It ran when I parked it …

[Half-fast eddie]

Milwaukee 3/8” vsr drill model 233-02. 20+ yrs old. Cord has been replaced twice, no other maintenance. I love that drill. Last used about 3-4 weeks ago, ran fine. Today … plugged it in, pulled trigger … nothing. No smell, no smoke. I plugged in a different tool and verified power to the outlet. Any ideas?

 

[seber]

Split the cases and check the trigger switch.

 

[KnurledNut]

Id start with the smack test...

 

[Half-fast eddie]

Id start with the smack test...

It passed that test. Or didn’t. Whatever ... smack had no effect.

How can i tell if the brushes are bad?

 

[seber]

Those black plugs on either side with screwdriver slots are brush covers. Screw them out and the brushes will follow. As long as there is carbon left they should be fine. It would be highly unusual for them to fail without notice.

 

[RTM]

Make sure the fwd reverse switch is fully one way or the other is my first test.

 

[bob15]

It passed that test. Or didn’t. Whatever ... smack had no effect.

How can i tell if the brushes are bad?

Brushes won't go bad with the drill just sitting there.

I would moving the forward/reverse switch.

What makes you think the cord is still good? One drill - 3 different cords?

 

[Davefr]

Maybe when the cord was last replaced it wasn't a good connection. Don't the wires slip into slots on the trigger? Maybe they weren't pushing in all the way. It's easy enough to remove the shell and find root cause.

 

[Half-fast eddie]

The cord was replaced because it was so badly cracked.
Just for fun I will pull the brushes, easy to do. Then open the case.

 

[American Locomotive]

Brushes can stick from sitting, so worth a try to test. It's possible the switch unit died, but once again, very unusual for it to fail while sitting.

I'd place my bets on a loose connection or a break in the cord.

 

[ecotec]

Id start with the smack test...

One time is maintenance, two times is abuse.

 

[webscrounger]

I've had similar problems with corded Milwaukee Sawzalls. Variable speed switch (design) issue. Bang it and is sometimes works (once maybe), mostly not. A copper brush inside the switch weakens with age/use and fails to make contact to adjust voltage/speed. Replacing the switch is the best fix for this. Re-adjusting the brush to make contact just doesn't last if it works at all. Don't know if your switch internals are the prone to the same problem. You could measure connectivity/voltage into and out of it to see if that is the issue. Just a thought.

 

[lardy1]

Timely thread. I just today changed out the switch on my old 80's era Milwakee 6365 circular saw. The original is obsolete and the new version is wired differently if you ever need to change one. It's simple but the switch doesn't inform you or give the different wiring needed for it to work.

 

[The Cobbler]

first thing I'd do is make sure power is reaching the switch ( from the cord) , next see if power is passing thru the switch,either by checking continuity or voltage then check the brushes to see that there is continuity to them . then look deeper .

 

[metaldad]

50 years of power tool use, some beat into the ground.
never had a problem with brush problems.
and, i repair my tools
usually the cord or the switch.
in the case of metabo grinders, it's the damn pc board