Replies

1. 
   forestgirl | May 08, 2010 12:36pm | #1

   We have the set (drill/driver and impact driver) and I'm pretty sure they have a 1 year warrantee.  Comment though:  I'm not sure you're using the right tool for the task if you're drilling holes in cement with this thing.  As to the battery life, if you're running the batteries all the way down before you recharge them, you're ruining them.  You can't do that with Li-ion batteries without paying a price.

1. 
   jonnieboy | May 08, 2010 04:32pm | #2

   Batteries

   FG,

   I didn't know that about the Li-Ons!  Oh, I've been running the last little drill-turn out of them.  I won't do that anymore. 

   I have certainly drilled holes in concrete. It's not a regular practice, but I thought they were built to stand up to that. Some of it. 

   You don't have any problems with the chuck loosening?

   --jonnieboy

1. 
   forestgirl | May 08, 2010 08:31pm | #3

   The drilling in concrete isn't inherently bad, if it's not an everyday "push it until it can't take it anymore" thing.  We have a hammer drill that we use when tackling concrete, so I'm spoiled.

   Nope, have not had chuck loosening problems.  I'm sure Makita will take care of you on that issue, give 'em a call.

1. 
   jonnieboy | May 08, 2010 11:21pm | #4

   Loose

   I will give them a call. Thanks!

   jonnieboy

2. 
   jonnieboy | Jun 04, 2010 12:18pm | #5

   Makita Repaired

   Forest Girl, 

   Could I trouble you to see which battery you have in your Makita? Mr. Repair Guy says the battery life is like three times as long with the 3.0 (?) something batteries. I have the 1.2's. It would be worth it to me to get a battery that lasts that long. 

   I sent mine in for repairs and just got it back. Thanks for that advice, FG. No resistance at all from them. 

   They replaced the chuck. The chattering I hear is supposedly the clutch when it's partially engaged/disengaged.

   I'm happy to have it back ! My thumb bothers me for days afterward when I use that heavier Craftsman drill.

   --jonnieboy 

3. 
   jonnieboy | Jun 04, 2010 09:32pm | #6

   Going for It

   Hey, Forest Girl.

   I checked out CPO Makita and saw many people are having the same battery problems I am. I'm going to see if, and how, they'll address the issue in their (Makita's) Customer Service Department. I had it at a local dealer for the repairs.

   I just don't know. It's a battery drill and they can't get the battery right? Maybe I'm spoiled by all the superior quality hand tools around these days. 

   Thanks again!.

   Jonnieboy 

4. 
   Scrit | Jul 06, 2010 02:12pm | #7

   I have the same combi drill (albeit with 3.0Ah batts) used on site and the 3.0Ah battery packs last 3 to 7 hours on average, although I almost always resort to using an SDS drill for hard masonry. Other trades guys I've talked to reckon on a battery life of 2-1/2 to 3 years for the Li-Ion 3.0Ah packs charged once or twice a day. I've seen YouTube demos of someone frying the1.5Ah battery pack by repeatedly drilling holes with something like a 3in saw tooth auger bit, but I personally wouln't try to make that sort of cut with a cordless tool. Maybe you should upgrade to a new 3.0Ah battery pack  and keep your ols packs as backups for when yhe 3.0Ah pack is on the charger

1. 
   jonnieboy | Jul 06, 2010 04:13pm | #8

   Thanks!

   Regarding the 3.0 battery, I might just upgrade to that.

   I got my drill back from service, where they put a new chuck on, but it still drops the quick-release every once in a while. 

   --jonnieboy

5. 
   Sublime865 | Apr 02, 2011 09:26pm | #9

   NO HARM TO LXT RUNNING IT TO 0%

   Two things, you bought the W model which is the lightweight model. Your battery is a 1.5Ah LXT battery, should charge in 15 minutes.

   Next topis, it *ABSOLUTELY IS NOT* harmful to run a lithium ion down to no charge. They have built in circuitry in the battery to prevent them from being drained until it causes harm (same circuitry that handles individual cell balancing durning the charging process). The point of a Li-Ion battery is that it keeps full power all the way until it is "dead", then you recharge it. In the same token, it is also absolutely harmless to charge it before it is dead.

   Li-Ion works like this: say you use 50% of the battery, charge it, use another 50% of it, and charge it again. 50% and 50% is 100%, you just used 1 cycle. Same as if you use 100% of the battery and charge it once. So when it comes to the amount of charge cycles on it, use that for your math.

   Sorry I know this is an old post, but as someone who has been using Li-Ion batteries in laptops, cell phones, tools, and radio control cars for years, I came across this looking for info on some other Makita tools and did not want people carrying the ni-cad stigma over to the Li-Ion arena (which doesn't hurt ni-cad's either, but that's neither here nor there, as Li-Ion is far superior in terms of energy density and recharge-cycle lifetime, especially Makita LXT).

   Wikipedia: en [dot] wikipedia [dot] org/wiki/Lithium-ion_battery

   Lithium-ion batteries are common in consumer electronics. They are one of the most popular types of rechargeable battery forportable electronics, with one of the best energy densities, no memory effect, and a slow loss of charge when not in use.