Kapex Repair Thread

[pgurnee]

Been awhile. I went back to work April 12th. I could just touch tip of thumb to tip of index finger but had little strength in that touch. As I am the boss I did not have to answer to anyone and I just went slow and steady. The home owners were glad to have the project back up and running. I bought the sawstop. It is an excellent saw. Only one small adjustment was necessary to the geared track on the front of the saw. Like it.
I have 75% of my grip strength back. I have little feeling in the top knuckle of my thumb and fine motor skill is limited.
Hardware, like lock sets, etc are a chore.

10 days ago my Kapex sparked...slowed way down...smelled right bad...did not actually smoke but is Clearly toast.
My local dealer sent it to Indiana...$950 repair. Considering getting it back and following the pdf instructions for armature replacement in the stickies. Don't know if I can handle the little screws and springs though.

I knew about the armature issues in 2018 when I bought it. I generally baby my tools so I figured I could be one of the happy owners. Oops.
I understand that Festool did a recall in Europe for the kapex many years ago but dont remember the issue... don't understand why they will not own this armature failure issue here. Now actually faced with the repair I am very hesitant.
Except I have test driven a few saws now. None hold a candle to the things I like about the kapex.
I don't need to preach to the choir, you know.

Closest thing I found is a Metabo. The only tool repair shop in our county sells them along with all the other big names.
The tech manager says the metabo is as well built as any of the other more well known brands.

On the one hand I am happy to even have to make this decision, on the other I am very disappointed.

 

[ChuckS]

Yeah. The written pdf is good for those who are familiar with or skilled in that kind of repair stuff.

That said, someone just posted a video showing how to replace the armature, which is clear and helpful to anyone who wants to fix the Kapex saw for just the cost of the parts ($300 US?).

 

[festal]

Yeah. The written pdf is good for those who are familiar with or skilled in that kind of repair stuff.

That said, someone just posted a video showing how to replace the armature, which is clear and helpful to anyone who wants to fix the Kapex saw for just the cost of the parts ($300 US?).

Do you happen to have a link to the video?  Need to be prepared as I recently picked up KS120EB which works for now but you never know

 

[ChuckS]

Here:
https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/...ing-kapex-armature-video/msg719741/#msg719741

 

[onocoffee]

I came across a guy recently selling a KS 120 EB that he says was working but it’s in parts. Asking $400. Personally, I don’t think it’s worth it in parts - more like $200. My thinking is that, worst case scenario - I would have to send it to Festool for repair and I can’t imagine that would be cheap.

I feel fairly confident that I could handle the rebuild but wanted to ask you guys for your thoughts on this. Anyone had their Kapex rebuilt and how much did it cost? And at what point would you think the cost was “too much”?

Thsnks

 

[luvmytoolz]

@onocoffee Aside from the question of why it was pulled apart when it was working, $400 USD for a bunch of parts that may or may not be complete seems a tad expensive to me!

 

[Sparktrician]

@onocoffee, just bite the bullet and buy a new one that's under warranty and don't fool around with something that someone else has very likely butchered.

 

[onocoffee]

@onocoffee, just bite the bullet and buy a new one that's under warranty and don't fool around with something that someone else has very likely butchered.

Understood and generally agreed. However, my situation is one where I do have an old 10" Ryobi but the work I've been doing has been such that I've only really needed to cut with it maybe four times in the past year. Since the need for it is so minor, I have a bit of difficulty justifying the expense for the new KS120! I'm not pressed for one, so if a decent deal comes up along the way, I'm trying to be open to them.