Is my CXS Drill on the way out?

[GeorgeB]

Recently I have noticed that my drill lets off an electrical smell when I use it.  Has anyone had this problem? Is there anything I can do to rectify it?

 

[AlexThePalex]

Not sure how electricity smells. Do you mean a burning smell? That is more common.

It happens when the drill was used so much it got so hot that some of the material of the armature melted/burned. It doesn't mean your drill is permanently damaged, I've had this happen to a T15 of me and a DeWalt drill, and both were still perfectly useable. I still have the DeWalt drill now 12 years later and it still works. Sold the T15 to somebody who must be happy with it because I heard no complaints. 

This is not supposed to happen to Festool drills, because they have an electronic sensor on board that is supposed to detect when a drill is over heating. But it happens anyway.

Funny thing is, if it happened once, the burning smell somehow stays forever even if there is no further burning going on. Or that's what I think at least.

There is nothing you can do about it except replacing the armature. In case of the CXS it means replacing the whole motor because it is one unit.
 

 

[Stone Message]

When I put my CXS through its paces on the video I really did put it under a lot of load strain. It did not smell at any point. Things do get hot over a prolonged period and so that does seem like a reasonable explanation. The CXS does not have an EC-Tec (brushless) motor and so it will run hotter than its brushless equivalent.

If you are worried contact Festool service and ask them.

Peter

 

[charley1968]

I had that smell ( i assume) with my Makita drill.
Somebody told me i could be the brushes.
If it works properly, i wouldn't worry

 

[Harvey]

Is your CXS well used? My understanding is for brushed tools crud can build up on the armature and commutator. That increases electrical resistance, hence the hot electrical smell.
Here’s a video about the problem (with a dewalt drill):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_709653&feature=iv&src_vid=qb8Ugp6hYBg&v=uBnRSGRHsOc

 

[Zacharytanner]

What was the liquid he soaked It in?

 

[Brice Burrell]

Is your CXS well used? My understanding is for brushed tools crud can build up on the armature and commutator. That increases electrical resistance, hence the hot electrical smell.
Here’s a video about the problem (with a dewalt drill):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_709653&feature=iv&src_vid=qb8Ugp6hYBg&v=uBnRSGRHsOc

It took me awhile to figure out what language he was speaking. [blink]

 

[Brice Burrell]

What was the liquid he soaked It in?

In the video comments he said "I used turpentine substitute", I assume paint thinner?  I might try denatured alcohol.

 

[AlexThePalex]

What was the liquid he soaked It in?

In the video comments he said "I used turpentine substitute", I assume paint thinner? 

Turpentine = White Spirit.

Any stuff that disolves grease should work.

 

[Stone Message]

I am not sure about the best product for this sort of job - the main thing to watch is that there may be residue left behind after the evaporation process and this may be combustable.

I try and use Electrolube for switch surfaces and alcohol for everything else (including me ! ).

Peter

 

[Zacharytanner]

Thanks guys

 

[Doug S]

GeorgeB, is your CXS still working? Mine started smelling of burning today and remembered reading this post about yours? Think mine also feels to have increased vibration, it's about a month out of warranty  [sad]

Doug

 

[Iceclimber]

Ill be steamed if my CXS craps the bed in three years. I had a Dewalt drill last me over ten years of very heavy use!

 

[promhandicam]

I killed one of mine of Friday - it works ok on slow speed but squeals like a stuck pig on high speed and if you hold the chuck there is no resistance. Waiting for Festool UK to reply to my repair email sent yesterday  : - it will be a warranty repair as it is only just over 2 years old.