Milwaukee Power-Plus Drill needs help

[motoretro]

My old Milwaukee Power-Plus Drill, #0502-20 is one of my favorite tools and has been my go to tool for drilling holes in most materials. It's made in Germany, is light and considering it uses NiCad Batteries has sufficient power. Unfortunately the batteries(2) have given up the ghost, literally at the same time, just won't take a charge anymore. I've noticed generic replacements on the market, while not cheap they're an option. Has any one used them? I've also come across companies which rebuild your old batteries, has anyone experience with this process? Can you update to Lithium? I imagine a new charger would be required. I know it's cheaper to go out and buy a new complete set-up although I like the quality, feel and size of the German made Milwaukee unit, I'd like to keep it.
Motoretro

 

[Outlawmws]

You can try to kick start the old batteries, but it's a gradually losing proposition. At some point they won't come back.

Assuming these are Ni-Cad: (Do NOT try this with any but a Ni-Cad battery!!!) Discharge them completely, then get/setup a power source 2-3X their rated voltage.

This can be a car battery, or two car batteries in series. Jumper the positive wire to the positive on the dead ones, and the use the negative wire and hit the negative for 2-5 seconds. Then check its voltage. if its up, then you got somewhere. What this does is blow/ short out the whiskers that are shorting out the battery plates.

If successful, put it on the regular charger and fully charge it. if unsuccessful, try again a time or three...

I've gotten a couple more years out of "dead" Ni-Cad's this way.

Another option is to ship your old batteries to a re-builder who will open up the cases and replace the dead cells with new...

 

[motoretro]

Thanks for the tip, certainly worth trying. I did discover one of the batteries is now holding a charge. Not sure if I didn't have it fully inserted into the charger or what. Yes they are the old Ni-Cads, about (10) years old.
Motoretro

You can try to kick start the old batteries, but it's a gradually losing proposition. At some point they won't come back.

Assuming these are Ni-Cad: (Do NOT try this with any but a Ni-Cad battery!!!) Discharge them completely, then get/setup a power source 2-3X their rated voltage.

This can be a car battery, or two car batteries in series. Jumper the positive wire to the positive on the dead ones, and the use the negative wire and hit the negative for 2-5 seconds. Then check its voltage. if its up, then you got somewhere. What this does is blow/ short out the whiskers that are shorting out the battery plates.

If successful, put it on the regular charger and fully charge it. if unsuccessful, try again a time or three...

I've gotten a couple more years out of "dead" Ni-Cad's this way.

Another option is to ship your old batteries to a re-builder who will open up the cases and replace the dead cells with new...