I contacted Bosch with the problem and did not get very far. The response from Bosch was not from one with knowledge of the retaining device design; obviously only a first level "One ringy dingy, two ringy dingy, operator / front door greeter.
I have forwarded your feedback to the appropriate team for the GDX18V-1800C. I would like to ask what happened with the GDX18V-1800C since you returned this to Lowe's.
Victoria PT/SCP1-NA.
I did not receive any additional contact, from any team.
How am I to know what happens to a device once it is returned to the store?
Somehow, I have the feeling there is something with the spring, which is a stiffer than the older standard collars I have experienced. When functioning correctly, the release ring travels fully. When malfunctioning the release ring travel is not enough to allow the securing ball to move out of the way. The type of spring used is not known but, I suspect the spring coil, in general, binds and perhaps somehow, overlaps itself, which might cause limited movement of the retaining ring, preventing its full travel. Spring coils, during compression, rotate and the number of coils per distance increase . In a conical design, the coil collapses within itself, allowing more compression travel. In a straight cylindrical type the coils stack on top of each other.
I did not want to disassemble the device which might have prevented its return for refund.