Anyone clean the inside of their angle grinders?

[Rocketman]

Looking at a angle grinder that burnt out on me at the weekend I opening it up to see what the problem was. The holes in the bearing holder at the front of the armature where all very nearly totally blocked with dust build up - caked on hard. In fact one was totally closed.

OK what was actually gone was the field assembly - burnt out where the two coils go around the brushes. I'm pretty sure though this was the result of very little cooling air being able to be drawn down the armature from the blocked holes.

Does anyone bother stripping their grinders down every now and again to keep the cooling channels open?

 

[WorkshopChris]

They get a regular blow out with the airline and depending on use at least once a year pull them apart and replace brushes if required or make a mental not to look again after so long depending on how far they have worn.

 

[Shedendman]

Yes i do,every now and again pull it apart and blow the dust etc out,go round it with an old tooth brush to give it a clean,plus refresh the grease if needed.
Its a Makita 115mm grinder i've had for 4 years and boy have i punished it somewhat,so yer, well worth giving any grinder a service

 

[Gareth J]

Sometimes I pressure wash grinder cases. Generally when something goes wrong rather than routinely. Pull out anything with a bearing and give it a good blast. The electronics don't seem to mind once thoroughly dried although i try not to get too much in them. I also had one of the coil loops burn out on me once, think it was fixed but can't remember how....maybe a bit of mig wire??

 

[blenkie1]

Often blow them out with an air line through the vents but that's it

 

[daleyd]

Sometimes I pressure wash grinder cases. Generally when something goes wrong rather than routinely. Pull out anything with a bearing and give it a good blast. The electronics don't seem to mind once thoroughly dried although i try not to get too much in them. I also had one of the coil loops burn out on me once, think it was fixed but can't remember how....maybe a bit of mig wire??

It obviously works for you so I'm not going to say it's wrong or anything, but I've not heard many people saying they pressure wash their electrical gear!!

 

[Chris Stevens]

Looking at a angle grinder that burnt out on me at the weekend I opening it up to see what the problem was. The holes in the bearing holder at the front of the armature where all very nearly totally blocked with dust build up - caked on hard. In fact one was totally closed.

OK what was actually gone was the field assembly - burnt out where the two coils go around the brushes. I'm pretty sure though this was the result of very little cooling air being able to be drawn down the armature from the blocked holes.

Does anyone bother stripping their grinders down every now and again to keep the cooling channels open?

Get a Makita to replace it. I have used them for years, and only one that ever failed was a faulty switch. Blow out with compressed air now and again, and check the brushes once a year, and you will have no probs with a Makita.

 

[brightspark]

just run mine in to the ground. the only thing I change is the flex .never paid more than 25 quid for them . all good makes and I have 8 all sizes just bin em when they stink and spark

 

[Rocketman]

Thanks. Looks like I should have been cleaning it out then. Will clean the new one out on occasion

Anyway the brushes were close to the line and the front bearing & front armature bearing probably could have been done with replacing. The field assembly took it over the threshold of repairing.

 

[Rocketman]

Get a Makita to replace it. I have used them for years, and only one that ever failed was a faulty switch. Blow out with compressed air now and again, and check the brushes once a year, and you will have no probs with a Makita.

It was a Makita It has lasted pretty good TBH. The fail was letting it suffocate.

 

[Rocketman]

just run mine in to the ground. the only thing I change is the flex .never paid more than 25 quid for them . all good makes and I have 8 all sizes just bin em when they stink and spark

I suppose that is the alternative option buy cheap and just run till dead.

 

[Gareth J]

It obviously works for you so I'm not going to say it's wrong or anything, but I've not heard many people saying they pressure wash their electrical gear!!

I would've thought the same. I repaired a few cattle clippers and serviced some hoof trimming angle grinders from a herdsman once. Every tool looked more like a giant turd than a legitimate tool. Only way I could face it was to blast with the washer.

Worked fine and I've been doing it ever since with no apparent I'll effect.

I was surprised

 

[daleyd]

I would've thought the same. I repaired a few cattle clippers and serviced some hoof trimming angle grinders from a herdsman once. Every tool looked more like a giant turd than a legitimate tool. Only way I could face it was to blast with the washer.

Worked fine and I've been doing it ever since with no apparent I'll effect.

I was surprised

I don't think I'll try it myself (I tend not to let my tools get covered in poo if at all possible) but if it works then why not!!

 

[rikrobson]

I use aldi or like ones and treat them like disposables

 

[Chris Stevens]

It was a Makita It has lasted pretty good TBH. The fail was letting it suffocate.

Why not blow out once in a while?

 

[daleyd]

I use aldi or like ones and treat them like disposables

I usually wait until Screwfix have Bosch or hitachi on offer (usually for about £25) though I did pick up an Aldi 5 inch one for the variable speed function. I have about 4 now so I shouldn't need to be buying any more any time soon!!

 

[rtbcomp]

I had a Wolf Grinderette for years so I thought it deserved a service and new brushes. Put it all back together and the commutator ripped to pieces.

If it aint broke, don't fix it.

 

[daleyd]

I had a Wolf Grinderette for years so I thought it deserved a service and new brushes. Put it all back together and the commutator ripped to pieces.

If it aint broke, don't fix it.

That sounds like military philosophy- take it apart every 12 months to find out why it's still working ( because it says so on the job card)!! Then put it back together and find it doesn't work any more!!

 

[brightspark]

killed it with kindness

 

[Rocketman]

Why not blow out once in a while?

The outside vents looked OK so I never bothered obviously inside was a different matter. Lesson learnt.