Fixing a Milwaukee 18 V drill

Our Milwaukee 18 V drill recently started having an issue with the hammer action. I have no idea how the hammer mechanism works or how one might inspect it to see if it is worth fixing. It actually sounds normal when running on both the regular drill and hammer drill, but it takes forever to even make a 1/8" deep hole. 

The only licensed Milwaukee repair shop is a bit far to drive to, so I am reluctant to go there and agree to their $145 "max cost" agreement. (They might be able to fix it for less, but probably won't be able to tell me when I bring it in.) 

Given this, and perhaps the fact that we got the drill second-hand for $100 six years ago, does anyone here have suggestions? 

If there was a tool repair shop on the Seattle Eastside that you recommend, then I'd go there. The Milwaukee repair shop I inquired at is in South Seattle.

If you have the model number, Id just recommend typing that into YouTube and google with "2712-20 drill repair" or something similar. I've had good luck with that. Also just disassembling it, and looking at a parts breakdown to see if anything looks broken can be useful. 

That sound like something in the "striker" mechanism has broken or a spring has gotten weak enough that it is no longer actuating the hammer sequence. 

How old is it? Whenever I take my Milwaukee stuff in they fix it for free under warranty.

https://www.ereplacementparts.com 

I have had good luck fixing several Milwaukee tools with parts from this website.  

What model number you working on? Exact problem?

Take it apart, see what's going on in there. It could just need a bit of cleaning/lubrication. Getting six years out of a 100$ hammer drill is pretty damn good

Thanks for the suggestions. 

The model is 2612-20, and I didn't have any luck finding repair videos or ereplacement parts for that model. It is past warranty and regardless, I am not the original owner. 

I will open it up and look to see if there is something obvious. (Just need to get the right size torx driver.)  

Curious to hear what your find. I have found that well used 18v drills have a sloppy hammer over time. My guess is that increased battery life paired with long term use, ends with heavy pressure and degradation of the metals involved. The pushing / leaver mechanism over time appears to loosen up.

Just my hypothesis. My guess is either the motor or the graduated metal bearing wears out, creating less impact force by increased allowances between the metals over time. Similar to a narrowing of bits over time.

I talked with the original owner, who just told me that "we" often don't grease the bits often enough. 

Well, that's something to try. In fact, I've never greased the bits and this poor drill has spent most of its life outside, stashed up by the crag. How often do other folks grease the bit? I didn't know we were supposed to do that.

I generally grease all of my bits very lightly then store them in a zip lock. Light oil works too. Greased bits attract dirt and dust from drilling,  so it's good to clean and regrease them before reinserting them into the drill. It will extent the life of your tool.

go to your local lumber yard. talk to the front desk. they often have a tool repair service for all the working guys . we drop off our broken shit. they send it out and you get it back a week later. fixed for too much $$$$

The whole end of a rotary hammer where the bit goes in is packed with grease from the factory. That grease needs to be topped off every few years, its sealed inside but seeps out as the hammer gets hot from drilling or even sitting in the sun.

Jon Nelson wrote:

I talked with the original owner, who just told me that "we" often don't grease the bits often enough. 

Well, that's something to try. In fact, I've never greased the bits and this poor drill has spent most of its life outside, stashed up by the crag. How often do other folks grease the bit? I didn't know we were supposed to do that.

Adding grease to the SDS chuck prolongs the lifespan of the chuck. I remove the rubber dust cap, then clean thoroughly (spray carb cleaner is quick and easy) and grease liberally every season. Rather than use expensive Bosch grease, I use automotive grease and pack the opening. No doubt manufacturers will promote their grease as special and sell $0.50 worth of grease for $10. The grease helps also helps prevent debris from getting past the rubber dust shield. Insert and remove the SDS bit a few times to distribute the grease. Wipe off the excess. Upon removing an SDS bit, wipe excess away from the opening to clear any dust/debris stuck to the dust cap. Once the SDS bit is removed without any visible grease on it, it's time to add grease. Wipe the SDS shank so that you are not introducing old, contaminated grease, into the orifice. 

Thanks a lot for the suggestions on cleaning and greasing the chuck, as well as the bits. I'll see if it solves this case, and regardless, will remember to follow them for the next drill.