Bosch Uneo disassembly and motor replacement

As the wife knows, it's not often that I'm wrong, but just over two years ago I wrote a review on this very site praising my new Bosch Uneo drill/driver and predicting that it would last for years to come unlike cheaper counterparts. Indeed, I even recall both the audible scoffing and sneering as I typed the review while thinking about the pathetic store-brand no-name alternatives that cost ten percent of the price and wouldn't last the distance.

Two years, three months, five days and five hours later and the blimmin' Bosch went and wiped the smug look right off my (admittedly handsome) mush when it's motor bally well burned out on a floorboard drilling job.

Now, I do a lot of DIY. More than average I reckon. I'm quite happy to plough a lot of my spare time and money into improving my home. I like to come out of a weekend with something to show for it. My Uneo has been my hard working DIY podner for the last two years but really, I expected better from the boffins at Bosch.

At first I thought I had drilled through an electric cable as the smoke and sparks flew from the back of the thing but I quickly realised I hadn't actually gone the full way through the floorboard and those fireworks along with the putrid pong of electric death were being generated from inside the motor itself.

Not particularly wanting to part with my little loyal Germanic henchman, I performed a quick Google for spares and found this site:

http://www.mtmc.co.uk/Bosch-UNEO-/-3603J52000-Spare-Parts__p-53872.aspx


So I placed an order for a new motor. It took nearly three weeks to arrive which is pretty frustrating in this day and age. I mean, are they hand made by virginial German maidens and rowed across the English Channel?? I had to build a partition wall while waiting and having to go back to hand tools or use a mains drill again was about as much fun as a left handed wank...

...yeah, I still enjoyed it, but it just didn't feel right.


Anyhow, fitting the new motor took only a few minutes, so for those who want to know how...


Step 1. Undo the ten screws. They look like security screws at first glance but don't panic, they're slotted so a flat blade screwdriver will shift 'em.



Step 2. Peel the rubber end cap from the chuck. This allows the rubber sleeve to move forward so the case can eventually separate.



Step 3. Either peel off the sticker on the inside of the grip or use a knife to run along its centre. Once this is done, nothing is holding the two halves of the case together any more.



Step 4. Carefully lift the top half of the casing off. The mechanics may become dislodged with some parts trying to cling on to that upper casing because of the large amount of sticky grease. Watch for any parts becoming dislodged or dropping out. You may need to refer to the pictures on this page or the exploded diagram in the earlier link to see how things fit together if any bits fall out of place! For goodness sake, don't try and run the drill with the casing removed or the mechanics will spin out all over the place. Remember the Lithium Ion cells are still in place and an accidental push of the trigger will activate the drill so put the safety lock on and watch you don't slip with the screwdriver and short out any battery terminals or there will be more fireworks.



Step 5. A close up of the gearing and hammer system showing how these mechanical parts should correctly lie.



Step 6. Same thing, different angle. Never did like mechanics. Smelly, dirty, greasy stuff I don't understand.



Step 7. Snipe nose pliers should get the crimp connectors off the old motor without too much fuss.



Step 8. The old motor can then easily be lifted out.



Step 9. If the new motor doesn't come fitted with the support sleeve, slide if off the old motor and onto the shaft of the new one.




Step 10. The new motor just plops into place, the crimp connectors go back on and the job is jobbed! Ensure the mechanical parts are all correctly located before dropping the upper case back on and if it doesn't fit cleanly, check something hasn't gone askew. Put the screws back in and refit the end cap onto the chuck.

Or just go out and buy a DeWalt next time instead of a Bosch.