kapex hard to rotate

[fignewton]

My kapex has gotten very hard to rotate for miters.  It feels like the bottom lock mechanism is grinding on the miter scale on the under side.  The two torx screws for the lock release are good and tight (loosening them doesn't have any effect on the grinding, just makes the lock release not work).  Can't see anything wrong.  Tried to put some antisieze grease on the point where the mechanism contacts the bottom of the lower scale piece, but no relief.  Not sure if I'm missing an antifriction piece on the black piece with the two screws, or if something else is wrong.  Didn't see anything in the manual.  Was OK, but just got really hard to move.  Not sure what changed.  Thanks for any hints.

 

[butzla]

This might seem obvious, but are you remembering to unlock the swing arm first?  Ask me why I'm saying this?    :-[

 

[fignewton]

Yep, and the lock mechanism works like it's supposed to.

 

[peter halle]

When my Kapex (7 years old now) has gotten less smooth I have just tipped it over and sprayed aerosol garage door lube at any moving part oder the base that I could see.  Maybe not the most precise thing to do, but it has worked for me over the years.

You might also want to contact Festool - especially if yours is less than three years old and talk to someone in service.

Peter

 

[Peter Durand]

My kapex has gotten very hard to rotate for miters.  It feels like the bottom lock mechanism is grinding on the miter scale on the under side.  The two torx screws for the lock release are good and tight (loosening them doesn't have any effect on the grinding, just makes the lock release not work).  Can't see anything wrong.  Tried to put some antisieze grease on the point where the mechanism contacts the bottom of the lower scale piece, but no relief.  Not sure if I'm missing an antifriction piece on the black piece with the two screws, or if something else is wrong.  Didn't see anything in the manual.  Was OK, but just got really hard to move.  Not sure what changed.  Thanks for any hints.

I had the same problem and a Festool demo guy at the Vancouver road show showed me how to fix it. Go to your manual and look at the second foldout page where the parts are illustrated. You will see a small part just under the handle called 115. Festool part 470665. Order a new one.

Tilt the saw backwards and you will see that it is simply secured by screws. Undo and replace and should solve the problem. The demo guy told me that some earlyish parts were made too thick and the newer part was slightly modified. In any event it worked for me.

Good luck.

Peter