Makita Hammer Drill - BHP452SHE - Chuck Wobble

Hello,

I just bought the Makita BHP452SHE -18V LXT MOBILE HAMMER DRILL.

I liked the feel of it, and with a name like Makita, I thought i couldn't go wrong.

Using it for the first time the chuck is off centre and wobbles. This makes the drill bit wobble and vibrate when drilling. For a $300+ drill this just doesn't seem right.

So I took it back to the shop and the guy there looked at it and said that it was normal for a cordless drills chuck to wobble slightly. He then showed me a panasonic drill, and yes it also wobbled, i then looked at a Metabo and it also slightly wobbled.

So I left thinking it was o.k. I tried drilling this afternoon with it, but the vibration is annoying, and even though the guy said it's normal, and I saw the other 2 drills wobble, i'm just not happy...surely there is a cordless drill out there where the chuck doesn't wobble. It just doesn't seem right for the expensive price?

Can someone shed some light on whether this is meant to happen, or is it a fault?

I have also read reviews after purchasing where people have said the same thing about this drill, that the chuck wobbles, but then other people say it's a great drill.....it's just too confusing.

Also what are my rights in requesting a totally new drill and brand if I'm really not satisfied.

I am so annoyed.

Thanks. Brian

Hi Brian,

I have a BHP452RHE. I'm not sure what the difference is between the two models.

I have just had a whole new front end put on mine under warranty by makita, but believe it or not the new chuck wobbles a bit too.

I have found it to be a great drill in general but I think I abused it by using it too much as a driver. I had really trashed the chuck and the became worse over time. Now that I've had it repaired I'm going to buy an impact driver to give my drill a break.

As for actually hammer drilling with it, it works and I might pull it out for the occassional picture hanging or something but for any serious work I'm sticking with my electric drill.

As for getting a replacement drill or a different brand I'm not exactly sure on your rights, but I'm fairly certain you can get a full refund if it doesn't do what its supposed to do. There must be some sort of wobble standard threshold, maybe your drill exceeds the wobble threshold or maybe it doesn't. When I had mine fixed there was wobble but also a nasty grinding sound.

The other option could be to take it into a makita service centre (not the shop you bought it at) and ask for it to be repaired under warranty.

hope this is helpful,
Nick

I've got two hitachi DV18DL's (one personal and one belongs to my company) and also had another previously (didn't survive a drop froom height). I haven't had a problem with any of these three drills chuck wobbling.

I also own a bosch 9.6v which is about 8 years old that always had a problem with the chuck wobbling slightly but that may have been just that particular drill since it was ex display and i got it for almost nothing.

I would recomend the hitachi 18V gear to anyone after what i've put my drills through (i work in the electrical trade), the only downside i've found with them is the case seems to be a little weak around the handle but it isn't an issue if you don't drop them. The drill that i mentioned above which i managed to drop from a height of around 3.5m fractured at this point, i did manage to buy a new case for it and repair ir for under $100 though and it is now our workshop spare.

As for the hammer function i use it on my work drill daily and never had a problem with it, usually 6.5mm holes for green plugs in brick and sometimes up to 12mm holes. Don't expect to drill into concrete though or anything above 12mm in brick, for that you really need a rotory action hammer drill.

Thanks for the reply Nick.

It's just baffles me as to why the chuck should wobble in the first place. These are expensive drills, so they should be precise. It's interesting that the one you got repaired also wobbles.

It's just nice to know I'm not the only one that has experienced this issue.

Thanks for the advice.

cheers.

I was actually looking at the Hitachi but didn't like the feel of them...perhaps I should have gone with that drill in the first place.

I wish I knew more about drills as much as I know now after buying one...I would have asked to test them all out.

Anyway. Thanks for the advice.

mine [bhp452] has a slight wobble with the black plastic part of the chuck, but the tip is dead center, may have something to do with the locking mechanisim the makita's now have in their keyless chucks.