1/2" DeWalt Impact Issues

[seanb02]

Just curious if anybody else has experienced issues with the batteries falling off of their 1/2" DeWalt cordless guns. Mine is used rather heavily and frequently around the farm. It's been in service for probably a little over 2.5 years, thought it was toast once, but just ended up having to take the nose cone off and clean and re-grease the planetary assembly. Other than that it has been flawless. Definitely looks used and abused at this point though just due to the frequent use.

However lately while impacting on something the batteries have taken to falling out of the tool. I've been mostly running the larger 6ah batteries for nearly its entire life. I don't see any glaring issues with the batteries or with the tool, and it doesn't seem to be specific to a single battery, so it must be the tool that is getting worn out.

Anybody else have this problem?

I'm completely set up in yellow tools currently, and as much as I use the thing I would go out and buy another one even if the lifespan will only be about the same as where I am at now. However I am rather tempted to try the Milwaukee version for the simple reason that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence!

 

[Farmall450]

So, the battery indexes that yellow triangle (assuming 20v slide batteries). Is that somehow broken on your tool? I'm shocked it's worn out...impacts aren't that hard on batteries to be blowing through them.

You already identified the tool vs batteries, which would be my first step. Granted, it has a 3 year warranty...might want to call up DeWalt.

 

[seanb02]

Pictures... I don't see anything wrong upon closer inspection. It hits hard, and it is a heavy battery, decent size difference over the 5ah and below batteries.

All I can think of is the design of the latch on the battery vibrating down as it impacts then causing it to fall completely off of the tool. But odd that I have only recently started to have issues with that.

 

[Farmall450]

Agreed. It does look a hair spread (on the bottom of the impact) as if the battery was being propped against something and hammered. Not sure. Top right of second picture. I would try to shim it, use 5.0s, or buy the new 6.0s that are the size of 3/4/5s to mitigate the issue.