CharlieS
GOLD Star
For anyone that uses Makita cordless tools, I learned a quick hack that can let you run the newer batteries with the older tools.
Your method may vary, not responsible, probably voids warranties, do at your own risk, blah, blah, blah.
I have a pile of Makita 18v LXT tools that I gathered over the years, and this year I went from a gas chainsaw and string trimmer to Makita cordless kits that came with extra batteries. In the process I got like 8 new 18v LXT 5 AH batteries. I was psyched because figured that meant I could use them on both the new tools and the old tools - the batteries are what seems to die on these cordless tools.
But wait a second, not so fast... Makita in their infinite wisdom (and probably some solid engineering reason - they'd never do it to force us to upgrade tools, nah...) made it so the new batteries won't plug into the old tools.
WTF? I was on a trip and went to use my cordless impact wrench on some nuts, and to my bewilderment, the battery wouldn't seat in the old tool. Grrrr. Luckily I had hand tools.
Fast forward to the other day when another of my 3 AH LXT batteries died, and I went off to the Google machine and typed "makita lxt old tool new battery". Up came several videos with hacks to let you use the newer 5AH batteries with older 3AH LXT tools.
It turns out that there is a plastic nub molded into the battery mount on the old tools that prevents the battery from fully engaging, but if you remove that nub, the batteries work fine. Cool...!
So I'm doing this to my old tools so I can use all of the new batteries. Thought I'd pass this along so fellow 'mudders could do the same if they want to.
Just replacing my 1/2" cordless impact with a new version would have been $250+, and it'd cost in the thousands to replace all of my otherwise fully functioning Makita LXT tools. That's money better spent on gas and dog treats.
Who knows if this is going to be bad for the tools, or make them blow up; do it at your own risk. There are some indications that this nub is related to not letting you overload the tool, but that's a chance I'll take.
Side note, my electric impact wrench, reciprocating saw and angle grinder had this nub, but my drill and impact driver did not. I haven't checked the other tools.
This was a quick 3 min hack job with a razor knife:
Your method may vary, not responsible, probably voids warranties, do at your own risk, blah, blah, blah.
I have a pile of Makita 18v LXT tools that I gathered over the years, and this year I went from a gas chainsaw and string trimmer to Makita cordless kits that came with extra batteries. In the process I got like 8 new 18v LXT 5 AH batteries. I was psyched because figured that meant I could use them on both the new tools and the old tools - the batteries are what seems to die on these cordless tools.
But wait a second, not so fast... Makita in their infinite wisdom (and probably some solid engineering reason - they'd never do it to force us to upgrade tools, nah...) made it so the new batteries won't plug into the old tools.
WTF? I was on a trip and went to use my cordless impact wrench on some nuts, and to my bewilderment, the battery wouldn't seat in the old tool. Grrrr. Luckily I had hand tools.
Fast forward to the other day when another of my 3 AH LXT batteries died, and I went off to the Google machine and typed "makita lxt old tool new battery". Up came several videos with hacks to let you use the newer 5AH batteries with older 3AH LXT tools.
It turns out that there is a plastic nub molded into the battery mount on the old tools that prevents the battery from fully engaging, but if you remove that nub, the batteries work fine. Cool...!
So I'm doing this to my old tools so I can use all of the new batteries. Thought I'd pass this along so fellow 'mudders could do the same if they want to.
Just replacing my 1/2" cordless impact with a new version would have been $250+, and it'd cost in the thousands to replace all of my otherwise fully functioning Makita LXT tools. That's money better spent on gas and dog treats.
Who knows if this is going to be bad for the tools, or make them blow up; do it at your own risk. There are some indications that this nub is related to not letting you overload the tool, but that's a chance I'll take.
Side note, my electric impact wrench, reciprocating saw and angle grinder had this nub, but my drill and impact driver did not. I haven't checked the other tools.
This was a quick 3 min hack job with a razor knife:
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