alltracman78
Member
- Joined
- Dec 25, 2022
- Messages
- 220
I contacted Festool UK and got very minimal help from them (what I expected and not their fault, you'll understand why in a moment).
I bought a used UK model HK85 and brought it to the US. It was advertised as turned on one time. It was in very good cosmetic condition but obviously used and turned on more than once. No biggie. Build date was April? of last year (22).
Once I received it I plugged it into a 240 volt outlet to op check. I immediately got a red spark shooting out of the saw and a LOT of blue sparks inside at the brushes. Much more than I've ever seen from a tool before, and I own and have used multiple brands and tools. For reference I also have a brand new US spec HK 55. It has almost no sparks when I run it. Definitely no red ones coming out.
I took off the end of the tool covering the brushes to check out the commutator. It was really dirty and had small but visible damage on the edges of the segments. Most likely what the red sparks were (pieces of the commutator).
I completely understood that Festool UK wouldn't touch the saw for obvious reasons but wanted to see if they would give me any guidance on this. I sent the pictures as well. They told me it was normal and to run the saw and break it in. So I did some test cuts in 2" thick dry hickory. 4+ foot long rips. The cuts were a little rough ( I don't know how sharp the blade is), definitely rougher than I would expect, and the sparks kept coming. But it cut like a champ.
I wasn't comfortable with the sparks so I played around with the saw some and found out there's a little bit of play with the armature shaft, I think at the rear bearing. I need to take it apart to confirm, which may take me a little while because I've got other projects going on.
Just FYI for anyone with a similar problem.
I'll post up results when I get them.
I bought a used UK model HK85 and brought it to the US. It was advertised as turned on one time. It was in very good cosmetic condition but obviously used and turned on more than once. No biggie. Build date was April? of last year (22).
Once I received it I plugged it into a 240 volt outlet to op check. I immediately got a red spark shooting out of the saw and a LOT of blue sparks inside at the brushes. Much more than I've ever seen from a tool before, and I own and have used multiple brands and tools. For reference I also have a brand new US spec HK 55. It has almost no sparks when I run it. Definitely no red ones coming out.
I took off the end of the tool covering the brushes to check out the commutator. It was really dirty and had small but visible damage on the edges of the segments. Most likely what the red sparks were (pieces of the commutator).
I completely understood that Festool UK wouldn't touch the saw for obvious reasons but wanted to see if they would give me any guidance on this. I sent the pictures as well. They told me it was normal and to run the saw and break it in. So I did some test cuts in 2" thick dry hickory. 4+ foot long rips. The cuts were a little rough ( I don't know how sharp the blade is), definitely rougher than I would expect, and the sparks kept coming. But it cut like a champ.
I wasn't comfortable with the sparks so I played around with the saw some and found out there's a little bit of play with the armature shaft, I think at the rear bearing. I need to take it apart to confirm, which may take me a little while because I've got other projects going on.
Just FYI for anyone with a similar problem.
I'll post up results when I get them.
