RO125 FEQ burning out quickly

[Stuartwitt]

Bought one ro125 feq a year and a half ago. It lasted almost 6 months to the day. I build furniture for a living so I couldn't go without one for long, went and picked up a second while I sent that one for repair. The second sander lasted almost exactly the same time. Sent it off and the original lasted 3 months. When I sent this one off my back up one literally lasted 15 minutes and metal fragments went everywhere. With 1,000$ in sanders and almost another 1,000$ in vacuum system I'm getting a little irritated. 500$ sanders should last longer than 6 months.

 

[ear3]

Indeed.  We don't get that many reports about faulty Rotexes on the FOG, so it sounds like you were just extremely unlucky.  I know I've run my RO150 for hours at a time for multiple days in a row and have never had an issue.

Bought one ro125 feq a year and a half ago. It lasted almost 6 months to the day. I build furniture for a living so I couldn't go without one for long, went and picked up a second while I sent that one for repair. The second sander lasted almost exactly the same time. Sent it off and the original lasted 3 months. When I sent this one off my back up one literally lasted 15 minutes and metal fragments went everywhere. With 1,000$ in sanders and almost another 1,000$ in vacuum system I'm getting a little irritated. 500$ sanders should last longer than 6 months.

 

[flair woodworks]

This sounds very unusual as the Rotex sanders seem to be very durable, and most of the ones I see for service just need a new sanding pad or brushes. Which parts are being replaced?

 

[mrboult]

Damn, that is unlucky! Could it be something to do with your power supply? My RO125 is probably about 5 years old with no issues. I'm professional not hobbyist, and it's my only sander or at least the only Sander i use.

 

[BJM9818]

My first Rotex was purchased in 2006. I abused the machine often times using most of my body weight on the machine to strip finish off flooring. Lent it to a budy and he ran it while the cord wasn't completely locked in and ignored the burning smell till it caught on fire. Festool fixed it and beat the heck out of it till two years ago when I purchased a second RO150.  it still runs fine but not as well as the new one.

You either are unlucky or doing something seriously wrong?  Was the Rotex/orbital switch locked all the way over to one side or stuck in the middle possibly??