Angle Grinder(s) - Lost Their Smoke

[dieselscout80]

I have two angle grinders (DEWALT and Bosch) that have been used on concrete a fair amount and on their last use both started smoking and quit working.

Is there any chance a brush replacement would restore them to working condition?

 

[Dman1981]

Yea no

 

[rocco611]

Once you let the magic smoke out they are pretty much done. Usually means burnt insulation in the motor. they are not hard to disassemble to see what happened, then compare the cost of the parts to a new grinder. If they ate a lot of concrete dust the gear head and bearing are probably hurt as well.

 

[sea2summit]

Possible to re-motor? Yes.

Likely to find the motors and get them cheaper than just getting new grinders? No.

 

[dieselscout80]

Thanks

 

[IXLR8]

I have two angle grinders (DEWALT and Bosch) that have been used on concrete a fair amount and on their last use both started smoking and quit working.

Is there any chance a brush replacement would restore them to working condition?

As others have said, not a very good chance of resurrecting them. I don't use an angle grinder often, but when I do I push it pretty hard, including grinding concrete. Which is why I buy HF grinders on sale for $20, put grease in the gear box, they have appalling little grease in them out of the box, and go to town. I haven't killed one yet but when I do, I am only out $20 and I have a few as backup at that price.

 

[Yander]

Smoke means the windings were burning, that's the motor, not the brushes. What size extension cord were you using? May have been too small which can cause excess heat and will huff the motor. I almost did this with an air compressor once, almost.

 

[5030]

Most angle grinder will have sealed gearboxes so dust in them isn't an issue and the real expensive (relatively speaking) Chief angle grinders are an exact copy if the IR air grinder which sells for at least 100 bucks more and the Chief even has a needle grease fitting on the head to add grease, I know, I have two of them Great angle grinders so long as you have adequate air supply, which I also have because I also have a CNC plasma table. When grinding concrete with any angle grinder, first thing you need to do after doing it is take it apart and blow it out and makes sure the bearings are clean and lubricated....always, cheap or not.

 

[5030]

New brushes won't help a toasted motor. One thing about toasting a cheap Chinese motor, the smell of cheap rice paper lingers a long time and it stinks too. I cooked one on my bandsaw a while back and the whole shop stunk for days. I replaced it with a Marathon 3 phase I had sitting on the shelf.

 

[5030]

Actually, they didn't loose their smoke, they made their smoke....lol

Like the song goes, 'the smoker you are the player you get'. In your case you aren't the player but the payer instead.

 

[Topzide]

Agree on HF angle grinders. I too grease the gear box and only smoked one, doing concrete! If you can have a good size blowing dust away from you helps. The new shields with a shop vac do help a great deal.

 

[rocco611]

Some of the more popular as well as some of the expensive angle grinders have aftermarket armatures available. I have seen some available as low as $20 . It would be worth while to take the two you have apart and check what parts they need and see what is available.
I was given a HF angle grinder years ago to finish up welding job . It was on sale for 5.99 back then. It vibrated, was noisy and smelled like burning plastic, but it was still running at the end of the day.

 

[fruitcakesa]

I have been running the same Black and Decker 6 inch angle grinder for about 30 years and the only problem was the shaft lock failed so I have to use a pair of wrenches to switch out wheels.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Lost their "magic smoke"! . I have never heard that, that is good!!

 

[dieselscout80]

I have been running the same Black and Decker 6 inch angle grinder for about 30 years and the only problem was the shaft lock failed so I have to use a pair of wrenches to switch out wheels.

The Bosch one was from the 1980s that My Dad had.

I am pretty sure the concrete did both in.

 

[ArlyA]

The Bosch one was from the 1980s that My Dad had.

I am pretty sure the concrete did both in.

I have a bosch from 2004-+ and only took the gear cover off and added some grease to it. Still going.

 

[John0829]

I have a Bosch that I have no idea how old it is. Dad gave it to me a hundred years ago and it was used then. Still going strong and it is my go to grinder. I guess they used some really special "magic smoke" when it was built because I have not been kind to it. Only thing I have ever had to do is replace the power cord... several times.

 

[rocco611]

Wen makes a quality angle grinder for $25 pretty good review here

 

[5030]

Cutting concrete none of them will last unless you blow the talcum fine dust out if them after use. Fact of life and tools.

 

[BravoXray]

I have a 9" Makita monster from the 1970s. All I've ever done to it is replace the deteriorated rubber power cord. You'd better be hanging on to it tightly when you pull the trigger, 'cause it's got a lot of torque. Sharpens mower blades n a jiffy!