I scored a free drill from a garage sale that was being thrown out for not working. I brought it home and started playing with it and couldn't get it to work then I shook it and it worked for a couple of seconds and quit again. I'm guessing loose wiring. So how can I diagnose this and also how can I get parts for the drill?
Free Craftsman Drill
- Thread starter Tomg303
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andywander
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Take it apart to see what the trouble is.
Go to Sears/Parts website and plug in the model number to find parts.
Go to Sears/Parts website and plug in the model number to find parts.
I have opened it up and cleaned all the grounds and what not but I will keep looking. any way to check the continuity of the wires with a multimeter? I'm not very good at checking resistance so any help would be appreciated
X2, remove the brushes on the side (black caps) and see what's left of them. Put the multimeter on Ohm scale and check for an short. Might have to change the testing lead postions depending on the MM type.
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woody 73
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I am thinking you have a bad switch and a new one from sears is in order.
jtbinvalrico
Well-known member
Kinda looks like the one I resto'd here: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=141027
Could be the switch, brushes, wire terminations that have become frayed or where the soldering has failed, or connections that have failed and have become open inside the case.
This is a very serviceable and usable tool, but you definitely want to go all the way through it and get a properly grounded cord on there.
Could be the switch, brushes, wire terminations that have become frayed or where the soldering has failed, or connections that have failed and have become open inside the case.
This is a very serviceable and usable tool, but you definitely want to go all the way through it and get a properly grounded cord on there.
Awesome thread. How can I tell if the brushes are worn. Do you have a picture of worn and good? or somethin like that. And you say that I need a properly grounded cord what do you mean by this. I need a third prong?
Kinda looks like the one I resto'd here: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=141027
Could be the switch, brushes, wire terminations that have become frayed or where the soldering has failed, or connections that have failed and have become open inside the case.
This is a very serviceable and usable tool, but you definitely want to go all the way through it and get a properly grounded cord on there.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
you will know if the brushes are gone if their riding on springs.. 
seriously, first bet is worn brushes, if very short, try a vacuum shop to see what they have.
If the brushes look good get some contact cleaner and shoot that inside a vent hole on the switch. Then click it for a minute or so, re-apply the contact cleaner and go again til your finger gets too tired to go any more
seriously, first bet is worn brushes, if very short, try a vacuum shop to see what they have.If the brushes look good get some contact cleaner and shoot that inside a vent hole on the switch. Then click it for a minute or so, re-apply the contact cleaner and go again til your finger gets too tired to go any more
Okay so I checked the brushes, connections, and grounds and everything looks great. No shorts that I can see. Heres something bad though as I was putting the drill back together I was almost done and decided to test it before I put it all back together. I hit the trigger and there was a big spark because I had forgotten to ground it. Will this have ruined anything? Doesn't this also show that the electrical was working if it sparked?
Outlawmws
Well-known member
I doubt the spark hurt anything, but without knowing where the spark came from I can't say if it "should" work...
Did you clean the contacts in the switch?
How does the commutator (on the motor armature where the brushes run) look? did you tear it down that far?
andywander
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I hate to rain on your parade, but from your posts, it sounds like you know very little about electricity.
You would be best off finding a friend who knows how these things work, and having him work with you on troubleshooting and repairing the drill.
That way you will be sure to have a safe and working tool when you are done, and if you are lucky, you will learn enough about it to do it by yourself next time.
Trying to guide you in this repair over the Internet has the potential to be a long and frustrating process for all of us(you included) and then there will be no guarantee that the work you do will be safe.
You would be best off finding a friend who knows how these things work, and having him work with you on troubleshooting and repairing the drill.
That way you will be sure to have a safe and working tool when you are done, and if you are lucky, you will learn enough about it to do it by yourself next time.
Trying to guide you in this repair over the Internet has the potential to be a long and frustrating process for all of us(you included) and then there will be no guarantee that the work you do will be safe.
jtbinvalrico
Well-known member
Well, you got a spark for some reason, but not because you didn't ground it. A proper ground is meant to save your hide in the event of a short.....I'd say you are lucky that the spark didn't make it to the metal case while you were pulling the trigger.
Follow the advice above and tear it all the way down, double-checking each soldered connection as you go and confirming the condition of the armature and commutator. When the soldered connections let go, you can be left with one strand of wire trying to carry electricity while the frayed remnants try to share power with everything nearby.
Follow the advice above and tear it all the way down, double-checking each soldered connection as you go and confirming the condition of the armature and commutator. When the soldered connections let go, you can be left with one strand of wire trying to carry electricity while the frayed remnants try to share power with everything nearby.
HubbaBubba
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If you shook it and it worked....check the cord! There have been a bunch of times I took things apart only to find that everything checked out. Then find out it was a bad cord usually at a terminating end! Good luck.
You don't have to be a part of this then. I'm out to learn and have no one to learn from so thats why I ask. I understand basic safety procedures. The mistake was a mistake and should not have happened but it is what it is. I'm gonna try and fix this so although I'm glad you're watching out for me, it is not needed.
I did tear it down and the commutator looks to be in great shape. The brushes are not even close to ridin on springs so I assume they are okay. Tomorrow I will get contact cleaner and get goin on the switch.