How smooth should the depth adjust lever of the DF500 move?

[hdv]

Hi fellow FOGers, looking for a bit of advise on my DF500 before I contact my vendor about this issue.

A few days ago I received a brand new DF500 (yea!!! [big grin]). Today I was checking everything out and found that the depth adjust lever moved only when applying quite some force. The depth lock moves as easy as one would expect. After applying some oil to the lever it will now at least rotate somewhat smoothly between the depth settings. But the movement along the axis is still very stiff. I don't know if there is a spring behind it and therefore if it should, but it definitely does not move by itself to another stepped position after rotation. I have to apply more than a little amount of force to it get it to its final position. For the lower depth settings this is bothersome, but doable. However for a few of the deeper setting the lock gets in the way, making it difficult to move the green lever.

I can't see any obvious burrs or other marks on the sliding mechanism that would explain why this happens.

Have any of you encountered this issue? If so, is this "normal" (I expect not). If not, what did you do about it?

 

[ElectricFeet]

Answered here. Tl;dr: contact Festool service. It needs fixing.

 

[bertv]

Sedge on Instagram does a nice demo of how to adjust the levers. Use one of the hashtags #df500 or #domino to search for them.

 

[hdv]

[member=64013]ElectricFeet[/member] : that is indeed exactly the same issue as my DF500 has. Thanks for pointing me in that direction. I missed that threat somehow...

 

[hdv]

[member=5467]Bert Vanderveen[/member] : Thanks! I hope I can access that. I am not on IG or any other social platform (on purpose). I'll try though.

 

[bertv]

Well, apparently I am totally inept, b/c I can not find the IG-post (or YT-video) I referred to. And I AM sure there was one.

If I recall correctly you need to loosen the lever (by loosening the screw) to adjust the angle of it where it "bites" (there are some positive stops, I think) and than drive the screw home to fixate that.

 

[hdv]

Oh, I've seen that one. That is the same trick as Sedge does with the fence to stop fence drift, isn't it? I'll try that. Thanks.

[Edit] No such luck, there is no lever like on the fence where you can do this trick.

I think I'll contact Toolnation tomorrow to ask them for a replacement or repair.

 

[ElectricFeet]

I think I'll contact Toolnation tomorrow to ask them for a replacement or repair.

Although your contract is with Toolnation, and theoretically they are liable, I’d contact Festool service. The reason being that (a) if you get it repaired, it will be better done (and probably more quickly done) by Festool themselves OR (b) if you get a new one, it might have the same problems.

 

[Coen]

I think I'll contact Toolnation tomorrow to ask them for a replacement or repair.

Whatever you do... don't ship them your Domino if you want it back this year.

Their warehouse is still f*ck*d but they did remove the warning from the website...

EDIT: I assumed you were Dutch too. Might ignore if elsewhere. But you are supposed to fill in location in your profile instead of the BS you have in that field.

 

[hdv]

Yeah, I read they have had some trouble with their deliveries for some months now. Good to remind me of that. Thanks.

I'll ignore that other remark...

 

[hdv]

I've submitted a repair request directly with Festool, because I didn't even get a squeak from Toolnation after contacting them (that was before I read Coen's heads up). No response at all. Hopefully Festool will be able to fix this quickly. I'll let you know when I know more.

 

[4nthony]

My DF 500 had the same problem when it was new and just out of the box. I sent it in for repair and it took about 10 days round trip before I got the tool back. I was shipping from California to Indiana. Your time may vary depending on your distance from the service center.

 

[hdv]

We'll see. The distance between here and their service centre is about 100 km. Compared to the distances you guys on the other side of the pond are used to that is nothing.  [wink]

 

[Coen]

Yeah "next day delivery" is the default here, not a premium.

 

[hdv]

Today I've gotten my DF500 back. Apart from a note in my Festool account that the machine was received about 2 weeks ago I haven't seen any form of communication. Not about the repair itself, and not about them sending it back to me. Nothing. Ah well, at first inspection everything is working as it should. The depth stop was replaced and is easy to move now. That's what's important in the end. No costs either. I hope to get some time in the shop soon to test the machine out on some wood.

 

[ElectricFeet]

Great news.

Bad news about the lack of  comms though. Sure they’re not in a spam folder or something?

 

[hdv]

Quite sure. I checked before drawing any conclusions.

 

[SoonerFan]

[member=66485]hdv[/member] glad it all worked out.  The DF500 is great!  Once you get a little time with it you will think of lots of applications.

 

[hdv]

Yeah. I am really looking forward to using it.  [big grin] I hope to get a major project delivered somewhere in the first week of next month. After that I may finally have some shop time! It feels like years since I've been in there for anything more than flipping the light switch.  [crying] 

Ah well, who am I to complain. I should be glad in these uncertain times to be so busy keeping up with my customers wishes.  [embarassed]