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Posted by David Sherman [24.32.202.83] on Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 16:55:22 :
My Milwaukee grinder quit today. It's been making funky noises for a while and getting kind of hot, but it's a 12 amp motor so I figured hot was normal. I have not used it all that much, but it's out of warranty by now. Took it apart (at least it's take-apart-able) and found one brush worn down to nothing, with the stranded wire that's supposed to connect it to the brush holder loose. The other brush is nearly new, and the commutator is black, but not worn down, confirming my lack of use of it. Brushes can't be replaced individually with a standard off-the-shelf motor brush but have to be replaced in a unit with the holder assembly, which of course is a Milwaukee part. I will probably try it, if I can find some brushes reasonable since the windings seem to have conductivity, though I can't tell if there are shorted turns.
I just wanted to grumble because I thought this was what I was avoiding when I quit buying "cheap Chinese imports". Is it possible that Milwaukee tools are now just cheap Chinese imports too? I'm sure the Chinese know how to make red plastic by now. I have a Metabo that I usually keep the wire wheel on, so I can use that in the meantime. Not sure if I want to chance another Milwaukee if I can't fix this one.
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