Power Drill Repair

A cordless drill is a power drill that uses rechargeable batteries instead of a corded plug for power.  An impact drill combines rotational power with concussive power. An impact drill is similar to a cordless drill in that it rotates and drives the screw inwards.

Each part of a power drill can be subject to repair so being able to identify which part needs to be worked on can be a useful skill. Parts of a power drill include:

1. Power source
   • cord or battery
   • usually located at the base of the grip
2. Chuck
   • insertion point of drill bit
   • a mechanism into which you fasten the drill or screwdriver bit
   • secured by a key in older models
3. Trigger
   • rotation activation
   • sometimes accelerated by pulling all the way
4. Reverse switch
   • controls bit spin direction
   • forward for drilling into, and the reverse for extracting
5. Drill shaft
   • motor location
6. Drill Bit
   • hole maker

Pro tip: Tighten the drill bit by rotating the chuck key to all three holes in the chuck. This will help to keep the drill bit centered.

Warning: Make sure that the drill is disconnected from any power source before attempting any repair.

Some common issues and resolutions include:

Drill won't turn on

Excessive sparks from motor

Motor spins but chuck doesn't