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.
Armatures
The armature is the power-producing unit of the motor, located inside the field of the motor. To check the armature for continuity, remove the screws securing the case of the drill together and separate. Locate the brush holders and remove them by gently pulling the wire up. Remove the spindle and chuck assembly from the drill then lift the motor assembly up and slide the armature out of the field. Clean the armature with electrical contact cleaner. Inspect for any burn marks or damage that may indicate a problem.
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...
The armature is the power-producing unit of the motor, located inside the field of the motor. To check the armature for continuity, remove the screws securing the case of the drill together and separate. Locate the brush holders and remove them by gently pulling the wire up. Remove the spindle and chuck assembly from the drill then lift the motor assembly up and slide the armature out of the field. Clean the armature with electrical contact cleaner. Inspect for any burn marks or damage that may indicate a problem.
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.
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.
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Carbon Brushes
The carbon brushes provide the electrical current to the armature by riding on the commutator. If these brushes become damaged in any way, or become worn out, it can impact their ability to provide electrical current to the armature. To check the condition of the brushes, separate the two halves of the case by removing the screws. Locate the brush holders and gently pull on the wire to remove the brush holders from the drill.
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...
The carbon brushes provide the electrical current to the armature by riding on the commutator. If these brushes become damaged in any way, or become worn out, it can impact their ability to provide electrical current to the armature. To check the condition of the brushes, separate the two halves of the case by removing the screws. Locate the brush holders and gently pull on the wire to remove the brush holders from the drill.
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.
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.
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Fields
The field coil is an electromagnet used to generate the magnetic field, needed in an electro-magnetic machine. If the drill will not turn on, you can check the field for continuity. Remove the screws securing the case of the drill together and separate. Remove the brush holder by gently pulling the wire up and using a small screwdriver on the other side for an even lift, if needed. Remove the spindle and chuck assembly from the case. Disconnect the electrical connectors on the motor and lift the motor assembly out of the case and then slide the armature out of the field. Clean the field with electrical contact cleaner and inspect the field for burn marks, or anything else out of the ordinary.
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 field coil is an electromagnet used to generate the magnetic field, needed in an electro-magnetic machine. If the drill will not turn on, you can check the field for continuity. Remove the screws securing the case of the drill together and separate. Remove the brush holder by gently pulling the wire up and using a small screwdriver on the other side for an even lift, if needed. Remove the spindle and chuck assembly from the case. Disconnect the electrical connectors on the motor and lift the motor assembly out of the case and then slide the armature out of the field. Clean the field with electrical contact cleaner and inspect the field for burn marks, or anything else out of the ordinary.
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.
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.
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Power Cords
The cord supplies power to the drill. Examine the cord for any cracks, splits, cuts, burn marks or anything else out of the ordinary. Any of these indications, you will need to replace the cord as it cannot deliver electricity to the drill and also is a safety concern. If the power cord looks good, it may have come loose inside the drill. Open the case of the drill by removing the screws and separating the two halves of the case. Check the connections where the power cord is connected, to make sure there is a good connection (if the cord is in good shape). If the cord requires replacement, remove it from the connections in the drill. Remove the cord guard and install the guard on the new cord. Attach the cord to the appropriate connections inside the drill. Ensure the guard is in place, on the housing, when...
The cord supplies power to the drill. Examine the cord for any cracks, splits, cuts, burn marks or anything else out of the ordinary. Any of these indications, you will need to replace the cord as it cannot deliver electricity to the drill and also is a safety concern. If the power cord looks good, it may have come loose inside the drill. Open the case of the drill by removing the screws and separating the two halves of the case. Check the connections where the power cord is connected, to make sure there is a good connection (if the cord is in good shape). If the cord requires replacement, remove it from the connections in the drill. Remove the cord guard and install the guard on the new cord. Attach the cord to the appropriate connections inside the drill. Ensure the guard is in place, on the housing, when you reassemble the case back together.
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Switches
The switch turns the power on and off to the motor. To check the switch for continuity, remove the screws securing the two halves of the case together and then separate the case in two. Remove the electrical connection and do not mix up where they attach too. Remove the switch from the drill. Attach a multimeter set to an ohmmeter and to each wire on the switch. This is to check the switch for continuity. The switch should read infinity, or zero, in the off position and, when pressed, you should get a reading. If you do not get a reading in the on position, then the switch is not capable of supplying electricity and require replacement. Install the new switch in the housing and reattach the wires to the correct connections. Reassemble the case back together.
The switch turns the power on and off to the motor. To check the switch for continuity, remove the screws securing the two halves of the case together and then separate the case in two. Remove the electrical connection and do not mix up where they attach too. Remove the switch from the drill. Attach a multimeter set to an ohmmeter and to each wire on the switch. This is to check the switch for continuity. The switch should read infinity, or zero, in the off position and, when pressed, you should get a reading. If you do not get a reading in the on position, then the switch is not capable of supplying electricity and require replacement. Install the new switch in the housing and reattach the wires to the correct connections. Reassemble the case back together.
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Holder
The brush holders provide stable support of the brush in the proper position, in relation to the contact surface of the commutator. If the holder has become damaged and can no longer support the brush properly, it will need to be replaced. Separate the case in two halves and located and remove the brush holders by gently pulling up on the wires, attached to the holders. Disconnect the electrical connections. Inspect the brush holders for any damage. A broken brush holder will not allow the brush to keep contact with the commutator, impacting electrical contact. You can replace the holder by pressing the tab on the side to remove the spring and brush. Install the spring and brush in the new holder and reattach the electrical connection. Reinstall back into the drill case, using a small screwdriver to hold down the brush so it does not interfere with the commutator....
The brush holders provide stable support of the brush in the proper position, in relation to the contact surface of the commutator. If the holder has become damaged and can no longer support the brush properly, it will need to be replaced. Separate the case in two halves and located and remove the brush holders by gently pulling up on the wires, attached to the holders. Disconnect the electrical connections. Inspect the brush holders for any damage. A broken brush holder will not allow the brush to keep contact with the commutator, impacting electrical contact. You can replace the holder by pressing the tab on the side to remove the spring and brush. Install the spring and brush in the new holder and reattach the electrical connection. Reinstall back into the drill case, using a small screwdriver to hold down the brush so it does not interfere with the commutator. Reassemble the case back together, ensuring the wires are out of the way.
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