Appropriate sound for impact drill?

[Anonymous]

What sort of noise should a drill such as the Bosch GSB 13RE make when you switch to the hammer setting? I was drilling a hole in the wall today (as you do), and when I tried the hammer setting, it produced a high note like it was racing (maybe an octave higher than usual). Is this alright. Not what I expected.

Square

 

[Dewy]

I have a couple of drills with hammer action that have a tendency to jump to hammer when switched on.
It's that sound that lets me know to click the button over to get back to normal drilling mode.

 

[Aragorn]

It didn't also get knocked "in between" gears (speed settings) did it? That produces a nasty high-pitched squeal!

 

[Anonymous]

I'm pretty certain it was right on the 'impact' setting. I would have been careful, because I was already concerned that I might have done damage previously because the switch is on the top and my right thumb tends to move it to the mid postion when tightening and loosening the chuck. I've started using it a couple of times in that state and it made a slight grinding noise and ran rather slowly. But consulting the manual (after I posted) it says it's ok to change settings while it's running anyway.

What sort of noise should it be? I was expecting a lower, pulsating type effect. How does it actually achieve the impact effect anyway, mechanically?

Sorry Boss, this isn't even W/W.

Square

 

[Bean]

Yes in the drills of this type I have taken apart they have had a hardened washer fitted with one face machined to produce small wedges around the washer. This runs against another washer which produces the hammer effect.

Bean

 

[Aragorn]

That's the stuff - also known as a "clutch" hammer as opposed to "pneumatic" as found in SDS drills (buy one, you'll never look back!)

 

[Midnight]

Square....

I could be a mile off the mark.....but it sounds to me like you've either not fully engaged hammer mode, or you've let it slip between gears (in neither hi nor lo ratio) letting the motor spin freely and therefore faster than normal....

 

[Anonymous]

I should have said that it only makes this noise as you apply the bit with any amount of force against the wall. Maybe I'm wrong about the nature of the noise - it's perhaps more like a hedge trimmer - and maybe that's what it's supposed to be like. It's definitely not a partially engaged setting though. It (the percussion effect) seemed to work a bit today as well...

Anyway, thanks all.

Square

 

[Midnight]

Square..
if it's not making classical "percussion mode" noises, it's a sick puppy; take it to your nearest Bosch doc...

 

[StevieB]

Hi Square,

To me, sounds like your drill is behaving perfectly normal to be honest :shock:

I have a bosch hammer drill (sorry, no idea which) which on hammer produces a high pitched 'whine' when its applied to masonary. I always assumed it was the sound of the bit impacting with the brick. It doesnt make it on hammer when started up not in contact with the wall, only when contact is made.

Steve.

 

[Bean]

I think that the no noise is due to the design of these implements, they have a return spring which holds the thrust washers(for want of a better phrase) apart until a load is placed upon the end of the shaft, ie the drill.
They make a lot of noise when the spring breaks like mine which goes into high pitched mode whenever it is switched on.

Bean