Archived from the Tools In Action forum (Power Tools). This thread is read-only.
I have a couple Milwaukee 18v brushless drills that have started acting up, or rather, not at all, for really short periods. Simple explanation is that very occasionally they just stop running for a little bit. They’re not low on battery power, I always check that first. They just stop running for about 20-30 seconds, sometimes taking the battery out and putting it back fixes this, sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes the light on the underside will come on when I squeeze the trigger, sometimes it doesn’t.
Just wondering if this has happened to anyone else and what the causes might be.
Sounds like overload protection. Is the battery fuel gauge flashing when it stops?
jtkendall wrote:
Just now, jtkendall said:Sounds like overload protection. Is the battery fuel gauge flashing when it stops?
Nope, but then it’s one of those gauges that only lights up when you press it.
Still, overload protection sounds believable.
Are you pushing them hard? It’s weird you have two with the same issue. Generally with two of anything acting up in the same way you have to look at the common ground for the cause of the issue.
I’m going to second overload protection. If you use them for a lot of repeated holes with no break in between they can get hot and the overload protection will shut them down until they cool off. I’ve had it happen on impact drivers a few times.
BMack37 wrote:
2 hours ago, BMack37 said:Are you pushing them hard? It’s weird you have two with the same issue. Generally with two of anything acting up in the same way you have to look at the common ground for the cause of the issue.
Maybe? I’m taking out a lot of screws, and sometimes they’re stuck pretty good so I have to press or they get stripped.
justinkendall wrote:
1 hour ago, justinkendall said:I’m going to second overload protection. If you use them for a lot of repeated holes with no break in between they can get hot and the overload protection will shut them down until they cool off. I’ve had it happen on impact drivers a few times.
As above, not holes, but screws, and yeah they pretty much run in short bursts for long periods, until I find something that requires prying or hammering to take apart.
Might be worth checking your clutch settings. First brushless drill I had I thought was defective and cutting out because I didn’t realize the “clutch” didn’t make noises like the old ones, it just kills the motor.
I have a 2703 fuel gen 2 drill that did this a couple weeks ago. I didn’t think I was pushing it real hard I think I was on my 5th hole drilling 3/8″ holes in 3/16″ steel. It drilled a 1/4″ pilot hole just fine and I went to switch drill bits, pulled the trigger and nothing. I had to take the battery off and put it back on to get it going again. Not sure what caused it but so far it hasn’t been an issue since.
I had a similar issue with my old 1st gen Fuel impact.
Pop battery on, it would work for awhile, then nothing. Take battery off and back on, it would work. Then I noticed it was only happening with specific battery. Took it in for service and they gave me a new one.
I get it on my Ryobi BL drill, just have to take battery off and back on and she’s good to go. This is not temp related, just a periodic spasm in the electronics.
Try clamping your hand over the motor to gauge temps. My M28 combi can run so hot that the air coming out of the motor vents starts to cause discomfort to my hand! Never shut down yet though. Lordy, I love that drill!
You may be covering the vents which can cause faster heat buildup and will trigger the temperature saftey. I have heard Milwaukee’s ventilation is something their tools struggle with.
Jronman wrote:
2 hours ago, Jronman said:You may be covering the vents which can cause faster heat buildup and will trigger the temperature saftey. I have heard Milwaukee’s ventilation is something their tools struggle with.
Wouldn’t surprise me if that’s the case…compared to Makita and other companies the Milwaukee power drills/impacts have noticeably fewer vents.