Hammer drill keeps slipping into hammer mode

[MM]

I've had a cheapo hammer drill for ages, bought it in Wilko or Payless for around £15. It's fine, EXCEPT that the ruddy thing keeps slipping into hammer mode. There is a sliding square-section button that you push one way for impact drilling or the other way for non-impact drilling. But this button constantly vibrates towards the "impact" setting. I have to remember to press it in (non-impact) each time I drill a hole. Sometimes I forget and I get the hammer action kicking in on a 2mm drill bit!

Any ideas on how to "persuade" the button to stay in non-impact mode? I've thought of jamming something in the square hole, but I thought I'd ask here first.

Thanks.

MM

[michael adams]

a) is usually coloured black and comes on a roll while (b) usually comes in a blue can.

In this case the answer appears to be (a)

michael adams

...

[Dave Plowman (News)]

I had a B&D drill which did that - but the speed change. Wedged the 'button' in place with a matchstick under it. Which held it in the one position.

[Tim Lamb]

In message , "Dave Plowman (News)" writes

My 13mm Bosch has a similar problem. *Hammer* action is fine. *Drill* only gives light hammer action which wrecks drill bits.

I think I caused the problem by using a reduced shank 25mm carbide tipped bit. Plenty of drill only tools in the workshop so I haven't tried a repair.

[newshound]

Given the price I'd be inclined to suggest a black bin bag, but if you do want to keep it for drilling only, you could perhaps push it in and secure it by filling the gap with araldite (or perhaps decorators filler, silicone, no more nails from a gun).

[ss]

For quickness/cheapness I would just stick a bit of gaffa tape over it, maybe with a small piece of wood to jam it in position.

[Malcolm Race]

Superglue? :-)

Malcolm

[fred]

In article , ss writes

I'm proud of you, you truly have joined the group :-)

Btw, I concur.

[Brian Gaff]

A bit terminal that one. what about a bit of spring steel secured by a self tapping screw which can be swivelled to block the bit of the square hole where the button moves to. Brian

[MM]

I could actually do that, since I have another, heavier drill that also has hammer action. Meanwhile I took Dave Plowman's advice and jammed in a sharpened-off matchstick, which stayed in for all the holes I needed to drill.

MM

[MM]

That's not a bad idea! I'll have to see whether the plastic body is thick enough to take a screw in that region.

MM

[MM]

I tried tape already, but it slips off too easily.

MM

[MM]

Permanent!

I DO want the hammer action sometimes. Although as I've said elsewhere, I have another, heavier drill I could use. Trouble is, that drill weighs a ton, being 40 years old, German, made of aluminium, not plastic. I bought it while working in Germany in the 1970s.

MM

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Mine worked for years like that. And was easily removed/replaced to change gear.

Unlike glue or whatever.