Milwaukee M18 drill: rebuild or replace

[rjacobs]

I have a, guessing, 10 year old Milwaukee 1/2" drill. Uses the M18 batteries. Got 3 other tools in the M18 class and 2 brand new 6ah batteries and 1 2ah thats maybe 2 years old, but still good.

Got my drill smoking hot a few weeks ago and the next time I used it had pieces of, guessing the carbon brushes coming out the exhaust vents.

This drill has been abused more than it should have taken over the years, but overall its in good shape.

Contemplating sending it in to Milwaukee for a rebuild, but unsure the cost. Seems free to send it in, then they examine the tool and tell you the cost to fix. So it sounds like I am out nothing to just send it in and see. Worse case is I tell them no, toss it in the trash and I go buy a new one anyway. I read on here cases of guys sending tools in and out of warranty in for repair and getting a brand new tool sent to them. Thats sounds great, but not expecting that as I am obviously out of warranty and I abused the tool.

Brand new one from HD is $99 or can buy from Amazon for like $75.

I see brush kits for like 10 bucks and if it needs an armature assembly(if I damaged it) thats $20. So $35 in parts for me to fix it... if thats all it needs(I havent opened it up yet, not sure I even want to).

Never had a tool that I needed to contemplate a repair on before so not sure which way to go.

 

[stonesfan68]

Milwaukee has made a lot of improvements in the last ten years. I’d look at the deals that you can get on a tool-only drill, or multiple tool deal.

 

[engineer2]

I'd look at a new brushless drill. Much more efficient and no brushes to wear out. Since they are often microprocessor controlled, they won't let the white smoke out. If you need heavy-duty, look for one with a metal gearbox.

 

[Ralf11]

turn it into a mini-lathe - and buy new

 

[rjacobs]

Milwaukee has made a lot of improvements in the last ten years. I’d look at the deals that you can get on a tool-only drill, or multiple tool deal.

Just need the drill. Like i said, 75 or so on Amazon and 99 at Home Depot.

I'd look at a new brushless drill. Much more efficient and no brushes to wear out. Since they are often microprocessor controlled, they won't let the white smoke out. If you need heavy-duty, look for one with a metal gearbox.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauk...pact-Drill-Driver-Tool-Only-2801-20/305506041

That what you are talking about? Looks to be $20 more than the brush version.

turn it into a mini-lathe - and buy new

well when the motor is spitting out pieces of something, the tool is not long for this world I fear.

 

[itwnexus]

Walmart sells the Milwaukee 2606-20 M18 Compact 1/2" Drill/Driver (Bare Tool) for
$60.99 + Free delivery

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Milwaukee-2606-20-M18-Compact-1-2-Drill-Driver-Bare-Tool/806608555?wmlspartner=wmtlabs&adid=22222222222000000000&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=e&wl1=o&wl2=c&wl3=10352200394&wl4=pla-1103028060075:aud-807612879&wl12=806608555_10000008031&wl14=2606-20&veh=sem&msclkid=026f394599a91f35af73666d43725cf8

 

[engineer2]

If I were looking at Milwaukee drills, I would likely go with the 2803. Drills are not a place to be cheap unless you are the occasional weekend warrior. You want an accurate chuck for small bits plus the power to mix concrete if need be. Like most manufacturers, they make a dozen different drills, and you need to compare specs to see what fits your needs.

 

[Rinspeed]

The brush card is fairly easy to replace and only cost $12 or so.

 

[Showkey]

I know most of us know Walmart is NOT Milwaukee dealer........they host a web site and take a cut of every sale transaction like Amazon. The drill mentioned is really ......

Sold & shipped byMass Depot LLC


CPO has the same drill for $64.99 and reman unit for $49.99 ......while HD has it for $99

Ebay and flee markets have the “broken kit” ( buy the kit -drill, Impact, batteries, charger) for $159......sell the pieces separated, as a small “business”.

$12 for brushes when a complete factory reman for $49 makes a DIY rebuild or repair suspect economy.

 

[Ralf11]

2803 is $140 at Amazon w/o batt.

 

[Tallpilot]

https://www.mechanixgear.com/products/milwaukee-m18-fuel-1-2-in-drill-driver-bare-tool-2803-20

Good price, actual authorized dealer. Awesome drill.

 

[rjacobs]

So it sounds like the overall theme is dont waste $1 on a 10+ year old drill... and get one of the new brushless ones.

 

[dnschmidt]

rjacobs, You can almost get the FUEL drill for free when Milwaukee runs it's battery promotions. I would never buy the drill by itself, wait for when you get a free 5.0 battery (which actually cost more than the drill) for free when you buy the bare tool drill.

 

[rjacobs]

rjacobs, You can almost get the FUEL drill for free when Milwaukee runs it's battery promotions. I would never buy the drill by itself, wait for when you get a free 5.0 battery (which actually cost more than the drill) for free when you buy the bare tool drill.

Well I kind of need the tool... I cant really afford to wait to make a decision.

I am going to send the drill off to Milwaukee since its free to send it in and get it diagnosed.

I will likely ALSO buy a new brushless drill in the next day or two.

Worse case I end up with 2 drills which isnt the end of the world. If my old drill costs to much to repair, I think I have a $50 personal limit, then I will just tell Milwaukee to chuck it in the trash.

 

[Bretny]

I believe a brush card for that drill should be about $10 shipped. If it works great, if not chuck it. It could also be a backup.

I went through 3 brush cards on my 10yr old 1/4in impact. I replaced it the last time and retired it to backup service.

 

[rjacobs]

So far, less than impressed by Milwaukee customer service...

Sent the drill in because, hey, its free to send it in and get a repair quote.

Never got a call or email on it after over 2 weeks they have had it so I called today. The lady says "oh, the warranty claim was denied" "uh yea, I know its out of warranty, I checked the box that it was out of warranty" "oh ok, ill send you an email to pay, it will pre-authorize up to $95".... Wait hold on... a new damn drill is about that price... im not paying that much, I need to know how much it is so i can decide... she has no info, cant provide it... So I authorized it... I hope I am pleasantly surprised, but I am guessing I wont be pleasantly surprised....and I will get a 12 year old, beat up drill back, for $95...

So looking like my gamble might not pay off...we shall see.

 

[hickfied]

The latest gen fuel drill is awesome, I just replaced my older fuel drill with it a few months ago. Feels solid, and almost has too much power.

 

[sai5021]

To add on to the rest, I can also vouch for the new gen Milwaukee drill. It's great

 

[rjacobs]

So to finalize this saga that has taken 1.5 months from door to door.

I sent in the drill as I posted above figuring what the hell, its free to send in. After not hearing anything for almost 3 weeks I called had the conversation with Milwaukee as outlined in post 16...

After another 2 weeks(some time last week) with not hearing anything, not seeing my credit card charged, no drill, etc... I called again and the lady I spoke with that time was more helpful, said she would look into why I hadnt received my drill or a replacement drill back yet and the repair depot had never updated the ticket except it said "repair authorized, payment authorized"... she said she would call or email me... never heard back from them.

Friday of last week(the 11th) I saw my credit card was charged for the full $95 that Milwaukee says is the max the repair will cost... I thought "damn, I better be getting a fully rebuilt drill back vs. the well worn ************* I sent in just with a new $15 set of brushes in it". They give you ZERO information over the phone of what the repair is needed, etc...

Today FedEx rings the doorbell and its my drill... I open the package. They sent me a new drill. A 2602-20. I sent in a 2601-20. This one is slightly different than the 2601, says it has hammer function, where as my old one didnt. I hope you can turn that off as I dont really need it. I guess I am happy to get a new drill sent to me(although I would have chosen the brushless as you all suggested above), but overall Milwaukee customer service is lacking in the communication department.

Overall score for Milwaukee customer service and repair is a C, maybe a C+/B-....
-Glad I got a new drill vs. my old beat up one back...
-wish I had known WHAT exactly I was authorizing on the "repair" vs. just "well it will authorize up to $95" because I wouldnt have authorized it for what they did, I would have simply bought the brushless as you all recommended above.
-wish they had kept communication up via automatic email during the various steps of the process. They make you register online before you send it so the serial number that you send it is linked to your email and phone number.

 

[Aileron]

What happens when they pay a tech a hour opening up the drill, making out a parts list,to give a bid of say 55.00 and then, gets told to just trash it? Sure they maybe sell a new drill and most likely as what is happening in the above posts, will be hunted down and bought for the least amount most likely from a reseller. Now they are out the money they put into the bid for a repair. What happens in 6 months if the drill is repaired , the drill hipcups and now someone wants it warrantied because only at that time they put a brush card in but now the switch is flaky. Maybe their fault,maybe not, but they now take a chance of getting their reputation ruined because of a 10 year old worn out drill. I would have thrown it away when it hit the door.

 

[Bigblockyeti]

I can relate to this a bit but from the opposite end. I was a professional power tool tech, factory authorized for all the major brands and did this until '08. I saw tools go from $300 new and able to repair them for $30 to $80 new and able to repair them for $80. I'm taking about everything from cordless drill to jackhammers to pneumatic nailers. It was a function of how the tool was designed, the cost of the components, market labor wage and in the end, where the tool was being manufactured. The cost of the components has largely fallen given massive orders and those same Cutler-Hammer switches being replaced with HoFlungDung switches. Paying the same person $32/hr. in '08 vs. $17/hr. in '95 also adds greatly to the bottom line. As far as how the tools are designed, sub-assemblies (save for a can motor) in small consumer tools didn't exist 30 years ago, now more tools are designed this way than not. This is especially true with pneumatic tools where a trigger valve or firing valve could be rebuilt for $10 in parts and $10 in labor but now, it actually takes less time but cost more (labor $$$ ^) and those parts are available in a kit that might cost $70. Putting upwards of $90 in a $150 tool doesn't make nearly the sense of putting $20 in a $250 tool. When I tore something apart, I alway made note of what the customer had verbally pre-approved, if it was obvious, like a cut cord, I could give a very accurate estimate if not quote with a 5 second diagnosis. Something like a jobsite compressor that wouldn't turn over was certainly more involved requiring more communication after the root failure and collateral damage was assessed. I would have never had a customer pre-approve the cost of a new replacement to fix a 10 year old tool, but to me that was common sense. Today, common sense is very unfashionable!

 

[Tduby]

So long story short you over payed for a new drill that took forever to get and now I you have no warranty good thing you came for advice next time try listening have a nice day ��

 

[captain14]

Did the package give any instructions on a customer survey on
“How well Did Milwaukee handle this repair For a performance review?”

I seem to get these everywhere now from Fast food to Home Depot.

 

[rjacobs]

What happens when they pay a tech a hour opening up the drill, making out a parts list,to give a bid of say 55.00 and then, gets told to just trash it? Sure they maybe sell a new drill and most likely as what is happening in the above posts, will be hunted down and bought for the least amount most likely from a reseller. Now they are out the money they put into the bid for a repair. What happens in 6 months if the drill is repaired , the drill hipcups and now someone wants it warrantied because only at that time they put a brush card in but now the switch is flaky. Maybe their fault,maybe not, but they now take a chance of getting their reputation ruined because of a 10 year old worn out drill. I would have thrown it away when it hit the door.

Had they called or emailed and said "hey the drill is to old to repair economically, but we are willing to cut you a great deal on a new drill" I would have jumped on that. Or had they said "hey it needs a $15 set of brushes and $10 shipping back to you and it has no warranty" I would have also likely done that. But to authorize a repair with zero information, I admit, was dumb on my part.

 

[rjacobs]

So long story short you over payed for a new drill that took forever to get and now I you have no warranty good thing you came for advice next time try listening have a nice day ��

thanks for the condescending attitude....

And it has a 5 year warranty on the tool.

you also have a nice day *******...

 

[rjacobs]

Did the package give any instructions on a customer survey on
“How well Did Milwaukee handle this repair For a performance review?”

I seem to get these everywhere now from Fast food to Home Depot.

none...

Like I said a TINY bit of communication during the process could have changed the course, but with less than ZERO communication(I say less than zero because I had to do all the communicating) its impossible to make sound decisions.

 

[BLUE72CAMARO]

Had they called or emailed and said "hey the drill is to old to repair economically, but we are willing to cut you a great deal on a new drill" I would have jumped on that. Or had they said "hey it needs a $15 set of brushes and $10 shipping back to you and it has no warranty" I would have also likely done that. But to authorize a repair with zero information, I admit, was dumb on my part.

Chock it up as a learning experience man! End of the day you got a new drill/ better than what you sent in for probably 40-50 dollars over what you thought it would take to fix your clapped out old drill.

Problem with your estimate above is your not taking into account the labor of the person to first disassemble and diagnose the drill before giving an estimate. Store the disassembled drill for however long it might take for you to decide and not loose parts. Then once given the go ahead actually change parts/reassemble the unit and box it back up and ship it back. None of these things can be done for free, I assume they are paying somewhat experienced technicians to work on these so labor is probably not cheap. Even if it was a 10 minute fix you were never getting it back for under $50 in my opinion.

All being said I just shipped in my fuel impact driver for an issue today, it should be under warranty but we shall see.

 

[Tduby]

thanks for the condescending attitude....

And it has a 5 year warranty on the tool.

you also have a nice day *******...

I doubt it has a 5 year warranty since it is a replacement not new even if it does you still over paid went longer without a tool than you needed and still haven’t learned anything but thanks I am having a great day