gear-stick use on a non-synchronized gearbox. You just need to juggle it a bit which is easy here - you can easily see when the gear is set and should not start the tool before it is set.

With the PDC/DRC the issue is you have no positive stops on the 2nd and 3rd gear, so you actually do not see - reliably - whether the geare is selected properly.

This is helped on the "stick-style" TPC as you did these mid-gear runs intentionally - you were aware the gear was not set.

Still, it would be interesting to compare a couple Fein ones to a couple Festool ones if there is any difference. From what I am aware it is not a license but the gearboxes aew made by the same factory for both Fein and Festool. Though it is likely there are some tunings in the internal design.

Until then, just do as we always do with non-synchro gearboxes: move the car, err, drill, a bit for the gear to get in.

there is part of me was thinking this might be a common thing for all gearboxes, just like you said. but also I don't see this problem happening in my other drills.

 

[grobkuschelig]

I just spent the last 10minutes playing around with my TPC.
At least from my sample, I can not see your problem.

I have no problem at all getting in gear.
Actually to NOT get in gear, I need to deliberately try and abort or mess up the shifting motion.

Maybe I was trained by a decade of PDC, but I for one can not find a fault, at least on the model in my workshop.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[Gerald Yang]

I just spent the last 10minutes playing around with my TPC.
At least from my sample, I can not see your problem.

I have no problem at all getting in gear.
Actually to NOT get in gear, I need to deliberately try and abort or mess up the shifting motion.

Maybe I was trained by a decade of PDC, but I for one can not find a fault, at least on the model in my workshop.
Just my 2 cents.

thank you for your reply, If that is the case, I make just go back to store and try some new ones and make the swap.

 

[MarkV1]

My TPC does this as well.  Not as often as you show in the video, but it definitely does not always pop into gear appropriately.  Noticed it will sometimes get close and then on starting the drill pop into place, but rarely will go into grind mode.

 

[AF46]

What was the outcome of this. Do you still have the drill. I just got one and it is exactly the same as yours. It is disappointing.

 

[AF46]

After another look at my TDC18 I've realised the gears need to be changed faster with more force. Rather than a smooth slide over it needs a quick firm snap over and it goes in every time. I'm just not used to having a 4 H speed transmission on a drill