Electric Drill: Won't Turn on
If your electric drill won't turn on, not to worry, our experts have listed the most common parts that could be causing the issue. Use our repair guide to fix your drill yourself and have it running at peak performance again. Use your owner's manual for instructions on your model.
To check the armature for continuity, you can perform the 180-degree test. With the armature removed from the unit, stand it up on a bench with an ohmmeter attached to both sides of the commutator to measure the resistance of the windings. As you move it around the commutator, the reading number is not important. You are looking for a consistent...
To check the armature for continuity, you can perform the 180-degree test. With the armature removed from the unit, stand it up on a bench with an ohmmeter attached to both sides of the commutator to measure the resistance of the windings. As you move it around the commutator, the reading number is not important. You are looking for a consistent reading, indicating the windings are good. If it varies, radically reading zero, or open circuit, then the armature is no good. Another test is reading. If the ohmmeter reads zero, or open circuit, then that indicates a bad armature. The last test is a bar to ground test, which is done by placing one end of the ohmmeter to the tip of the shaft and the other to the commutator. If the armature is bad, install a new one.
Slide the armature into the field – the field will have a notch on it, indicating the front. Reinstall back in the drill housing and reinstall the spindle and chuck assembly back in the case. Reinstall the brush holder back in the case using a small-blade screwdriver to hold the brush down, giving you clearance on the commutator. Ensure all wires are tucked inside the channel, then reassemble the case back together.
Check the condition of the brushes – look for chips, damage, and anything else out of the ordinary. Measure the brushes. They should not be 1/8 of an inch or less. Press down on the brush to check for good spring compression. You can replace the brushes and springs by pressing the tab on the side of the holder to remove the brush and spring. Clean the holder with electrical contact cleaner and install new...
Check the condition of the brushes – look for chips, damage, and anything else out of the ordinary. Measure the brushes. They should not be 1/8 of an inch or less. Press down on the brush to check for good spring compression. You can replace the brushes and springs by pressing the tab on the side of the holder to remove the brush and spring. Clean the holder with electrical contact cleaner and install new brushes and springs. Make sure the tab locks in place on the brush holder. Reinstall the back in the drill case using a small screwdriver to hold the brush down, giving you clearance. Reassemble the drill case back together.
Using a multimeter, you can check the field for continuity. Set the multimeter to the ohmmeter and place a lead on each end of the field. If...
Using a multimeter, you can check the field for continuity. Set the multimeter to the ohmmeter and place a lead on each end of the field. If the reading is infinity, the field is bad and requires replacement. Install the armature in the field – the field will have a notch on it, indicating the front. Place the motor back on the drill and reattach the electrical connection on the motor. Install the spindle and chuck assembly back in the case. Reinstall the brush holders using a small-blade screwdriver to hold the brush down, allowing you clearance as you reinstall them on the commutator. Ensure all wires are tucked inside the channels and are out of the way. Close the case back together and secure it tight with the fasteners.