Dewalt DCD776 drill - worth trying to fix hammer action?

[skotl]

I've got two DCD776 drills and love them. Problem is that a few weeks ago my mate dropped one in a muddy puddle (yes - genuinely wasn't me!) so I liberally WD40'd it and wiped down the outside and it all works good as new.
Except I can't engage the hammer action.

It's not the end of the world as the other one still works, plus I tend to use a corded hammer drill when I need to.

So I'd have a go at fixing it but would rather the hammer action stayed broken than have 1,000 yellow dewalt bits and bobs all over the kitchen table with zero chance of getting it reassembled.

I googled service / maintenance manual but can't find one. The user manual is easily available, and there is an exploded parts list, which is I guess as good as I'm going to get:

My question for the masses is this: should I just leave well alone, knowing that it's main use as a drill/driver is unencumbered, or should I dive in and try to fix it?

 

[Parm]

Every time I’ve opened a cordless drill to this level it’s always ended in disaster

 

[Barking Mat]

Use thé other one for hammer action. I'm with Parm for this.

Sometimes they lock up the rings.

 

[skotl]

Every time I’ve opened a cordless drill to this level it’s always ended in disaster

Use the other one for hammer action. I'm with Parm for this.

Sometimes they lock up the rings.

Yep - that's what I'm thinking. Discretion being the better part of valour and all that.

 

[skotl]

Hmmmm... what do y'all think of the idea of me leaving it nose down in a vat of... oil...? overnight. Might loosen out whatever slimy gunk got in there?

Or would that melt whatever grease the nice people in Dewalt stuff up 'em as they're leaving the factory?

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

I took one apart because the gearbox had been wrecked by some fool using it with a wire wheel to strip a whole car (me)!

They're a bit fiddly but it's doable...reckon just some dirt got in. Mine was toast (bearings worn out)....but I found a guy on eBay selling the replacement gearbox with chuck included...I think I paid £20 and it was a simple drop in (no fiddling about). So I got 6+8 as I bit and dropped it into the body.

 

[Barking Mat]

Hmmmm... what do y'all think of the idea of me leaving it nose down in a vat of... oil...? overnight. Might loosen out whatever slimy gunk got in there?

Or would that melt whatever grease the nice people in Dewalt stuff up 'em as they're leaving the factory?

WD and compressed air?

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

I'd take the body off....you might find a load of dirt is blocking the insides....the gearbox disassembles fairly easily.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Na. Keep it as a drill.
Don't think I ever used the hammer action on screw guns.

Buy a cordless hammer drill.

 

[EM1L4]

Seems you can pick up another one for £35... worst case just get another +1 for a battery SDS drill, a million times better than a combi

 

[skotl]

Milo might have tipped me over the edge - I might take it apart knowing I can buy a replacement for £35 if I screw it up

 

[Barking Mat]

Hmm, Pictures then ...

 

[skotl]

Hmm, Pictures then ...

I'll do a "before", but can't guarantee an "after"

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Theres a gearbox on ebay for £14...even cheaper

 

[Dev]

Might be some clues on how it comes apart/goes together here;

 

[mike os]

Really not worth the time let alone the effort

 

[Robotstar5]

Really not worth the time let alone the effort

But that doesn't normally stop us

 

[Tom O]

No pain no gain! Come on “ You know ya wanna! “

 

[skotl]

Might be some clues on how it comes apart/goes together here;

That's really helpful - thanks!

Edit: I was full of confidence until he said "If the guys at the dewalt factory can put it together, then so can I, right? Huh... well, that's not good"

 

[Parm]

I'll do a "before", but can't guarantee an "after"

Come on now. This is going to be front row premium entertainment

just imagine the forum tension as you pull it apart, clean it up then just as you start putting it together one little pesky thing Flies off under the work table .....