Two spare pieces came with my drill - look like elec contact

[ToolbeltDandy]

Two spare pieces came with my drill but are not mentioned in the documentation.



They appear to be small metal masses connected to springs which separate the masses from small metal plates. The mass and plate are connected to each other by a copper wire.

Any idea what they're for?

 

[Monkeh]

They're replacement brushes. You shouldn't need them for a while, so keep them somewhere safe. And label them.

 

[ToolbeltDandy]

Okay. Thanks a lot.

 

[mattylad]

+1 on the label.

Perhaps tape them into the drill case so they are always available.

 

[wotan]

the mind boggles. )

 

[ToolbeltDandy]

They're now labelled and stored! What are the symptoms of a drill whose brushes need to be replaced? Does it stop altogether or start to make a noise or what? Thanks.

 

[Monkeh]

They're now labelled and stored! What are the symptoms of a drill whose brushes need to be replaced? Does it stop altogether or start to make a noise or what? Thanks.

Noises, hugely excessive sparking, ceasing to function.. varies, but you'll notice.

 

[wotan]

They're now labelled and stored! What are the symptoms of a drill whose brushes need to be replaced? Does it stop altogether or start to make a noise or what? Thanks.

excessive sparking is the first symptom, don't ignore this, as you will stand a good chance of burning the communtator surface, the brushes should be good for about two years normal use.

Wotan

 

[Karis]

If you actually manage to wear out the original motor brushes I’d be surprised. If you manage to wear out the original motor brushes & the rest of your drill still works OK, it must be a good one & I’d be very, very surprised!

 

[wotan]

If you actually manage to wear out the original motor brushes I’d be surprised. If you manage to wear out the original motor brushes & the rest of your drill still works OK, it must be a good one & I’d be very, very surprised!

In a very dusty atmosphere this is possible, the fan on the drill draws in air and blows it through the motor.

Wotan

 

[Karis]

In a very dusty atmosphere this is possible, the fan on the drill draws in air and blows it through the motor. Wotan

I’ve no doubt it’s possible but I’ve had quiet a few drills over the years & all have had a pretty hard life but I've never had to replace any brushes. I’ve had a couple of drill motors die on me; an old style 2 speed (gears) Bosch where the motor got so hot it melted the casing before it gave up (obviously no cut out) & a variable speed Screwfix which died after just 15 months. I go through cordless drills (on my 5th in 10 years) but not because they wear out, the batteries die after a couple of years & it’s cheaper to buy a new drill than a pair of replacement batteries, if you can still find them.

Just for interest, amongst my current drill collection I have a 4 year old heavy duty variable speed JCB, an 8 year old SDS breaker that’s used mainly to demolish walls, a 15 year old variable speed Bosch & a nigh on 40 year old 2 speed (gears) B&D; back then they were a reasonably well built drill. The chuck bearing is completely knackered on the B&D so it’s only used it to power brushes & rotary drills but otherwise it’s still OK.

 

[ToolbeltDandy]

I suppose you've already thrown away your old drills but for future reference, rechargeable batteries in many devices can be replaced yourself fairly cheaply. You should use a soldering gun and not a soldering iron and keep the duration of contact to an absolute minimum before playing a wet cloth to cool the connection immediately (the proper way to connect tabs between batteries requires a relatively expensive welder of some sort).[/url]

 

[^woody^]

It seems that you only get these extra bushes with cheapo Chinese drills. I've never got any with any of the drills from the main makers

 

[big-all]

It seems that you only get these extra bushes with cheapo Chinese drills. I've never got any with any of the drills from the main makers

yes i fully agree but quite ironic as the cheap ones seldom get used enough to wear out the brushes as they are bought mostly by diyers or people like you or me as a second or third handy spare or back up tool