Kapex 120 brush replace Repair

[pfoley]

My kapex 120 motor was losing power and I saw a small puff of smoke from the vent, stopped using it, and shipped it to Festool for repair. The tool was 7 years old but had very little use (I use a Makita for every day miter work).
I expected to pay the shipping and brush repair or whatever was causing the motor to bog down.
I crated the saw into a custom plywood box and shipped it off.
The other day i received a repair estimate for $838.45
In addition to the $37.50 brush part, $172.50 labor, and $75 shipping, the repair department determined that I needed to replace:

Swiveling Segment - $105.30
Dust extraction Hood - 8.00
End Shield - $262.10
Lens - $2.62
Draw Spring - $2.40
Protective Cover - $16.80
Field Assembly - $110.90

None of these parts were damaged when i shipped the tool, and the  service rep said that there was no indicated shipping damage. He said that the repair department determines which parts that must be replaced, and unless I agree to replace all of these parts that they won't repair the motor.

Has anyone else had this experience with Festool repair? It's like I am asking for an oil change, they put the car on the lift and they won't change the oil unless I agree  to do an engine rebuild.

 

[ChuckM]

The amount you shared is in line with quotes other Kapex owners revealed in this forum for a condition similar to what you described for your saw. I also think that based on the information provided by other Festool users, if you choose not to have the saw repaired, they might return it to you in a dissembled state.

 

[RJNeal]

Welcome to the owners group. Sorry to have your Kapex bring you here.
Festool repair goes over the whole tool and makes it right
Almost like a certified rebuild no matter how small of a repair you needed.
The first tool I sent in was under warranty of a cord replacement. I received new bearings also
That’s the way repair works.
MY thoughts are —-if you receive your tool back and soon has other issues, there’s always people saying why didn’t you fix that it was just there.

Sometimes if you don’t have them repair your tool it will be returned disassembled.
Last tool a I send in a OS400 after a swim in a fish pond (don’t ask) for sparks at the brushes,  they wanted to replace the gearbox, armature ,and brushes for $950.
I had them return it and it was still one piece making sparks.
Hope this helps.
Good luck.

 

[Holzhacker]

I have dealt with Festool repair multiple times.
In general festool repair is awesome. They do a great job. You essentially end up with a solid, refreshed tool that will provide years of service going forward.
Unfortunately, it seems that festool repair also has a policy of replacing any parts on a tool that look a bit iffy, worn, not ideal, not within some engineering quality control spec, whatever. My guess is that is because of our litigious society. Their repair quotes can end up a bit crazy.
I have a particular festool lying on the bench that I had sent in for repair and asked them to send back. The repair cost was something like within $30 of a new purchase. I will get around to ordering the parts at some point.
For a Kapex the cost hurts but it might be worth it.
The more experienced people here go thru the ekat, figure out the parts to order and do the repairs themselves.

Just to recap, its not about festool trying to screw you. It's about the stupid lawyers.

 

[jeh]

My kapex 120 motor was losing power and I saw a small puff of smoke from the vent, stopped using it, and shipped it to Festool for repair. The tool was 7 years old but had very little use (I use a Makita for every day miter work).
I expected to pay the shipping and brush repair or whatever was causing the motor to bog down.
I crated the saw into a custom plywood box and shipped it off.
The other day i received a repair estimate for $838.45
In addition to the $37.50 brush part, $172.50 labor, and $75 shipping, the repair department determined that I needed to replace:

Swiveling Segment - $105.30
Dust extraction Hood - 8.00
End Shield - $262.10
Lens - $2.62
Draw Spring - $2.40
Protective Cover - $16.80
Field Assembly - $110.90

None of these parts were damaged when i shipped the tool, and the  service rep said that there was no indicated shipping damage. He said that the repair department determines which parts that must be replaced, and unless I agree to replace all of these parts that they won't repair the motor.

Has anyone else had this experience with Festool repair? It's like I am asking for an oil change, they put the car on the lift and they won't change the oil unless I agree  to do an engine rebuild.

The oil change comparison is spot on except in this case the engine was removed before you found out. Getting your saw back in parts is an unpleasant possibility. For others this is most likely something you can fix yourself. There are great instructions on FOG on how to do the armature which covers the brushes.

 

[Cheese]

Because of the puff of white smoke...you definitely need the end shield and field assembly...that's a given. The only item I'd question is the Swiveling Segment and only you know what shape that was in before you sent it in to Festool. Everything else seems in line.  [smile]

[attachimg=1]

 

[ChuckM]

The good news (consolation?) is that the new armature is supposed to be "fool-proof" from here on.

 

[pfoley]

Thanks for the above replies.

My experience with Festool so far is poor:
First I sent an online request to get information and received zero replies.
I registered online and sent the tool in for repair and got the estimate, which includes replacing parts that are not broken.
I called and was put on hold for 20 minutes and left a message for a call back and never got a response.
I called back a week later and the rep could not discuss the specifics of the repair but said that he would have someone from the repair dept call back - which they never did.
The whole experience is poor so far, a $1,600 tool dies after minimal use, the repair process is not smooth, communication is poor.

If there any documentation out there that shows that they have corrected the defect that has led to this problem?

 

[ChuckM]

Yeah. There is a pdf and even a video on how to replace the armature.

[member=44099]Cheese[/member] is good at locating them.

 

[Cheese]

Here's the thread...
https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/...pex-120-eb-motor-problem/msg611598/#msg611598

And here's the repair .pdf file

[attachimg=1]

 

[ChuckM]

Snip.
The whole experience is poor so far, a $1,600 tool dies after minimal use, the repair process is not smooth, communication is poor.
Snip.

My Kapex is exactly 11 years old this month. Zero issues after fine tuning the miter scale upon arrival (bevel scale has been spot-on since Day 1). I use it without worrying about the holy-smoke concern, except that the saw is plugged into a 20 amp circuit. I treat it exactly how I treated the DeWalt that it replaced in terms of usage.

But I wouldn't recommend the Kapex even though the new armature is supposed to be fool-proof and the cutting precision/ quality as well as the dust collection is second to none. Festool's fix-everything-not deemed-perfect approach is why I wouldn't recommend it to my peers. I can understand if it's a safety concern, but who is to decide whether a motor brush worn half way is not good enough? The communication problem also worries me even though, touch wood, I have never needed to use their customer service.

For those reasons, whenever someone asked me if my saw died whether I'd get another Kapex, my answer was always: Nah.