Grinder Repair

[Ramper]

I have a Porter Cable 7410. It was not working well and I had it in for service. They said that the brushes holders had come off and that there were no replacement parts available. I have found a replacement housing but it is over $50. Does anyone know if the brushes holders can be remounted to this unit? I would be willing to send it to you if you think you could fix it. I would pay for shipping, parts and BEER MONEY.

http://www.ereplacementparts.com/porter-cable-7410-type-right-angle-grinder-parts-c-129_1811_13198.html

 

[sberry]

They did you a favor. Its cool for a guy to find a part and diy but this isn't for you if you got to pay. Good place to learn or buy a new grinder if this is too complicated.

 

[2oolhound]

I agree, walk away.

4.5" grinders can be had for $5 - $20 at garage sales and flea markets.

I now only buy grinders with the external brush replacement ports on the sides because of going inside the new cheap grinders and seeing how they are built (disposable).

 

[sberry]

Some of the new and cheap have got a lot better and makes them appealing due to the fact the cords now last, brushes are better and they got power which makes the no maintenance aspect good, simply replace for less than a cord repair to a premium all "rubber" which lasts about half as long as the cheap vinyl.

 

[sberry]

This is about being economical and there is a difference between that and cheap. There are different reasons for each wanting to use the tools or to do this but its either need or want. Many of the issues and what makes a good trouble shooter are not so technical but a judgement call.
We often talk about whats wrong with education and experience but what I see today is qa problem with values and reading it from people. Its different than getting along nice or "listening" but reading the situation and one of the best guys I work with is none too smart which he understands and has the timing right, knows when to hurry, knows if its worth it, takes the extra when it shows etc.
Some people have no concept of estimation, how long it will take, how long it should take, if its worth a rinse or a scrub, some turn every chore in to a career. The goal isn't to get any work done but to make it thru the day. Lots of them even work hard, Last year I had to fire a woman I really fundamentally liked. It was painful to watch her work so hard and do so little. Sweat pouring, arms and legs moving and the only way she ever killed a weed is walked it to death. Too smart and had some brain damage made her untrainable.
My MIL glides thru labor, hands never stop moving and on auto pilot and enjoys the production. Worth 2 average hands, maybe more. I got another one now, same way.

 

[sberry]

We bought some cheaper tools that we were willing to take the risk on and as it turns out they worked better than we had hoped which made them even more appealing in some sense. We stock a NIB grinder, every part for it all assembled for,,,, 30$, same for coffee pots, new on sale and stock.
Not all the cheap works so well, it is a bit of a searching game but has even won out where its really a rather generic tool may be reboxed for branding. That Performax stuff is like that, same as DeWalt and Rigid at 1/2 or less the cost with a different color plastic, better cord and comes with a nice pack and some accys for an oscillating tool.
Some of the combination wrenches, the adjustables and screwdrivers, some of the flea stuff where the vendors shop well are about world class tools and if you stamped a brand name on it could not tell it apart even after decades of brutal use.

 

[sberry]

I got screwdrivers, some good, some fleas, if they are sharp they are good, if they are beat and worn not and doesn't seem directly correlated to a huge extent and they work. Aint no golden arm here doing something drastically different or more demanding than I do, if it works for me it probably will for most others too.
I am going to look at lighter drills, its getting to be a bit much. We use 28 for everything and I borrowed a 20 orange Wally BD the other day and it drove a handful of heavy 3 inch deck screws thru 2x4 no prob, felt like a toy.
We use 1 battery platform as it is and our big drills do it all, just getting a bit old for screw work. I havnt looked prices, rarely go in a store. I should have about 2 of them.

 

[Ramper]

This is NOT a 4.5" grinder. This is a 7" grinder

 

[Wamsutta]

That's a cool little grinder; a 7 inch disc in a mini grinder body. I'd definitely spend the money to repair it given its uniqueness. SearsPartsDirect says the brush holder is not on the drawing. I don't know if it's a brush holder or not since they're just saying "Holder."

http://www.searspartsdirect.com/model-number/7410/3108/0721050.html

If the holes for the brush holders are stripped out, you may have to replace the motor housing since the screws that hold the brush holders tap into the motor housing. It might be worth the $50 for a new housing considering the price of new grinder that's similar.

These little grinders are easy to work on; I could walk you through it.

 

[Bobcat753]

Yes it can. On eReplacement parts part number 6 is what is needed. It is a whole new body (the brush holder is integrated), the guts/ gearbox need to be switched over to it. I have done plenty of repairs on grinders and it is an easy job. . I can do it, send me a PM if you want.

 

[Wamsutta]

(the brush holder is integrated)

That's what I was suspecting, but wasn't sure. That Porter-Cable drawing isn't the best I've seen. I think I'm going to send you a PM myself because I have a question about my Bosch grinder.

 

[Bobcat753]

That's what I was suspecting, but wasn't sure. That Porter-Cable drawing isn't the best I've seen. I think I'm going to send you a PM myself because I have a question about my Bosch grinder.

Replied.
The drawings are always crappy. I can usually make pretty good sense of them.

 

[neophyte]

That's an older grinder design that was sold by Porter Cable years ago before Porter Cable and the Pentair Tool group were sold to Black & Decker. At the time that was manufactured Porter Cable or Pentair owned the German Flex tool brand. Flex was sort of similar to Porter Cable in that they manufactured a number of high end niche specialty tools for industrial use, although the tools were more for the masonry and metal industries whereas Porter Cable was more woodworking. The German Flex tools were sold in the USA as Porter Cable Flex. Flex also manufactured some tools some tools in the black and grey Porter Cable branding that were just sold under the PC brand name, and PC did the same for the Flex brand. The German made Porter Cable grinders look almost the same as the Flex branded grinders, but they were made without the fancy electrical modules that the Flex grinders had.

I don't know whether the parts are directly interchangeable, but Flex did sell a similar 7"/180mm grinder up untill recently. The Flex grinder is model LG 1707 FR. The motor housing component with the integral brush holders is part #254.600. The same part number is used on the Flex LST 1503 VR. On ereplacementparts the part is here.

http://www.ereplacementparts.com/motor-hsg-wbrush-holders-p-164514.html

The part is also listed at powerhousetoolparts.

http://www.powerhousetoolparts.com/part-list/flex/lst1503vr/

Again, I don't know whether the part would fit, but, if you really like the grinder, it might be a cheaper option to try than purchasing the Porter Cable part.