smoking drill motors?

[Ryan M.]

It didn't happen to us, so I assume it isn't normal.

[Aignam]

When Team 25 ran our drill motors last year for extended periods of time or under strenuous conditions, they would heat up and the plastic 'spiders' would begin to melt in the couplings. Not certain if this is related at all.

[Jay H 237]

I'm sorry, this is a nonsmoking forum please extinguish your motors before entering. (just kidding!!! )

Seriously, with out seeing the motors it's tough to tell if something is truly wrong. It is possible the "smoke" you saw could have been dust that blew out of the motor when it was first turned on but since you mentioned a burnt smell I'll lean away from the dust idea. It is also possible that during assembly at the factory grease could have gotten somewhere it shouldn't have, say near the brushes or electrical contacts, and that is what you saw plus it could also give a burning smell. The final possibility is that something is wrong with the motor or the way you hooked them up. You did mention "motors" which I take as more than one and the possibility of two defective motors in the same kit is unlikely although still possible. Did you do any modifications or disassembly to the motors before running them? Can you see anything burnt or discolored in the motor? You may have to use a flashlight near the motor vents and if there was anything it would most likely be at or near the brushes. My last question would be did you run them anymore and the smoke was only at the initial start up? We haven't had any smoke from our Bosch motors.

[quickie25]

We did do a little engineering on the motors, but nothing that would smoke or cause melting. We have not tested the motors again since we saw the smoke. We will be dissasembling the motors tomorrow for another looksee. I will let everyone know if we find the problem and a solution.

Thanks for your responses....

[Caleb Fulton]

I have seen these motors:

1) Smoke

2) De-solder themselves (no joke)

3) Cut off their own fins because the black plastic melted and hit other components inside

4) Break off their black connectors after falling a mere 3"

And so much more...

Just make sure you always have a fuse in there when you're testing and/or messing around with them, and be careful--you don't want your hand anywhere near the pinion when they are just firing up or stopping.