Makita 18 volt LXT batteries

[rlnguy]

I've got a whole herd of tools that use this same battery, so that kinda locks me into them.
(drills, impacts, saws, grinders, string trimmers, etc)
It seems I'm buying batteries every time I turn around-though, 2 of the original 4, 1.5ah are going on 7 years old.
The 3ah ones, seem to last a year or less-in hobby use-not professional.
they aren't cheap, so I am considering 2 options-
Generic batteries
Does anyone have any experience with them? I've always bought (and paid dearly for Makita branded).

I've tried to different chargers-both the old green/blue ones-is the new black charger any better?
The batteries all run fine, but then fault when I put them on the charger.

From looking on-line, I can't find anyone who rebuilds these.

any other ideas or suggestions I've missed?

Thanks

[Cecil]

I have not tried this, but I see several people suggest it.

[Just_Dave]

We have several 18 volt tools on our installation vans.  We have never had a problem with the batteries or the charges.  Makita has a very good reputation for standing behind their products so my suggestion would be to contact makita and see what they have to say. 

With that said I just bought a new dual charger with 2 batteries and 2 free bare tools on a special promotion.  Reading the instructions I see where they have added some circuitry to the batteries to shut down the tool if it is under too much load.  I wonder if the old batteries fail or something?
The new ones have a star on them to identify them..

[joespehar]

We have several 18 volt tools on our installation vans.  We have never had a problem with the batteries or the charges.  Makita has a very good reputation for standing behind their products so my suggestion would be to contact makita and see what they have to say. 

With that said I just bought a new dual charger with 2 batteries and 2 free bare tools on a special promotion.  Reading the instructions I see where they have added some circuitry to the batteries to shut down the tool if it is under too much load.  I wonder if the old batteries fail or something?
The new ones have a star on them to identify them..

I have a Makita drill and circular saw that use the same battery.  Early on, one of the original two batteries stopped charging.  I bought a generic one through Amazon, and it has been just fine.

[Bill Holt]

I have five Makita tools; three use the 3ah, the drill and impact use either.  I have been very "brand loyal" but......tried an Amazon deal on a pair of "no name"  1.05ah.  One of the pair caused the charger to show a defective battery on the second charge.  I took the battery out, then replaced it and it charged fine.  Maybe two charges latter I got the "defective" signal and it has not charged since.

At this point I will not buy another "no name" battery. All of the original Makita batteries lasted since Makita first came out with the 1.5ah set (maybe 8 or 10 yrs now).

[cvillewood]

My old charger wouldn't charge any of my batteries and would show a fault. A new charger fixed it in my case.

Do all your batteries show fault or just some?

[woodhead]

I've had makita chargers go bad, but you could smell the burnt electronics, or they do nothing (no lights, no fan).  The Ad that showed after the video was for 2- 3.0 batteries for $75...thats a pretty good price.


Al

[BloomingtonMike]

The last few years i bought into the Makita buy two bare tools get two 4.0ah batteries free deal. The first year I bought two sets of led flash lights @$30 ea to get the batteries. The next time they did it they wised up and I had to buy two $40 coffee makers to get them ? . Anyone need an lxt coffee maker? They are cool as you get an adapter that you slide the battery into that would make rewiring it for something else easy.

[BloomingtonMike]

Also I bought the 4 bank makita charger. Its sweet.

I have damaged two makita drills now. I need to get another.

[rlnguy]

Thanks for all the feedback-it got me started looking, and I'm going to take the 3 that showed bad yesterday to the local service center, and see what they say.
Beyond that, I'm going to upgrade my charger, and keep better records of when I buy the batteries-so I can be more prepared when one fails, to claim it back to Makita.
I'll post back here, what happens.