Makita cordless drill problem

pegasus1457 · #1 (**permalink**) 12-05-2009

I have a Makita 12V cordless drill which uses a Makita 1210 battery.
I have had 2 batteries. One of them failed after several years. I replaced it with a bargain basement 3rd party battery which was dead on arrival. I gave up trying to save a few $ and bought a Makita 1210 battery from an online source.

After charging, I put the new battery in the drill and nothing happens. Like it's dead. It puts out 13.8V measured with a DVM.

I have gone back and forth between the old and new battery and the result is reproducible -- the new battery behaves as though it is dead.

I have verified that the battery model number is correct.

Does anyone have an idea as to how a battery can measure 13.8V and still not run the drill motor?

Faster · #2 (**permalink**) 12-05-2009

Must be a contact issue, no???

btrayfors · #3 (**permalink**) 12-05-2009

Drill motor might be bad, not the battery. It happens after several years of salt air exposure on a boat.

Think I'd cut my losses here and go for a DeWalt 18-volt drill. Several models...lots of accessories which all take the same battery. Two sizes of batteries. They last forever...great staying power.

Bill

Gene T · #4 (**permalink**) 12-05-2009

Contact issue is likely. It is possible the new battery has a coating on its contacts. Also see if the contacts in the drill have flattened out a bit or are corroded.

merc2dogs · #5 (**permalink**) 12-06-2009

the last few weeks I've been using a hitachi, lithium-ion cordless. Very impressive. lightweight, compact size, lots of torque. Currently own about a dozen cordless (nicad) tools, saws, drills, etc. plan to swap over to lithium versions as I can. Ken.

pegasus1457 · #6 (**permalink**) 12-06-2009

I have been playing with the drill some more. Learned that I can get it to work with the new battery if the battery is not inserted all the way (1/4" shy of fully inserted). It must be something funny about the contacts on the new battery -- I have been doing an eyeball comparison of the contacts on both batteries and can't see any difference.

The drill doesn't live on the boat. I only take it aboard when I have a job to do.

The battery is long (about 6 in) and that means the contacts in the drill are
almost inaccessible.

I have asked the vendor to exchange the battery for a new one. Let's see what happens.

merc2dogs · #7 (**permalink**) 12-07-2009

Check that the contacts on the drill itself are in good shape and clean. the contacts in the drill are typically just a curved strip of metal like ), It's not unusual for them to get dirty, flatten out a little, or get some crud around them that covers the contact area. I've managed to renew a few by slipping a pick behind them, then pressing on the loose end to recurve it. Wipe them with contact cleaner on a swap, or snag an emery board and polish the contact surface if it's dirty or tarnished. Makita's can be a pain to clean out because they have deep battery pockets. Ken.

pegasus1457 · #8 (**permalink**) 12-13-2009

I got a hacksaw blade behind the contacts inside the drill and bent them slightly outward.

Now the new battery works as it should.

Thanks to all for the input.

tager · #9 (**permalink**) 12-13-2009

If you don't have good conductivity, the voltage can be sufficient, while the amperage is limited by the poor conductivity. Basically the potential is there, but the pathway is not open wide enough! It's like that small crack in the lock doors, as opposed to an open spillway.