Has your drill ever malfunctioned like this?

hockey_magnet

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Nov 6, 2011
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I was drilling a hole with my C15 - completely blind reaching under a sill plate and between floor joists with the 90 degree chuck. I was holding the drill in one hand and the chuck in the other. Anyway all was well until I heard a ringing grinding noise. I pulled the drill out and found that when I pulled the trigger, the grinding noise was present and while the drill was turning I could hold the chuck in one hand and the drill would stop turning but the motor was still running. I thought that something had stripped in the drill which is fairly new and hasn't been used much. Anyway I checked more closely  and saw that the speed switch was halfway between 1 and 2. When I moved it into the 1 or 2 position, it ran fine -

Would running the drill like this cause any damage? Certainly I doubt it would be good for it? I also wonder why that switch wouldn't have a lockout - I quickly checked and found that the drill will run with the switch halfway which doesn't seem right to me. Any suggestions?

 
I've had this happen, but only because the speed switch was tight against something. As you drill, the drill moves forward but the switch stays where it is...

I bet this was similar in your situation, especially since you couldn't see the drill! Obviously you were using the 90 chuck which is different, but I bet you knocked the switch against something. I doubt that the switch would move purely due to vibration or anything like that.

As you found out, the drills will run in what is effectively 'neutral'. It is a gearbox after all!!!
 
I've managed to do it with a few brands other than Festool too (I don't own a Festool drill/driver). I don't think it's anything to worry about at all.
 
Same here, happened sometimes with drills I've used, of multiple brands. Nothing to worry about, it's what Jonny says, the switch is stuck between gears. 
 
I haven't done it with either of my Festool drills yet but I do it to my Metabo all the time.

The placement of the 1st/2nd speed switch is different from any other drill, it's mounted on both the left/right side of the drill and constantly gets bumped when trying to drill in tight quarters so I know what you're talking about. I've just never been able to bump my Festool drill that way though.

Anyway after 3 years of constantly falling in between gears on my Metabo, it hasn't failed and runs strong.
 
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