Harbor Freight Recalls Cordless Drills

[wnstwolf]

Just a heads up if you have them out there.

Harbor Freight Tools has recalled its Drill Master 18-volt cordless drills, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced.

The drill is listed under the item numbers 68239 or 68287. They are black with a red switch and sold with an 18-volt rechargeable battery pack.

Item number 68239 was sold as a stand alone item, while 68287 came as part of a kit.

There have been 25 reports of the drill switch overheating. Six people were burnt on the hands and fingers. There were five reports of minor property damage.

If you bought the drill, which sold between May 2011 and September 2015.

Consumers are being directed to stop using the drill and return it to the nearest Harbor Freight Tools store to receive a replacement

- See more at: http://www.971theriver.com/news/bus...s-cordless-drills/npZtr/#sthash.7iq51qdg.dpuf

 

[redmondjp]

Now THAT's what I call a hot tool deal!

Thanks, and I'll be here all week, try the veggieburger . . . .

 

[gungatim]

now they need to recall all the heat guns out there...the switch and wiring always overheats and fails on those...been through 4 of em so far before I learned to take a new one apart and re-wire it first!!

 

[jeff lary]

now they need to recall all the heat guns out there...the switch and wiring always overheats and fails on those...been through 4 of em so far before I learned to take a new one apart and re-wire it first!!

I have asked the wife for one for Christmas I hardly ever need one but when I do.... Anyway I don't have one to look at and I am no electrician but what are you re-wiring inside? By posting here I am hoping when and if I do get one I can refer to your answer and save my self an issue maybe. Thanks Jeff

 

[Bdgjr215]

Oh i thought the recall was because they ****?

 

[gungatim]

I have asked the wife for one for Christmas I hardly ever need one but when I do.... Anyway I don't have one to look at and I am no electrician but what are you re-wiring inside? By posting here I am hoping when and if I do get one I can refer to your answer and save my self an issue maybe. Thanks Jeff

the wires are too thin at the switch. just replace with thicker wires. I abuse mine, they are not meant for 100% duty cycle, but I often run it for over an hour to dry wet firewood and other stupid stuff...you'll be ok as-is if you just use it occasionally, not in a production shop heating pistons to press the pins on the rods (yes, burned one up that way too).

 

[countrysquire]

I bought one of these to keep in my travel trailer for raising and lowering the stabilizer jacks and tightening the hitch spring bars, and it works as well as an $18 drill can. Well, it looks like I'll be taking it back. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[gungatim]

I bought one of these to keep in my travel trailer for raising and lowering the stabilizer jacks and tightening the hitch spring bars, and it works as well as an $18 drill can. Well, it looks like I'll be taking it back. Thanks for the heads up.

careful using a cordless drill like that, I saw people doing it at the campground and thought it was genius. so I used my new Craftsman 19v cordless to setup my camper. after a couple times, it literally sheared the chuck off the end of it! little teeny screw sheared off and no way to re-attach it...sits in my junk pile to remind me to use the right tool for the job!

fyi - if you have the cheapo 3/4" speeder most travel trailers come with, you can do better by welding a tire iron end to an old 1/2" speeder (or even a hand drill)...which is what I did. easier on the hands that way.

 

[countrysquire]

Thanks Gungatim. The beauty of the cheapo HF cordless drill is that it doesn't have enough torque to snap a nylon screw. I like your idea of a better speed wrench because the lead screws for the hitch spring bars only go about half way with the weakling HF drill and the rest of the way is done by hand.

 

[1930]

Just a heads up if you have them out there.

Harbor Freight Tools has recalled its Drill Master 18-volt cordless drills, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced.

The drill is listed under the item numbers 68239 or 68287. They are black with a red switch and sold with an 18-volt rechargeable battery pack.

Item number 68239 was sold as a stand alone item, while 68287 came as part of a kit.

There have been 25 reports of the drill switch overheating. Six people were burnt on the hands and fingers. There were five reports of minor property damage.

If you bought the drill, which sold between May 2011 and September 2015.

Consumers are being directed to stop using the drill and return it to the nearest Harbor Freight Tools store to receive a replacement

- See more at: http://www.971theriver.com/news/bus...s-cordless-drills/npZtr/#sthash.7iq51qdg.dpuf

Im glad to read this, mine has been a godsend over the years, very reliable and no issues but my battery has finally taken a dump, looks like Ill get a new one for free.

 

[nh_yota]

But it will keep your hands warm if you're outside working in the cold!

 

[Off-Street Parking]

Linking multiple threads on the same subject:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5328652

Maybe the mods can roll these into one and make it a sticky?

 

[Squankum]

People! When they send you a flyer in the mail it says, "TOOL DISPOSAL NOTICE"! Now what else does that word "disposal" ever apply to but garbage?*

Heh heh, I buy their stuff sometimes, too. I just walk out the store thinking of Dirty Harry. "Do you feel lucky, punk?"

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