I would normally not have much to say about Sears other than to lament the declining quality and complain about the pushy warranty sales pitch.
But this time I really have to say something good - Sears parts has come through on their parts website with a switch for my old corded
3/8" drill. It's a 315.10514. Maybe some of you guys have one too.Geeze, I acquired that so very long ago I have no recollection of buying it or receiving it as a gift. It's been a workhorse in my shop just about forever. Ultimately, it stopped for no apparent reason. It'd start intermittently, run a couple seconds, then stop. Disassembly showed nothing unusual, no broken leads, no burned insulation, brushes are still good. Plenty of grease in the tranny, a sealed ball bearing at the front. A ball bearing! Who'd a thought! in a Craftsman drill!!!! Holy Cow! There's a bronze bushing at the back, but that looks in really good shape yet. I'd changed the chuck to a 1/2" long ago, that's how I've been using it.
After fiddling with it for an hour, it seems that the switch is the problem. So an order has been placed for a new one. I'm pleased. This isn't be best drill ever, doesn't have good runout, but heck, it's been with me so long, it's part of the family.